Monday, November 30, 2009
Varsity Dad in the New York Times
For those who missed it yesterday, there was a terrific Varsity Dad experience in the New York Times sports section: An article written by me about taking my older son to his first basketball game. (If you saw the print edition, you may have seen Gabe's smiling face taking up the top quarter of the page.) It was fun to write and a thrill to see in print (and online). More soon.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Emily Monforto and Amazing Sports Parenting
The Varsity Dad sports parenting moment of the year came on Tuesday night.
As you have undoubtedly seen on YouTube or the Today show or cable news, Phillies fan Steve Monforto caught a foul ball from Jayson Werth. High-fives all around. He gave the ball to his 3-year-old daughter, Emily Monforto... who promptly proceeded to toss the ball back.
Steve Monforto's reaction?
He hugged his daughter. And the look on his face has no trace of disappointment, let alone frustration or anger. Just love. (See the video here.)
Love for his kid. Love that this is EXACTLY what a 3-year-old is supposed to do. Love that Emily's lesson from all those catches in the backyard is: Throw the ball!
It was the perfect reaction. It should be used as the model for all parents out there who want to incorporate sports into their kids lives.
At Varsity Dad, we talk about raising a good sports fan. In this case, you can't have taught a better lesson or had a better experience. And I'm quite sure that part of the reason I love this story is because I have a 3-year-old of my own.
But there is a wider thing about parents who want to push their kids into -- and through -- sports. Maybe they are trying to reclaim their own glory (or non-glory). Maybe they earnestly want to earn a college scholarship for the kid. Maybe the kid genuinely likes it.
Either way, the process starts young, and the first lesson -- at age 3 (hell, at age 13) -- is simply to love the game. Love watching it. Love watching it with your dad or mom.
I'll bet there are sports-crazed parents out there who would have at least looked annoyed at their kid. Not a trace of that from Steve Monforto.
Just love of his kid and love of being at the game with her.
It is a lesson that every sports fan -- parent or otherwise -- should embrace.
-- D.S.
PS: All's well that ends well. When the Monfortos were on the Today show this morning, they were presented with personalized Phillies jerseys, along with a ball signed by Jayson Werth. To their credit, the Phillies gave Steve Monforto a replacement ball at the game. Whoever caught the real ball could earn a lot of goodwill by giving it back to Emily Monforto.
(OK, if I can offer one bit of constructive criticism, from the Varsity Dad handbook: Steve, ditch the pink Phillies cap for Emily and give her a classic red Phillies hat. You get one, why not her?)
As you have undoubtedly seen on YouTube or the Today show or cable news, Phillies fan Steve Monforto caught a foul ball from Jayson Werth. High-fives all around. He gave the ball to his 3-year-old daughter, Emily Monforto... who promptly proceeded to toss the ball back.
Steve Monforto's reaction?
He hugged his daughter. And the look on his face has no trace of disappointment, let alone frustration or anger. Just love. (See the video here.)
Love for his kid. Love that this is EXACTLY what a 3-year-old is supposed to do. Love that Emily's lesson from all those catches in the backyard is: Throw the ball!
It was the perfect reaction. It should be used as the model for all parents out there who want to incorporate sports into their kids lives.
At Varsity Dad, we talk about raising a good sports fan. In this case, you can't have taught a better lesson or had a better experience. And I'm quite sure that part of the reason I love this story is because I have a 3-year-old of my own.
But there is a wider thing about parents who want to push their kids into -- and through -- sports. Maybe they are trying to reclaim their own glory (or non-glory). Maybe they earnestly want to earn a college scholarship for the kid. Maybe the kid genuinely likes it.
Either way, the process starts young, and the first lesson -- at age 3 (hell, at age 13) -- is simply to love the game. Love watching it. Love watching it with your dad or mom.
I'll bet there are sports-crazed parents out there who would have at least looked annoyed at their kid. Not a trace of that from Steve Monforto.
Just love of his kid and love of being at the game with her.
It is a lesson that every sports fan -- parent or otherwise -- should embrace.
-- D.S.
PS: All's well that ends well. When the Monfortos were on the Today show this morning, they were presented with personalized Phillies jerseys, along with a ball signed by Jayson Werth. To their credit, the Phillies gave Steve Monforto a replacement ball at the game. Whoever caught the real ball could earn a lot of goodwill by giving it back to Emily Monforto.
(OK, if I can offer one bit of constructive criticism, from the Varsity Dad handbook: Steve, ditch the pink Phillies cap for Emily and give her a classic red Phillies hat. You get one, why not her?)
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Nerf Hoops: Made For Teaching Trash Talk
While shooting on the mini-Nerf hoop, I just taught G the 3-year-old Varsity Kid the taunting phrase "Makin' it rain!!!" A trash-talker is born. Nevermind the shots weren't close -- it's the thought that counts.
-- Dan
-- Dan
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Do Sports Turn Kids Into Bullies?
The short answer, per Kate Dailey at Newsweek.com, is yes.
Here's the caveat: When kids are maniacally focused on their sport -- without well-rounded experiences in things like community service or the arts or anything BUT sports -- they can turn into bullies. (I like Dailey's analogy of Cobra-Kai's Johnny.)
The other big factor: Is the coach nurturing or like Cobra-Kai's evil Kreese? Do they teach sportsmanship, in addition to skill-building? Do they try to make it about the play, rather than the winning?
I just finished a terrific new book by the journalist Joe Drape, called "Our Boys," about the uber-successful Smith Center High School football team in western Kansas. Coach Barta is precisely this nurturing kind of coach; despite his success, he is about developing young men into good men.
I know this blog is about raising all-star sports fans, rather than all-star athletes. But participating in sports -- playing -- is as much a part about growing up to love sports as a fan as anything else. The goal is to make that sports participation as productive as possible.
