When I got over the shock of seeing Gilbert Arenas thank me in his blog for giving him an NBA blog award, I noticed that he announced he's having a baby boy in the next few weeks. Congrats, Agent Zero! (This might be a good time to note I have dubbed Gabe "Agent 0.8" Shots of him in the homemade T-shirt coming soon.)
I officially extend an invitation to Gilbert to join the Varsity Dad community. (Not that it's officially launched yet or anything, but check out the quantity/quality of fun posts below that I've already prepared in anticipation of the very publicized launch! Soon, I promise! You are absolutely welcome to Comment now as part of the "soft" launch.)
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
What's Your Favorite Baseball Card Ever?
$2.35 million for a 1909 Honus Wagner baseball card. It begs the question: Is there a particular sports trading card (baseball or otherwise) that is particularly special to you? Do you own a copy? Did you get into trading cards as a kid? Is that something you'd encourage your own future sports fan to get into?
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
What is the Formative Fan Age(s)?
I'm working on a Nats preview for Deadspin's MLB Season Preview coverage. You can read the full story on Deadspin later this month, but suffice to say, I became a Nats fan when Deadspin editor Will Leitch asked me if I would write the preview.
Because, as of three weeks ago, I didn't have a favorite baseball team.
At age 34, I have adopted the Nats -- quite simply due to serendipity of Deadspin's editorial needs -- and I will root for them as passionately as if I had been all my life. (Amazingly, the same thing happened during NFL season, when a Deadspin season-preview assignment led to my fervent fandom of the Jacksonville Jaguars.)
I grew up a huge Cubs fan. Correction: Displaced Cubs fan living in the D.C. suburbs, hoping that the local cable company would one day get WGN. The main influence was my father, who is from Chicago and a lifelong Cubs fan. We went to Orioles games, but only really out of proximity to the nearest MLB game.
Amazingly, when I got to Northwestern for college, rather than embrace finally living in a city of fans who lived and breathed the Cubs like I did, my interest in the team atrophied. Looking back, I wonder if being displaced -- feeling like my fandom was somehow more special -- was at the heart of my Cubs fandom. It's interesting to think about.
Anyway, it's not like I didn't love going to Wrigley for games. And, after graduation, I got an apartment with two close college friends in Wrigleyville, literally three blocks West of Wrigley Field on Addison. It was like being on a TV show. (In fact, I had an eerily similar concept as "My Boys," which debuted on TBS this winter, 10 years ago. Undoubtedly: My bad.)
But I never again felt the same way about the Cubs as I did before I was 18 and got to Chicago. I never really felt that way about any baseball team. Living in New York for a while now, I enjoy it when the Mets are successful. And I am quite certain of my loathing of the Red Sox (and Red Sox Nation), along with the Yankees (and Yankees Nation).
I really enjoy the Cubs' successes -- more accurately, I could never see myself rooting against them -- but I don't want to insult true Cubs fans by claiming that I'm a "real" fan.
Which brings me back to my original point: At what point does fandom kick in? I'm not talking about a parent pushing team merchandise on an infant (cough!). I'm talking about a kid making the active decision to root for a team.
I presume that Gabe is years away, so I'm looking for input from those of you with older kids. Does it happen at 5? 6? 7? Older? As a litmus test: When was your own earliest sports memory? And when was your first memory about a favorite team? I was born in 1973, and I can't remember much before 1983. So is 10 years old the marker?
(And yet, I see kids much younger than 10 at the stadiums or arenas. So maybe I was a late-bloomer.)
But what I'm trying to reconcile is that even if your kid is a fan of the team, it's no guarantee that the fandom will be a lifelong commitment. There's no way that my father -- or me, myself -- could have ever predicted that the 13-year-old who wouldn't go anywhere without his beloved Cubs hat and who would call the local cable company begging for them to get WGN would -- 20 years later, or even 10 years later -- lose the passion.
-- Dan Shanoff
Because, as of three weeks ago, I didn't have a favorite baseball team.
At age 34, I have adopted the Nats -- quite simply due to serendipity of Deadspin's editorial needs -- and I will root for them as passionately as if I had been all my life. (Amazingly, the same thing happened during NFL season, when a Deadspin season-preview assignment led to my fervent fandom of the Jacksonville Jaguars.)
