What to Name a Varsity Kid?

Needless to say, I don't think Tiger and Elin used a baby-name consultant to come up with "Sam Alexis," but this Wall Street Journal article on baby-naming is a must-read.

Any of you name your kid (or would name a future kid) after something sports-related, like an athlete? Or perhaps you name your kid with athletic stardom in mind... a name that would sound really good over a stadium PA system or SportsCenter highlight. (Or simply win the Name of the Year bracket.)

For the record, Gabe Shanoff was not named for either Gabe Kapler or Gabe Kaplan or future NBA second-round draftee Gabe Pruitt. (And, furthermore, his name isn't "Gabriel" with "Gabe" as a nickname. It's just "Gabe.")

I would say that of all things related to the baby industry, names are my favorite thing.

Sam Alexis Woods: First Pics!

Update: OK, front page of the New York Post!

Wow, Tiger is really controlling the p.r. about new daughter Sam like a genius. The latest: He reveals the first pics of Sam on his web site. That's the way I'd do it, too. (But, Tiger: Where's Sam's blog? Email me, man...I can help!)

More here from AOL's Fanhouse.

Tiger Skipping Buick for Baby

That's my guy...

Advice for Tiger, Part Nth

Tiger Woods' new fatherhood lends itself to the easy column for traditional media and bloggers alike. Here's the Washington Post's Sally Jenkins, with a rare appearance in the paper with a nice little advice-for-Tiger gimmick column.

Let me ask the Varsity Dad community: How do we get Tiger to notice this site? How do we get him to participate as a Commenter? Tiger: You're invited! Come on in!

This Is It: Tiger Woods Becomes a Dad!

Congrats to Tiger and Elin on the birth of daughter Sam Alexis Woods. (Come on, Tiger, I know you're as excited as a regular dad: How about some stats? And let's see those photos?)

Given Tiger's preeminent position in sports culture, this kid is the closest thing sports fans have to celeb-baby royalty. This is the Varsity Dad Sports-Star Birth of the Year.

When things settle down for Tiger, I expect he'll head straight to Varsity Dad to join the community. Feel free to email for advice, pal!

-- D.S.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all the Varsity Dads out there!

Continuing the must-read Father's Day posts...

A series from the Ladies...

Kermit the Blog.

Keep 'em coming. And hope you're all enjoying the day.

-- D.S.

Happy Father's Day to All The Varsity Dads!

I had these grand plans to write a massive, what-it-all-means post worthy of Father's Day on a site called "Varsity Dad," but circumstances have gutted my time to write it. I'm hoping to do something this weekend, but at the very least, I wanted to wish a huge happy Father's Day to all the dads out there. It's going to be a big year ahead for all you Varsity Dads (and Varsity Dad). -- D.S.

UPDATE: What I can definitely do is link to any blog posts out there (that you write or simply enjoyed) on the subject of Father's Day. Here's a starter for you. And don't forget to check out that Wright Thompson piece from ESPN.com you can find a few posts down.

In Kissing Suzy Kolber's commenter draft of "Dad You Want to Have," check out the comment at 11:19 a.m., the commenter's fourth-round pick. I don't care if he's mocking me. It's awesome.

Via EDSBS: The Top 5 College Football Fathers of All Time.

Father's Day '07: Our Coverage ContinuesWhat's Wrong With a Cheerleader Outfit?

Reader Kyle McInnis emailed to point me to a post at his blog The Wishbone, inspired by Varsity Dad, about the fatherly advice he has for his newborn daughter about being a sports fan. His No. 1 rule: Support mom and dad's alma mater until you're in college.

Hmm... I think that sounds reasonable. If you manipulate your kid ("manipulate" used lovingly, of course) into being a fan of your team, they will likely keep the faith at least through college.

Wait: Alma mater? But what if neither parent WENT to the school rooting interest of choice? My wife grew up in Gainesville, which is why she's a Gators fan. I met my wife, which is why I'm a Gators fan.

Shouldn't it be "Support mom and dad's favorite team?" Wow: When you put it like that, perhaps the kid's allegiance will be more tenuous, much to the dismay of the parents, I'm quite certain. (Will Gabe be confused if I say: "Let's root for Florida! But let's ALSO root for Northwestern!" It's a good thing there's a clear difference between the two on the football field and hoops court.)

Anyway, McInnis has four other rules, and he brings up an interesting point: Would a good Varsity Parent raise their kid to be a sports fan differently depending on whether they were a boy or a girl? (If Gabe had turned out to be a girl, I would have still launched this blog with the same mission.)