-- Dan
Here's the caveat: When kids are maniacally focused on their sport -- without well-rounded experiences in things like community service or the arts or anything BUT sports -- they can turn into bullies. (I like Dailey's analogy of Cobra-Kai's Johnny.)
The other big factor: Is the coach nurturing or like Cobra-Kai's evil Kreese? Do they teach sportsmanship, in addition to skill-building? Do they try to make it about the play, rather than the winning?
I just finished a terrific new book by the journalist Joe Drape, called "Our Boys," about the uber-successful Smith Center High School football team in western Kansas. Coach Barta is precisely this nurturing kind of coach; despite his success, he is about developing young men into good men.
I know this blog is about raising all-star sports fans, rather than all-star athletes. But participating in sports -- playing -- is as much a part about growing up to love sports as a fan as anything else. The goal is to make that sports participation as productive as possible.
-- Dan
Your Baby Is Really Smart (So Stop Watching "Baby Longhorn" DVDs)
"There are no perfect toys; there is no magic formula. Parents and other caregivers teach young children by paying attention and interacting with them naturally and, most of all, by just allowing them to play."
-- Alison Gopnik ("The Philosophical Baby"), in Sunday's New York Times. Fascinating read.
The lesson: Throw out the "Baby Longhorn" DVD and just get on the floor playing with simple toys with your baby. They will be better fans -- and better people -- for it. (Admit it: You are showing them the "Baby Longhorn" DVD for YOU, not them.)
-- Alison Gopnik ("The Philosophical Baby"), in Sunday's New York Times. Fascinating read.
The lesson: Throw out the "Baby Longhorn" DVD and just get on the floor playing with simple toys with your baby. They will be better fans -- and better people -- for it. (Admit it: You are showing them the "Baby Longhorn" DVD for YOU, not them.)
Monday, August 10, 2009
What Do You Do First Thing in the Morning?
In the morning, do you check the status of your fantasy team before you hang out with your kids?
That simply may be the new reality.
As I tried to coin: "Online/offline balance" is the new "work/life balance."
No judgments, by the way. As someone who has had to get up and do work before their kids get up (and, um, after they have gotten up), I appreciate folks who go online before they have to parent.
-- Dan
That simply may be the new reality.
As I tried to coin: "Online/offline balance" is the new "work/life balance."
No judgments, by the way. As someone who has had to get up and do work before their kids get up (and, um, after they have gotten up), I appreciate folks who go online before they have to parent.
-- Dan
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Tweet of the Day: Pat Fitzgerald
From Northwestern football coach Pat Fitzgerald (twitter handle: @coachfitz51)
What a great couple days with our media partners, bowl reps, fellow coaches, student athletes, and FANS! Time to be a DAD!
Lessons From Lance Armstrong
So Lance Armstrong finished 3rd in the 2009 Tour de France. And the 7-time champ is OK with that. In fact, he said it's probably good for his kids to see him finish 3rd.
It's not a bad philosophy overall: Winning ain't everything. It's a goal, but (a) the effort is more important, and (b) sometimes someone else is better.
The same applies to rooting for a team: If your expectation is "title or bust," most fans will be very disappointed. I'm not saying that's wrong, btw. I see it from two perspectives:
One of the things that drew me to Florida was the ridiculously high expectations -- anything less than a national title in football this season would disappoint me beyond belief.
As a Northwestern fan in the early-90s, however, all I wanted was to be competitive in games -- not get blown out. Any win was a good win, and a .500 season -- a bowl game! -- was the dream.
That's part of what made the miracle 1995 season so great -- not only was there a bowl game, but the freaking Rose Bowl -- but I think most NU fans are content with "bowl season."
If you're a Mariners fan, 3rd place might feel pretty good this year, all things considered. If you're a Yankees or Red Sox fan, it is utter disaster.
Expectations are everything. Something to keep in mind when you're teaching your kids about fandom.
-- Dan
It's not a bad philosophy overall: Winning ain't everything. It's a goal, but (a) the effort is more important, and (b) sometimes someone else is better.
The same applies to rooting for a team: If your expectation is "title or bust," most fans will be very disappointed. I'm not saying that's wrong, btw. I see it from two perspectives:
One of the things that drew me to Florida was the ridiculously high expectations -- anything less than a national title in football this season would disappoint me beyond belief.
As a Northwestern fan in the early-90s, however, all I wanted was to be competitive in games -- not get blown out. Any win was a good win, and a .500 season -- a bowl game! -- was the dream.
That's part of what made the miracle 1995 season so great -- not only was there a bowl game, but the freaking Rose Bowl -- but I think most NU fans are content with "bowl season."
If you're a Mariners fan, 3rd place might feel pretty good this year, all things considered. If you're a Yankees or Red Sox fan, it is utter disaster.
Expectations are everything. Something to keep in mind when you're teaching your kids about fandom.
-- Dan
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Good Read: Bill Simmons On His Dad
Very nice ESPN the Magazine coda for Bill Simmons. He ends his Magazine column-writing career with an ode to his dad. Varsity Dads could feel pretty good about the job they have done, if they end up raising a son like Bill.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Would You Schedule Your Kid's Birth Around Your Favorite Team's Game?
Per the Ross Fisher post below:
I will admit to being slightly relieved that the birth of my 2nd kid last October went a few days late; we cleared the projected due date: Right in the middle of the Florida-LSU game.
As ridiculous as that sounds, when we first found out my wife was pregnant and we got the due date, we both heard "October 11" and -- well, I'm not going to say the FIRST reaction... but a fast-following reaction was, "Ooh: Let's check the Florida football schedule."