I grew up a huge Cubs fan. Correction: Displaced Cubs fan living in the D.C. suburbs, hoping that the local cable company would one day get WGN. The main influence was my father, who is from Chicago and a lifelong Cubs fan. We went to Orioles games, but only really out of proximity to the nearest MLB game.
Amazingly, when I got to Northwestern for college, rather than embrace finally living in a city of fans who lived and breathed the Cubs like I did, my interest in the team atrophied. Looking back, I wonder if being displaced -- feeling like my fandom was somehow more special -- was at the heart of my Cubs fandom. It's interesting to think about.
Anyway, it's not like I didn't love going to Wrigley for games. And, after graduation, I got an apartment with two close college friends in Wrigleyville, literally three blocks West of Wrigley Field on Addison. It was like being on a TV show. (In fact, I had an eerily similar concept as "My Boys," which debuted on TBS this winter, 10 years ago. Undoubtedly: My bad.)
But I never again felt the same way about the Cubs as I did before I was 18 and got to Chicago. I never really felt that way about any baseball team. Living in New York for a while now, I enjoy it when the Mets are successful. And I am quite certain of my loathing of the Red Sox (and Red Sox Nation), along with the Yankees (and Yankees Nation).
I really enjoy the Cubs' successes -- more accurately, I could never see myself rooting against them -- but I don't want to insult true Cubs fans by claiming that I'm a "real" fan.
Which brings me back to my original point: At what point does fandom kick in? I'm not talking about a parent pushing team merchandise on an infant (cough!). I'm talking about a kid making the active decision to root for a team.
I presume that Gabe is years away, so I'm looking for input from those of you with older kids. Does it happen at 5? 6? 7? Older? As a litmus test: When was your own earliest sports memory? And when was your first memory about a favorite team? I was born in 1973, and I can't remember much before 1983. So is 10 years old the marker?
(And yet, I see kids much younger than 10 at the stadiums or arenas. So maybe I was a late-bloomer.)
But what I'm trying to reconcile is that even if your kid is a fan of the team, it's no guarantee that the fandom will be a lifelong commitment. There's no way that my father -- or me, myself -- could have ever predicted that the 13-year-old who wouldn't go anywhere without his beloved Cubs hat and who would call the local cable company begging for them to get WGN would -- 20 years later, or even 10 years later -- lose the passion.
-- Dan Shanoff
Friday, February 16, 2007
The End of an Era
I turn 34 today, which means that I enter the final year of my relevancy as a consumer in the coveted "male 18- to 34-year-old" demographic. But, as this blog represents, I'm even more intrigued about the marketing toward the future fan. I have a feeling that if I ran into a sports-marketer, they would be much more intrigued in my kid's future than mine. Sigh: Over-the-hill and irrelevant at... 34? Happy birthday, indeed!
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Germany World Cup 2006 Baby Boom
Here's a great story about the Baby Boom in Germany happening... well... like NOW, 9 months after the World Cup was held there. I have to imagine that there are plenty of babies being born all over the world -- at least from World Cup countries. (via Deadspin)
Monday, February 12, 2007
Andy Reid: Kids Before Football
Eagles coach Andy Reid has always struck me as a bit of a hard character. I can't imagine that he's easy to play for -- I can't imagine he's easy to grow up with as a father.
I'm not suggesting his personal style had some influence on his two sons' recent troubles with the law -- they obviously have serious issues.
But I will be quick to commend him for taking a leave of absence from the team -- at a peak time for evaluating NFL Draft talent -- to help his sons with their obvious problems.
Despite how it might feel during football season -- particularly if you are managing a fantasy team -- the NFL isn't the end of the world. The Reid's family problems, however, must feel like it.
-- D.S.
I'm not suggesting his personal style had some influence on his two sons' recent troubles with the law -- they obviously have serious issues.
But I will be quick to commend him for taking a leave of absence from the team -- at a peak time for evaluating NFL Draft talent -- to help his sons with their obvious problems.
Despite how it might feel during football season -- particularly if you are managing a fantasy team -- the NFL isn't the end of the world. The Reid's family problems, however, must feel like it.
-- D.S.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
What's In a Name?