Here at Varsity Dad, I've always espoused a "gender-neutral" approach: I want to develop and explore lessons, tactics and experiences that can work no matter if you're raising a boy or a girl -- and no matter if you're a Varsity Dad or Varsity Mom, for that matter.

For example, McInnis' rule No. 4 will be contentious: "You may wear a cheerleader outfit at any time."

Hold on: Why box your daughter into a "cheerleader" (girl) vs. "athlete" (boy) construct? Why not let her wear a football jersey -- or, perhaps a little more realistically, a piece of apparel supporting one of the school's women's teams? For that matter, if your son wanted to be a cheerleader, I would hope you wouldn't object.

As you can see, here's what I like best about his post: It's a phenomenal conversation-starter. Not just about tips or advice for raising a sports fan (which is at the core of this blog's mission), but how -- if at all -- that changes when you're raising a son versus a daughter.

I hope this sparks some interesting conversations. As comments are moderated, I'll keep a close eye on them and have them posted as close to real time as possible.

-- D.S.

Welcome: Bryce Maximus James!

Stats: LeBron's second son, born 12:51 a.m. at 21 inches and a whopping 8 pounds 6 ounces.

Name Analysis: "Bryce James" has a pretty nice ring to it. And "Maximus" as a middle name? That's so badass (but I suspect that only the son of LeBron James can pull it off).

Congras: To Daddy LeBron, but -- of course -- even greater congrats to Savannah Brinson, LeBron's girlfriend who actually did the delivering.

Hopefully, the birth of his son offers more than small consolation to LeBron as his Cavs are about to be swept out of the NBA Finals by the Spurs.

But it's a Father's Day gift he'll never forget. -- D.S.

The Varsity Dad Story of the Year

Wright Thompson's Father's Day story is amazing. Here's a link to read it.

LeBron's Pending Fatherhood: The Update

Looks like we were all a wee bit premature in discussing the choice LeBron might have had to make between being at the birth of his second child and playing in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. At this rate, there won't BE a Game 5 of the NBA Finals. It's almost as if fate is trying to steer him toward the decision he SHOULD have made in the first place... -- D.S.

(Sorry for the lack of more posts this week. I am paralyzed by the pending Father's Day weekend. If there is a bigger moment in the year for Varsity Dads than Father's Day, I don't know what it is. Oh, wait: Or Mother's Day! I'm all about "Varsity Dad" not being about dads, but all parents.)

How I Spent My Weekend

I was guest-blogging at Deadspin, and this morning I managed to work in a (relevant) picture of Gabe. In the context of the news that Gilbert Arenas, my favorite player, is opting out of his contract with the Wizards, my favorite team, after the 2008 season, I felt the picture I used to complement the sentiments expressed in the post couldn't have been more appropriate. -- D.S.

Bruce Bowen Joins Varsity Dads

Ozmel Bowen born on Saturday morning. Dad Bruce was there (hmm: showing up LeBron?)

From the San Antonio Express-News:

According to delivery room sources, he didn't knee a single nurse in the crotch. "But afterward he got a little irritated," Bruce Bowen said. "Then he started kicking." Five minutes old and already following in his father's flailing Nikes.

Heh. Kid might get teased for his father's reps, but then Ozmel can bring Daddy's champioship rings in for Show-n-Tell. Beat that.

-- D.S.

Duck Cup Solution Found: Puck It!

Thanks to reader Jibblescribbits, who suggested skipping the Ducks toddler T-shirt (see post below) and going with a commemorative puck, which will be much more fun for everyone (unless Kid flings it through the TV screen, which you just KNOW will happen).

Enjoy your weekend, everyone. I'll be guest-blogging over at Deadspin over the weekend and otherwise gearing up for the Sopranos series finale.

Ducks Win Stanley Cup:Gabe's Hot Streak Continues

As I mentioned before the Stanley Cup finals started, Gabe made it clear that's he's rooting for the Ducks -- if only because "duck" is one of the few words he can say and an object he totally recognizes and understands. (He has a half-dozen rubber ducks strewn around the apartment.)

Needless to say, this morning when he woke up, I told him that the Ducks won the Stanley Cup. He perked up and looked around for one of his toy ducks, of course. I went online to find him a toddler-sized Ducks championship T-shirt, and the team didn't offer one.

Come on, Ducks execs! I'm offering you the chance to earn the lifetime allegiance of a fan (a fan on the East Coast, no less) -- given the state of the NHL, isn't that enticing? Maybe one of them will read this and reach out. You don't need an MBA to know that the lifetime value of a 1-year-old customer is a lot more valuable than the LTV of, say, a fan in their 30s and 40s.