We then saw it was the day of the Florida-LSU game. OK, so on the plus side, there's a chance that she might have been in labor during the game: What could be a better way to take your mind off things?
On the other hand, what if she gave birth DURING the game? Shamelessly, I'd suggest that's why you have a DVR.
What can I say: It was our second go-round, so I think we were a lot more relaxed about things, so we could entertain notions that are ludicrous on their face -- like whether the birth of your child "conflicts" with a huge football game involving your favorite team.
Anyone else have a situation like this?
-- Dan
I will admit to being slightly relieved that the birth of my 2nd kid last October went a few days late; we cleared the projected due date: Right in the middle of the Florida-LSU game.
As ridiculous as that sounds, when we first found out my wife was pregnant and we got the due date, we both heard "October 11" and -- well, I'm not going to say the FIRST reaction... but a fast-following reaction was, "Ooh: Let's check the Florida football schedule."
We then saw it was the day of the Florida-LSU game. OK, so on the plus side, there's a chance that she might have been in labor during the game: What could be a better way to take your mind off things?
On the other hand, what if she gave birth DURING the game? Shamelessly, I'd suggest that's why you have a DVR.
What can I say: It was our second go-round, so I think we were a lot more relaxed about things, so we could entertain notions that are ludicrous on their face -- like whether the birth of your child "conflicts" with a huge football game involving your favorite team.
Anyone else have a situation like this?
-- Dan
Ross Fisher: Honourary Varsity Dad
Golfer Ross Fisher's wife hasn't given birth yet (as of early Monday morning), but let's induct him among Varsity Dads a little early.
It's the least we can do, given Fisher's dilemma: If his wife went into labor during the British Open, he was prepared to walk away mid-round to be there for the birth of his child.
It was made all the more dramatic, given that he was at one point leading the Open. In the end, he might have been better off being called away.
That scenario would have offered him golf immortality. As it stands, he tanked Sunday -- mentally preoccupied, ya think? -- and finished 13th.
Question: Would you have left a major sports event you were leading to be there for the birth of your first child? On the one hand, I can't imagine NOT being there. On the other, it's the pinnacle of your professional life.
-- Dan
It's the least we can do, given Fisher's dilemma: If his wife went into labor during the British Open, he was prepared to walk away mid-round to be there for the birth of his child.
It was made all the more dramatic, given that he was at one point leading the Open. In the end, he might have been better off being called away.
That scenario would have offered him golf immortality. As it stands, he tanked Sunday -- mentally preoccupied, ya think? -- and finished 13th.
Question: Would you have left a major sports event you were leading to be there for the birth of your first child? On the one hand, I can't imagine NOT being there. On the other, it's the pinnacle of your professional life.
-- Dan
Saturday, July 18, 2009
How to Spend an Anniversary: West 4th St.
Eight years ago, I went on my first date with my future wife -- it started with a long walk through NYC's West Village, including a stop by the West 4th Street basketball courts (the famous "Cage" -- HER IDEA!). I think her willingness to stop there with me to hang out and watch hoops was one of the reasons I instantly fell for her.
Tonight, we celebrated the 8-year anniversary (Tuesday, really, but this was the closest weekend night) by recreating some of that walk (including dinner at the place where we ate) AND we included a drop-by at West 4th's Cage -- this time, though, we had our two kids.
It was Jonah's first trip ever. I held him at the chain-link fence, but I'm quite sure not much registered. It was Gabe's second or third trip ever -- the first this summer, and his ability to understand what was going on was vastly more complex than a year ago.
Yes, he was more interested in the colorful display of souvenir T-shirts available hanging on the Cage fence than he was in the sloppy, up-and-down basketball on the court (the game we were watching ended something like 112-103). But the spark of enthusiasm is there.
Fun way to spend an anniversary. I wouldn't recommend bringing your kids along for your WEDDING anniversary, but for a First Date anniversary, it worked out OK.
-- Dan
(Oh, I know that I'm not raising my kid to be a pro athlete -- or even a college athlete -- but is it too much to ask that he gets at least one hoops run at West 4th St. in his lifetime?)
Tonight, we celebrated the 8-year anniversary (Tuesday, really, but this was the closest weekend night) by recreating some of that walk (including dinner at the place where we ate) AND we included a drop-by at West 4th's Cage -- this time, though, we had our two kids.
It was Jonah's first trip ever. I held him at the chain-link fence, but I'm quite sure not much registered. It was Gabe's second or third trip ever -- the first this summer, and his ability to understand what was going on was vastly more complex than a year ago.
Yes, he was more interested in the colorful display of souvenir T-shirts available hanging on the Cage fence than he was in the sloppy, up-and-down basketball on the court (the game we were watching ended something like 112-103). But the spark of enthusiasm is there.
Fun way to spend an anniversary. I wouldn't recommend bringing your kids along for your WEDDING anniversary, but for a First Date anniversary, it worked out OK.
-- Dan
(Oh, I know that I'm not raising my kid to be a pro athlete -- or even a college athlete -- but is it too much to ask that he gets at least one hoops run at West 4th St. in his lifetime?)
Friday, July 17, 2009
Myron Rolle: Ultimate Role (Rolle) Model
When my sons grow up, I want them to aspire to be like Myron Rolle.
Milestone Parenting Moment: Wii With Kid
Last night, I introduced Gabe to video games for the first time. We played Mario Kart on the Wii. He was fairly stunned that this kind of thing exists, but obviously delighted.
I expect that within a year, he will be much better at the Wii than I am (though I'm not very good).
Parents of older kids: What is their video-game consumption like? Anyone get routed by their kids in Madden or FIFA or any of the other sports games?
-- Dan
I expect that within a year, he will be much better at the Wii than I am (though I'm not very good).