I posted this over at my DanShanoff.com blog, but I realized it was much more relevant over here. Here's a re-post:
I'm as entertained by the Scott Wiese story as everyone else: He was the Bears fan who was so convinced that his team would win the Super Bowl that he vowed he would legally change his name to "Peyton Manning" if the Bears lost. Now he's a national sensation. A performance artist couldn't have pulled it off any more effectively.
Here's the question/topic for discussion: I'm not going to ask if there's an athlete you'd change your entire legal name for, but do you have a favorite athlete who you would consider naming your kid after? (For the sake of argument, let's say your partner defers to your decision.) Or, more interestingly, have you done that for real?
This came up briefly during the old ESPN.com chats I hosted when my wife was pregnant, because among the chat audience, the top contender for what the kid's name would be was "Noah," after Joakim. (No, not "Joakim" itself. Thought that WOULD be kind of badass. Joakim Shanoff? Um... maybe not.)
-- D.S.
PS: We ended up going with "Gabe." Not for any particular athlete (he was named for my wife's maternal grandmother), but if you're going to associate him with the most notable athlete named Gabe -- Gabe Kapler -- I won't complain. Jewish MLB player? I'll take it!
I'm as entertained by the Scott Wiese story as everyone else: He was the Bears fan who was so convinced that his team would win the Super Bowl that he vowed he would legally change his name to "Peyton Manning" if the Bears lost. Now he's a national sensation. A performance artist couldn't have pulled it off any more effectively.
Here's the question/topic for discussion: I'm not going to ask if there's an athlete you'd change your entire legal name for, but do you have a favorite athlete who you would consider naming your kid after? (For the sake of argument, let's say your partner defers to your decision.) Or, more interestingly, have you done that for real?
This came up briefly during the old ESPN.com chats I hosted when my wife was pregnant, because among the chat audience, the top contender for what the kid's name would be was "Noah," after Joakim. (No, not "Joakim" itself. Thought that WOULD be kind of badass. Joakim Shanoff? Um... maybe not.)
-- D.S.
PS: We ended up going with "Gabe." Not for any particular athlete (he was named for my wife's maternal grandmother), but if you're going to associate him with the most notable athlete named Gabe -- Gabe Kapler -- I won't complain. Jewish MLB player? I'll take it!
Sunday, February 04, 2007
"My First Super Bowl": A Guide
There are a lot of "first" sports moments for Gabe in this first year -- whether he understands them or not.
There was the BCS title game a few weeks ago (particularly relevant for his Florida fan-ness... not that we let him stay up for the 8:45 kickoff), and -- of course -- there's his first Super Bowl today.
With that 6 p.m. Super Bowl start time, he'll get at least 90 minutes of playtime in the living room while the adults hang out eating, drinking, TV-viewing and ad-commenting.
(Note: I'm not big on him watching the TV directly, but I love the idea of him being in the SB-watching party environment.)
A few etiquette tips Gabe (or any kid partaking) needs to be taught:
(1) Talk is fine during the actual game, but everyone is expected to pipe down for the ads. I look forward to explaining to Gabe the seeming contradiction of talking during the action and get quiet for the marketing. (The era of DVR and TiVo has made this less of an issue, because you can always do a fast-rewind if you miss something.)
(2) Eat all you want, but don't (a) kill the chip bowl and or drink cooler without refilling it or offering to get people a new drink or (b) forget to bring something to the party -- it can be something you want to eat, but make sure that it's not something ONLY you want to eat.
(3) Buy at least one "square" in the Super Bowl pool on behalf of each of your kids. It'll give them something to get excited about, especially if they are too young to follow the game. Buying one for you or your spouse is optional.
(4) Help your kid find a rooting interest. Even if neither team in the game is their usual favorite team. I mentioned Gabe's below (residual Florida allegiance, family legacy of Bears fandom). It could be a favorite player, the more favorite city, the more favorite uniforms (or, "What's Happening"-style, more favorite helmet designs). If the kid is really young, it could simply be the team name they can pronounce most easily. (For Gabe, this was a push, between the "Beh" sound of "Bears" and "Kuh" sound of "Colts." Both got similar reactions.)
This year, for the first time, I'm looking forward (or not) to the implications that Gabe has to go to bed sometime during the 2nd quarter. Fortunately, we're having the SB-watching party at our apartment, so I won't miss much of the game, but what happens when it's a "road game" and we have to leave a party mid-game? I suppose that's what portable car-seats are for -- just stick him in a spare bedroom and stick around until the game is over. Or is that irresponsible?