(Between the Ducks' Cup title and the Florida Gators titles in football and basketball, Gabe is on a hell of a rooting-interest hot streak in 2007. Would an MLB or NFL team like to court him? I think he's open to any and all offers.)

-- D.S.

Buy Your Kid Any Sports Memorabilia Lately?

This is adapted from a small item I posted over at DanShanoff.com:

I am no "sports memorabilia" guy, but I have started to collect certain stuff for Gabe: A personalized Gilbert Arenas jersey, a football signed by Urban Meyer, a framed photo of Steve Spurrier (as yet unsigned), every commemorative Sports Illustrated issue over the Gators' two-year run.

Two weeks ago, Gabe's grandparents came to town bearing a new addition: They ran into Tim Tebow at the local Gainesville Outback Steakhouse, and he signed a menu.

But the biggest yet arrived yesterday (and, remember, I claim I'm not a memorabilia person): A piece of the Georgia Dome floor where Florida won their most recent national title in basketball. Yes, it was an impulse buy in the days following the Final Four.

Are these for Gabe... or for me? Obviously, he doesn't appreciate them... who knows if he even will 10 or 15 or 20-plus years from now? I think that falls under "Using my kid to pursue my own child-like wish fulfillment."

Here's the question: Have you gotten your kids any sports memorabilia? (Or have the gotten any on their own?) It could be something as simple as an autograph or as elaborate as... well, some piece of laquered plywood. And, if so, which is the most treasured piece? By your kid... and by you.

-- D.S.

Update: LeBron Won't Miss FinalsFor Birth of Second Child

UPDATE: Here's a must-read post from Bethlehem Shoals at Free Darko, about this very topic!

Yesterday, we talked about whether LeBron has a dilemma on his hands, given that the birth of his second kid is on track to be during Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

The Akron Beacon-Journal has the background. AOL Fanhouse has the update, and here it is:

LeBron has spoken: He ain't missing the...birth of his child Finals. I said it yesterday: Maybe they can pipe it through to the arena Jumbotron.

I'm wondering if this will spark any debate at all. NBA fans without kids will undoubtedly agree with LeBron. Do fans with kids feel the same way? It begs the question:

Which is more "once-in-a-lifetime": The birth of a child or playing in your first -- perhaps only -- NBA Finals?

-- D.S.

LeBron: Varsity Dad 2X Coming in Game 5?

Word has it that LeBron's girlfriend is due to deliver their second child on the night of Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Good thing the game will be in Cleveland. Maybe they'll even induce a day or two early?

Look for the story to get bigger as the due date/Game 5 get closer. It's not necessarily an easy choice to decide between birth-of-child and NBA Finals: Does LeBron really want to be the Phil Stacey of the NBA?

(You may remember Phil from American Idol this season. He skipped the birth of his daughter in order to be at Idol auditions. Yes, he made the Top 12, but he couldn't have known that when he made the decision.)

Prediction: Either inducing or the other timing will work things out without incident. And if the timing seems to be a huge crisis, couldn't they just put the birth on the arena Jumbotron? (No?)

-- D.S.

And She Isn't Even Born Yet...

Eric from Nine Month Odyssey wrote a post, inspired by the V-Dad "official" launch, with a few core Varsity Dad values he is quite certain he wants to pass along to his unborn daughter.

Here's the link, with my favorite being the one about staying away from off-color team memorabilia, particularly pink hats that seemed to find prominence/mockery during the Red Sox postseason run in 2004.

First: Kudos for not inflicting pink on your kid just because she's a girl. If you've raised her to be a great fan, she'll want to wear the team's real colors.

Second: In lieu of the usual donation to breast-cancer research that the pink team merch purchase usually includes, I hope Eric will make a small but regular donation to the cause.

-- D.S.

P.S.: If you have a blog post you think is particularly relevant to Varsity Dad, absolutely send it along. More likely than not, I'll give it a nice big post of its own. And if you link to a post in Varsity Dad, let me know that, too, and I'll be happy to offer a hat/tip.

Meanwhile, you don't have to have a blog to contribute to Varsity Dad: Submit a comment (though it won't show up instantly, because I moderate them), email me a story or send along a link to something you've found in mainstream media or on a blog you think is V-Dad material.

(Oh, and does "V-Dad" work as shorthand? Because I sure as hell won't dub the site "V.D." Can you imagine the Google search results I'll end up on? Eh: Maybe I'll just take the extra half-second and type the entire phrase.)