Parents of older kids: What is their video-game consumption like? Anyone get routed by their kids in Madden or FIFA or any of the other sports games?
-- Dan
Thursday, July 16, 2009
NFL Supplemental Draft Mania -- Or Not
I have a lot of aspirations for my two boys as it relates to their sports fandom.
Deep passion for at least one team? Check.
Top-level appreciation for all sports? Check.
There are plenty of others.
One that does not make the list is "NFL Supplemental Draft Expert."
-- Dan
Deep passion for at least one team? Check.
Top-level appreciation for all sports? Check.
There are plenty of others.
One that does not make the list is "NFL Supplemental Draft Expert."
-- Dan
Tweet of the Morning: Dan Levy
Dan Levy (@onthedlpodcast) is the brains behind "On the DL," the leading indie sports podcast. This was his tweet earlier today, and everyone can relate:
-- Dan
Simple joys in life - when you have to send an email to your wife with the subject line Poop! b/c your kid finally went.Follow Dan @onthedlpodcast and find his site here.
-- Dan
Top Ten "Bad Boy" Names
Per Babble, the Top 10 Bad Boy names are...
Alec
Ernest
Garland
Ivan
Kareem
Luke
Malcolm
Preston
Tyrell
Walter
Any notable athletes share these names?
Ivan (Rodriguez)
Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar)
Luke (Scott)
Malcolm (Jenkins)
Preston (Wilson?)
Tyrell (Sutton?)
Walter (Payton)
Any others you can think of? So there you have it (or, not really): What you name your kid DOES matter.
-- Dan
Alec
Ernest
Garland
Ivan
Kareem
Luke
Malcolm
Preston
Tyrell
Walter
Any notable athletes share these names?
Ivan (Rodriguez)
Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar)
Luke (Scott)
Malcolm (Jenkins)
Preston (Wilson?)
Tyrell (Sutton?)
Walter (Payton)
Any others you can think of? So there you have it (or, not really): What you name your kid DOES matter.
-- Dan
Which Athlete Do You Want Your Kid To Admire, Emulate Or Otherwise Respect?
I'm not going to answer this here -- it's more of a start to a larger, ongoing discussion about athletes as role models. And, if they are role models, which athletes you want your kid to admire?
For example: Boston fans, do you want your kid to admire Tom Brady? I guess it would depend on how you feel about getting your girlfriend pregnant, then kind of fleeing the scene. (Although Brady does apparently spend many quality days per year with his kid.)
Do you want your kid to admire Tiger? Ahh: Now THERE is a good father, driven at work but utterly devoted to his kids (probably more now than before he took a year off to rehab, when he really became a Mr. Mom -- there's a Tiger documentary in there, somewhere).
Personally, I would go with Tim Tebow. Yes, I'm biased. (Especially as of yesterday.) But what's not to like about a guy who is not only a great athlete, but a great person?
Do my kids need to learn the specific lessons of evangelical Christianity? Oh, probably not. But if I ever met Tebow, I'm quite sure he would respect my kids' non-Christianity and simply instruct them in some solid moral high-ground: Golden Rule, etc.
I think one of the things that makes Tebow so fascinating is that in an era and a culture of stars -- sports or otherwise -- who never EVER live up to their image (or our aspirations for them), Tebow does.
So: Which athletes do want YOUR kids to admire, and why?
-- Dan
For example: Boston fans, do you want your kid to admire Tom Brady? I guess it would depend on how you feel about getting your girlfriend pregnant, then kind of fleeing the scene. (Although Brady does apparently spend many quality days per year with his kid.)
Do you want your kid to admire Tiger? Ahh: Now THERE is a good father, driven at work but utterly devoted to his kids (probably more now than before he took a year off to rehab, when he really became a Mr. Mom -- there's a Tiger documentary in there, somewhere).
Personally, I would go with Tim Tebow. Yes, I'm biased. (Especially as of yesterday.) But what's not to like about a guy who is not only a great athlete, but a great person?
Do my kids need to learn the specific lessons of evangelical Christianity? Oh, probably not. But if I ever met Tebow, I'm quite sure he would respect my kids' non-Christianity and simply instruct them in some solid moral high-ground: Golden Rule, etc.
I think one of the things that makes Tebow so fascinating is that in an era and a culture of stars -- sports or otherwise -- who never EVER live up to their image (or our aspirations for them), Tebow does.
So: Which athletes do want YOUR kids to admire, and why?
-- Dan
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Great Lesson from the President
Did you see President Obama throw out the first pitch at last night's All-Star Game?
He trotted out to the mound wearing his team's jacket -- White Sox. Now, if there's anything that can make otherwise mild-mannered Cardinals fans get riled up, it's Chicago.
But Obama stayed true to his fandom, showing his allegiances on the game's biggest stage. (He got the pitch in there, too -- if helped a bit by Albert Pujols' catching skills.)
What a lesson for his daughters about being proud of your team allegiance. (I have heard Michelle Obama is a Cubs fan -- wouldn't THAT be awkward.)
-- Dan
He trotted out to the mound wearing his team's jacket -- White Sox. Now, if there's anything that can make otherwise mild-mannered Cardinals fans get riled up, it's Chicago.
But Obama stayed true to his fandom, showing his allegiances on the game's biggest stage. (He got the pitch in there, too -- if helped a bit by Albert Pujols' catching skills.)
What a lesson for his daughters about being proud of your team allegiance. (I have heard Michelle Obama is a Cubs fan -- wouldn't THAT be awkward.)
-- Dan
Re-Tweet of the Morning: Clay Travis
Some of our favorite Varsity Dads (and Moms) take to Twitter to update their followers on the latest parenting goings-on, sometimes sports-related, sometimes not:
Today's Tweet of the Morning:
Send in your own nominees for Tweet of the Morning to the email on the upper-right or just re-tweet them @varsitydad.