Let me know how you helped your kids participate in the game-watching. Do you have any particular rules or traditions? Enjoy the game!
-- D.S.
There was the BCS title game a few weeks ago (particularly relevant for his Florida fan-ness... not that we let him stay up for the 8:45 kickoff), and -- of course -- there's his first Super Bowl today.
With that 6 p.m. Super Bowl start time, he'll get at least 90 minutes of playtime in the living room while the adults hang out eating, drinking, TV-viewing and ad-commenting.
(Note: I'm not big on him watching the TV directly, but I love the idea of him being in the SB-watching party environment.)
A few etiquette tips Gabe (or any kid partaking) needs to be taught:
(1) Talk is fine during the actual game, but everyone is expected to pipe down for the ads. I look forward to explaining to Gabe the seeming contradiction of talking during the action and get quiet for the marketing. (The era of DVR and TiVo has made this less of an issue, because you can always do a fast-rewind if you miss something.)
(2) Eat all you want, but don't (a) kill the chip bowl and or drink cooler without refilling it or offering to get people a new drink or (b) forget to bring something to the party -- it can be something you want to eat, but make sure that it's not something ONLY you want to eat.
(3) Buy at least one "square" in the Super Bowl pool on behalf of each of your kids. It'll give them something to get excited about, especially if they are too young to follow the game. Buying one for you or your spouse is optional.
(4) Help your kid find a rooting interest. Even if neither team in the game is their usual favorite team. I mentioned Gabe's below (residual Florida allegiance, family legacy of Bears fandom). It could be a favorite player, the more favorite city, the more favorite uniforms (or, "What's Happening"-style, more favorite helmet designs). If the kid is really young, it could simply be the team name they can pronounce most easily. (For Gabe, this was a push, between the "Beh" sound of "Bears" and "Kuh" sound of "Colts." Both got similar reactions.)
This year, for the first time, I'm looking forward (or not) to the implications that Gabe has to go to bed sometime during the 2nd quarter. Fortunately, we're having the SB-watching party at our apartment, so I won't miss much of the game, but what happens when it's a "road game" and we have to leave a party mid-game? I suppose that's what portable car-seats are for -- just stick him in a spare bedroom and stick around until the game is over. Or is that irresponsible?
Let me know how you helped your kids participate in the game-watching. Do you have any particular rules or traditions? Enjoy the game!
-- D.S.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Welcome to DanShanoff.com Readers!
If you're seeing this post, you probably found the hint of a sneak-preview of this new blog project buried in a post over at danshanoff.com. (Nicely done in finding it!)
There's not much here yet, but I'm writing new posts everyday, so I figured that DS.com readers, of anyone, should get the chance to see the posts fresh(-ish), rather than as part of a backlog of archived posts when I launch it next week officially.
No matter: Welcome! This blog is inspired by last year's arrival of my first kid and is dedicated to tracking the ups, downs, friction and folly of raising a sports fan. (Nine months old? Yeah, I'm starting early on him. But really, until he has develops some sort of "fan cognition" -- which probably won't be too long, given last weekend's development -- it'll be about figuring out what "raising a fan" even means.)
This blog is a work-in-progress -- and it will be for at least a little while. Feel free to email me any feedback at the email address to the right. I'll have an "official" "launch" next week, time/date still TBD. But this should be fun, and any of you who find it interesting or intriguing couldn't be more welcome.
-- D.S.
There's not much here yet, but I'm writing new posts everyday, so I figured that DS.com readers, of anyone, should get the chance to see the posts fresh(-ish), rather than as part of a backlog of archived posts when I launch it next week officially.
No matter: Welcome! This blog is inspired by last year's arrival of my first kid and is dedicated to tracking the ups, downs, friction and folly of raising a sports fan. (Nine months old? Yeah, I'm starting early on him. But really, until he has develops some sort of "fan cognition" -- which probably won't be too long, given last weekend's development -- it'll be about figuring out what "raising a fan" even means.)
This blog is a work-in-progress -- and it will be for at least a little while. Feel free to email me any feedback at the email address to the right. I'll have an "official" "launch" next week, time/date still TBD. But this should be fun, and any of you who find it interesting or intriguing couldn't be more welcome.
-- D.S.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)