Today's Tweet of the Morning:
Up since 4 in the morning. Thanks Fox. Sesame Street on three hours sleep is strangely alluring.-- Clay Travis, author of the forthcoming "On Rocky Top" and AOL FanHouse contributor.
Send in your own nominees for Tweet of the Morning to the email on the upper-right or just re-tweet them @varsitydad.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Tweet of the Morning: Headlining
ESPN.com Editor-in-Chief Rob King is one of the best at combining his love of sports (and job in sports) with his parenting, through his Twitter feed. Here's his tweet from just a few minutes ago:
-- Dan
Seeing small kids in the airport makes me feel both wistful and guilt-ridden. In headline terms, "Dad sad, glad. Bad?"(See or write a VarsityDad-worthy line on Twitter? Email varsitydad-[at]-[gmail] or retweet to @varsitydad.)
-- Dan
Monday, July 13, 2009
My Favorite Baseball Ad, Via State Farm
Well, now THIS could be the official advertising sponsorship video of Varsity Dad:
Trying Versus Succeeding: A Comparison
Jason from Dadcentric has a terrific post about his 5-year-old going for his Orange Belt test (which feels appropriate, given Friday's post about having your kid take martial arts).
The money quote:
The money quote:
And so I found myself torn: I wanted him to pass, I wanted those instructors to see that he's only five and he tried his best and give him that belt. He's five; there will be plenty of opportunities for him to have his heart broken.And at the same time, I wanted him to fail. I wanted him to know that he needs to work for things, to understand that very little in life is given to you, to know that the hardest earned victory is the sweetest. All those cliches that your high school gym teachers taught you, I wanted him to learn.
How does it end? No spoilers here, but there's some talk about Yoda. The whole story is worth a read.
-- Dan
-- Dan
Magary File: That Will Teach You...
3-year-old wants to leave movie after an hour? Well, Drew, what did you expect to happen when you took her to a movie at that age? Gotta stick with the half-hour-or-less TV episodes and/or short-form DVD stuff. As for the crying at Pixar plotting? Their execs must love to hear stories like that. (Seriously.)
Today's Varsity Dad Event: Home Run Derby
What: MLB Home Run Derby
When: 8 p.m. ET
Where: ESPN or MLB.com
Why it makes for great parent-kid sports-TV watching: The simplicity. The entire premise is to jack homers, the most telegenic of any single action in sports.
What an amazing opportunity to bond over the awe-inspiring arc of a well-hit home-run ball.
(And perhaps to note that ol' Dad was more of a plucky singles slapper in college intramural softball and that "Chicks dig the long-ball" is a product of the Steroid Era.)
For older kids, this year's Derby offers the chance to watch the greatest hitter of this generation -- Albert Pujols. You will want to be able to look back and say, "Remember when we watched him in the 2009 Home Run Derby in St. Louis?"
(Beyond that, there is sweet-swinging Joe Mauer and six others to discuss.)
For younger kids, what could be more fun than to keep track of the home runs hit by counting?
I think my favorite tradition of the Home Run Derby is very much in line with the Varsity Dad mindset: The players with kids bring them along, onto the field, where they sit among the gawking All-Stars and get to cheer on their dads.
Who wouldn't want to have their kid next to them while they put on a show doing what they do best?
One of the best sports events of the year for families to watch together.
When: 8 p.m. ET
Where: ESPN or MLB.com
Why it makes for great parent-kid sports-TV watching: The simplicity. The entire premise is to jack homers, the most telegenic of any single action in sports.
What an amazing opportunity to bond over the awe-inspiring arc of a well-hit home-run ball.
(And perhaps to note that ol' Dad was more of a plucky singles slapper in college intramural softball and that "Chicks dig the long-ball" is a product of the Steroid Era.)
For older kids, this year's Derby offers the chance to watch the greatest hitter of this generation -- Albert Pujols. You will want to be able to look back and say, "Remember when we watched him in the 2009 Home Run Derby in St. Louis?"
(Beyond that, there is sweet-swinging Joe Mauer and six others to discuss.)
For younger kids, what could be more fun than to keep track of the home runs hit by counting?
I think my favorite tradition of the Home Run Derby is very much in line with the Varsity Dad mindset: The players with kids bring them along, onto the field, where they sit among the gawking All-Stars and get to cheer on their dads.
Who wouldn't want to have their kid next to them while they put on a show doing what they do best?
One of the best sports events of the year for families to watch together.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Soccer Class for 3-Year-Olds and UFC 100
My 3-year-old took soccer classes this spring. My first reaction: "And so it begins..."
I refuse to be part of the ridiculous obsessive side of youth-sports culture that turns kids (and parents) into mini-Marinoviches.
As you know, this blog is about raising a great sports fan, not raising an all-star athlete. I think part of growing to love sports is developed by playing sports. But for fun.
I want my kid to play organized sports so he can (a) have fun, (b) learn about teamwork and cooperation, (c) be exposed to controlled competition and (d) value physical exercise.
Three years old FELT early to have him in soccer classes, but what's the harm in running around a gym kicking a ball? (It's also the easiest sport to try -- it's too early for, say, hoops.)
He actually enjoyed it. It was just fun little drills that turned the ball into a "pumpkin" or cones into "hats" or the goal into "hungry hippos."
I'm willing to admit it: I slipped up once in a while. I wanted him to have fun... but I wanted him to do well -- to learn skills and get better.
On more than one occasion, I was helicopter parenting. (Not proud of it!) It wasn't out of "You better get that soccer scholarship to UVA, little bastard!"
My thought was that if he got better, he would enjoy it more. And, of course, I was projecting -- just like every other ridiculous "soccer parent" (proxy for "sport parent") out there.
In the end, he had a TON of fun -- he talked about the upcoming class constantly and seemed determined (on his own) to master the skills, eager to please the coaches.
And even though I can talk all I want about having no interest in raising my kid to be a sports star, I learned my first lesson -- and a valuable one -- about putting that into practice.
Now, how does that loop into UFC 100, this weekend's big event in sports -- and arguably the biggest event in the history of MMA?
The other sport you hear about young kids -- say, 3-year-olds -- doing is martial arts. Love it: Balance, coordination, confidence, discipline.
What I'm curious about is how soon these dojos are offering "MMA for Toddlers" -- they already offer MMA for adults (and even some young adults/teens).
The market is there. And you know the parents are following.
Again, I'm not hoping my son will become the next UFC champ. With his (my) genetics, that is an impossibility anyway, if only because I live most of my dorky life in some stage of anxiety, not the least of which for getting my face bashed in.
But is there something wrong with him learning to be badass enough that other kids won't mess with him? (Downside: He and his friends start some sort of YouTubian "backyard brawlin'" league.)
If nothing else, he will have the appreciation for MMA as a spectator sport that I don't have, probably because it wasn't an organized sport when I was growing up, learning my fan habits.
-- Dan
I refuse to be part of the ridiculous obsessive side of youth-sports culture that turns kids (and parents) into mini-Marinoviches.
As you know, this blog is about raising a great sports fan, not raising an all-star athlete. I think part of growing to love sports is developed by playing sports. But for fun.
I want my kid to play organized sports so he can (a) have fun, (b) learn about teamwork and cooperation, (c) be exposed to controlled competition and (d) value physical exercise.
Three years old FELT early to have him in soccer classes, but what's the harm in running around a gym kicking a ball? (It's also the easiest sport to try -- it's too early for, say, hoops.)
He actually enjoyed it. It was just fun little drills that turned the ball into a "pumpkin" or cones into "hats" or the goal into "hungry hippos."
I'm willing to admit it: I slipped up once in a while. I wanted him to have fun... but I wanted him to do well -- to learn skills and get better.
On more than one occasion, I was helicopter parenting. (Not proud of it!) It wasn't out of "You better get that soccer scholarship to UVA, little bastard!"
My thought was that if he got better, he would enjoy it more. And, of course, I was projecting -- just like every other ridiculous "soccer parent" (proxy for "sport parent") out there.
In the end, he had a TON of fun -- he talked about the upcoming class constantly and seemed determined (on his own) to master the skills, eager to please the coaches.
And even though I can talk all I want about having no interest in raising my kid to be a sports star, I learned my first lesson -- and a valuable one -- about putting that into practice.
Now, how does that loop into UFC 100, this weekend's big event in sports -- and arguably the biggest event in the history of MMA?
The other sport you hear about young kids -- say, 3-year-olds -- doing is martial arts. Love it: Balance, coordination, confidence, discipline.
What I'm curious about is how soon these dojos are offering "MMA for Toddlers" -- they already offer MMA for adults (and even some young adults/teens).
The market is there. And you know the parents are following.
Again, I'm not hoping my son will become the next UFC champ. With his (my) genetics, that is an impossibility anyway, if only because I live most of my dorky life in some stage of anxiety, not the least of which for getting my face bashed in.
But is there something wrong with him learning to be badass enough that other kids won't mess with him? (Downside: He and his friends start some sort of YouTubian "backyard brawlin'" league.)
If nothing else, he will have the appreciation for MMA as a spectator sport that I don't have, probably because it wasn't an organized sport when I was growing up, learning my fan habits.
-- Dan
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Hypospadias: Drew Magary Examines
Having a new baby boy has turned Deadspin's Drew Magary into a medical analyst. Let's see here... "Hypospadias," eh? Yeesh.
(For the record, I'll post anything that Drew writes even remotely related to parenthood. Check out his defunct -- but still available -- blog "FKS" at the bottom of the Blogroll on the right.)
(For the record, I'll post anything that Drew writes even remotely related to parenthood. Check out his defunct -- but still available -- blog "FKS" at the bottom of the Blogroll on the right.)
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Lessons From a Late Mom to a New Dad
Great column by Bloomberg's Scott Soshnick, who celebrated the birth of his first child on the same day his mom passed away.
As he recounts his mom's attitude about kids playing sports, Soshnick lays out some a core value of youth sports that this blog believes in strongly, that the only real "score" to watch is:
Did you have fun?
Condolences on your loss, Scott. But welcome to parenthood. With a role model like his mom, Scott is a welcome member of Varsity Dad-dom.
-- Dan
As he recounts his mom's attitude about kids playing sports, Soshnick lays out some a core value of youth sports that this blog believes in strongly, that the only real "score" to watch is:
Did you have fun?
Condolences on your loss, Scott. But welcome to parenthood. With a role model like his mom, Scott is a welcome member of Varsity Dad-dom.
-- Dan
GeekDads vs. Varsity Dads
Beyond the common ground of being fanboys of various persuasions, the life of a GeekDad isn't so different from a Varsity Dad.
-- Dan
-- Dan
The Man Wall vs. Anything Else
I can think of about a thousand different things to spend $15,000 on that would offer a lot more enjoyment than The Man Wall.
If you've got kids and are a sports fan, stick with the one decent HDTV -- ours is 37" and I watch sports for a living -- that you can get for anywhere between $500 and $2000, then spend the rest of that $15,000 on, oh, socking it away for your kids' college payments.
And if that's too abstract and you really do want to spend that money on something "fun," try tickets to games or -- better yet -- some fun sports equipment that you can use with your kids.
(As always, I'm not suggesting that you aspire to turn your kid into some kind of robo-athlete. But if you want to get them to love sports as a fan, get them to play sports as a kid.)
-- D.S.
If you've got kids and are a sports fan, stick with the one decent HDTV -- ours is 37" and I watch sports for a living -- that you can get for anywhere between $500 and $2000, then spend the rest of that $15,000 on, oh, socking it away for your kids' college payments.
And if that's too abstract and you really do want to spend that money on something "fun," try tickets to games or -- better yet -- some fun sports equipment that you can use with your kids.
(As always, I'm not suggesting that you aspire to turn your kid into some kind of robo-athlete. But if you want to get them to love sports as a fan, get them to play sports as a kid.)
-- D.S.
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Best MLB Ballparks for Taking Your Kids
What are the best MLB ballparks for taking your kids? (Let's qualify that by IDing whether your kid is 3, like mine, or older -- like 8 or 9 -- or older still, like 13. I would assume that beyond 7 or 8, you can take any kid to any MLB park.)
Sporting News just released a ranking of all MLB parks -- unsurprisingly, Fenway came in 1st. Surprisingly, Pittsburgh's PNC Park came in 2nd. Wrigley was 3rd.
What I really want to know is: What MLB ballpark is the most kid-friendly? Gentlest parking (or public transportation)? Best food? Easiest restroom lines? Affordable seats and/or concessions and/or merchandise? Most exciting mid-inning entertainment, to keep the kid occupied?
I am going to return to this question as nominations roll in, across any of those categories. Doesn't have to be one end-all-be-all ballpark to take the kids to. Presumably, every park has its kid-friendly (and kid-unfriendly) components.
Everyone plays this game: How many MLB parks have you personally been to? I am pretty low, at least of current parks: Camden Yards, Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, Miller Park (Milwaukee), ATT Park (SF). But I have been to Camden (within a drive of where I grew up) and Wrigley (used to live in Wrigleyville) a ton of times.
(And I am hurt by the recent closing of Shea Stadium and Yankee Stadium -- went to both often, but haven't been to either of the new parks yet. Throw old Comiskey Park, RFK Stadium in DC, the Seattle Kingdome and old Memorial Stadium in there, too. Still: All in all, pretty flimsy list.)
-- Dan
Sporting News just released a ranking of all MLB parks -- unsurprisingly, Fenway came in 1st. Surprisingly, Pittsburgh's PNC Park came in 2nd. Wrigley was 3rd.
What I really want to know is: What MLB ballpark is the most kid-friendly? Gentlest parking (or public transportation)? Best food? Easiest restroom lines? Affordable seats and/or concessions and/or merchandise? Most exciting mid-inning entertainment, to keep the kid occupied?
I am going to return to this question as nominations roll in, across any of those categories. Doesn't have to be one end-all-be-all ballpark to take the kids to. Presumably, every park has its kid-friendly (and kid-unfriendly) components.
Everyone plays this game: How many MLB parks have you personally been to? I am pretty low, at least of current parks: Camden Yards, Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, Miller Park (Milwaukee), ATT Park (SF). But I have been to Camden (within a drive of where I grew up) and Wrigley (used to live in Wrigleyville) a ton of times.
(And I am hurt by the recent closing of Shea Stadium and Yankee Stadium -- went to both often, but haven't been to either of the new parks yet. Throw old Comiskey Park, RFK Stadium in DC, the Seattle Kingdome and old Memorial Stadium in there, too. Still: All in all, pretty flimsy list.)
-- Dan
Best (Sports) Books For Kids?
Nick Kristof had a fun weekend op-ed listing his favorite children's books. (It generated something like 2,300 comments - unsurprisingly. Kristof is going to think there's a better business in becoming a parent blogger than blogging about international-rights issues.)
While not about sports -- and this is a blog connecting sports to parenting -- it lends itself to a great conversation-starter: What are the best children's books ever about sports?
My kids are still too small for traditional kids' books -- with chapters, well-developed narratives, etc. The closest I can come to that is Tedd Arnold's "Hooray For Fly Guy," which has chapters (3), a narrative (small) and is about youth football (mostly).
So for those of you with older kids, do you have any great sports books to recommend? (Novels, in particular -- I remember being in elementary school and inhaling Matt Christopher books. (I haven't thought about that author in years...wow, look at him now.)
Anyway, would love to get your recommendations in the Comments -- and it's great for my own Top 10 list in a future post.
-- Dan
While not about sports -- and this is a blog connecting sports to parenting -- it lends itself to a great conversation-starter: What are the best children's books ever about sports?
My kids are still too small for traditional kids' books -- with chapters, well-developed narratives, etc. The closest I can come to that is Tedd Arnold's "Hooray For Fly Guy," which has chapters (3), a narrative (small) and is about youth football (mostly).
So for those of you with older kids, do you have any great sports books to recommend? (Novels, in particular -- I remember being in elementary school and inhaling Matt Christopher books. (I haven't thought about that author in years...wow, look at him now.)
Anyway, would love to get your recommendations in the Comments -- and it's great for my own Top 10 list in a future post.
-- Dan
Monday, July 06, 2009
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Last Day to Fill Out MLB All-Star Ballots
When you are filling out an All-Star ballot with your kid, and he wants to put "Jimmy Rollins" because you are die-hard Phillies fans, but you know in your baseball-loving (and fantasy-owning) soul that Hanley Ramirez is clearly the best shortstop in the NL, do you:
(a) Indulge your kid and vote Rollins.
(b) Use it as a teaching moment.
Thoughts?
-- D.S.
(a) Indulge your kid and vote Rollins.
(b) Use it as a teaching moment.
Thoughts?
-- D.S.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
The Great Baby-Name Debate, Continued
When discussing baby names, there are two particularly important rules as they relate to sports:
(1) You should not name your kid after your favorite team/player/etc. (Any relationship -- say, the anagram of "Jonah" being "J. Noah" -- should be complete coincidence.)
(2) There are a lot of names that can be -- and should be -- immediately discounted because they evoke a strong negative reaction from the fan in you.
For example, for a lot of reasons, I was not going to name either of my boys "Peyton." But among them is this: LIKE I WOULD NAME MY KID AFTER PEYTON MANNING?!?!
Here's a great take on that from the blog Legend of Cecilio Guante from a guy without kids, but heading into that stage -- take it from me: it is MUCH more of an issue than you can even imagine.
Which is kind of awesome, but simultaneously kind of ridiculous. (But not THAT ridiculous.)
-- Dan
(1) You should not name your kid after your favorite team/player/etc. (Any relationship -- say, the anagram of "Jonah" being "J. Noah" -- should be complete coincidence.)
(2) There are a lot of names that can be -- and should be -- immediately discounted because they evoke a strong negative reaction from the fan in you.
For example, for a lot of reasons, I was not going to name either of my boys "Peyton." But among them is this: LIKE I WOULD NAME MY KID AFTER PEYTON MANNING?!?!
Here's a great take on that from the blog Legend of Cecilio Guante from a guy without kids, but heading into that stage -- take it from me: it is MUCH more of an issue than you can even imagine.
Which is kind of awesome, but simultaneously kind of ridiculous. (But not THAT ridiculous.)
-- Dan
Tweet of the Morning: Matching Romo
From Washington Post blogger Dan Steinberg's Twitter dispatch (@dcsportsbog) this morning from Tiger's golf tournament in D.C.:
8:24 a.m. ET: Oh look. A father-daughter in matching Romo jerseys. How sweet.
8:26 a.m. ET: And the daughter's name is Dallas. Shoot me.
-- Dan
PS: You can follow Varsity Dad on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/varsitydad.
8:24 a.m. ET: Oh look. A father-daughter in matching Romo jerseys. How sweet.
8:26 a.m. ET: And the daughter's name is Dallas. Shoot me.
-- Dan
PS: You can follow Varsity Dad on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/varsitydad.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Not Your Dad's Fandom (Or Yours Either)
Lake The Posts expands on a point that I make regularly: Fans under 17 (or under 25, etc) have a vastly different frame of reference than those of us in our 30s (or older).
Consider that someone under the age of 30 has zero first-hand recollection of something you find as life-defining as, say, the '85 bears or "Game 6" of the 1986 World Series. "Magic and Bird?" You might as well be talking to someone my age about Wilt and Russell.
Someone under the age of 25 has zero recollection of that epic Kentucky-Duke game in 1992 -- and no first-hand recollection of the Fab Five. Kids in college now will have no memory -- zero -- of the '96 Olympics in Atlanta.
LTP tries to project how a 17-year-old would feel about Northwestern if they were being recruited by NU -- little-to-no awareness before, say, 2002.
I do think that there is a disconnect between what sports columnists (and sports bloggers) in their 50s, 40s and even 30s use as sports-cultural reference points versus what a teenager does.
Maybe that is obvious. Maybe it has always been that way. But it's not really reflected in the coverage, I don't think. We may live in a wonderful era of new media, but it is dominated by nostalgia by me and my contemporaries, currently holding the megaphone, for our own teen years of the late-80s/early-90s.
This isn't a one-time theme; this does -- and will -- pop up over and over again on this blog.
-- D.S.
Consider that someone under the age of 30 has zero first-hand recollection of something you find as life-defining as, say, the '85 bears or "Game 6" of the 1986 World Series. "Magic and Bird?" You might as well be talking to someone my age about Wilt and Russell.
Someone under the age of 25 has zero recollection of that epic Kentucky-Duke game in 1992 -- and no first-hand recollection of the Fab Five. Kids in college now will have no memory -- zero -- of the '96 Olympics in Atlanta.
LTP tries to project how a 17-year-old would feel about Northwestern if they were being recruited by NU -- little-to-no awareness before, say, 2002.
I do think that there is a disconnect between what sports columnists (and sports bloggers) in their 50s, 40s and even 30s use as sports-cultural reference points versus what a teenager does.
Maybe that is obvious. Maybe it has always been that way. But it's not really reflected in the coverage, I don't think. We may live in a wonderful era of new media, but it is dominated by nostalgia by me and my contemporaries, currently holding the megaphone, for our own teen years of the late-80s/early-90s.
This isn't a one-time theme; this does -- and will -- pop up over and over again on this blog.
-- D.S.
13-Year-Old Commits to Tennessee
Eh, it's not like a 1-year-old committing to Florida.
-- Dan
(By the way, I fully expect Clay Travis to be announcing Fox Travis's commitment to Tennessee any moment now.)
-- Dan
(By the way, I fully expect Clay Travis to be announcing Fox Travis's commitment to Tennessee any moment now.)
Rebooting Varsity Dad
Varsity Dad is a great idea suffering from benign neglect. Between my work at DanShanoff.com, my daily Sporting News column, my day job and -- obviously -- my kids, time is limited.
But that's no excuse.
Too many great stories to talk about. Too many other fans like me have had kids (or continue to parent their kids) since this site launched -- wow -- 3 years ago.
In fact, when we celebrated my first kid's 3rd birthday in May, I recognized that as an ideal moment for a Varsity Dad reboot. Came and went...
Then there was Father's Day two weeks ago. Great time for a Varsity Dad reboot! Came and went...
Not to mention the birth of my second kid, last October. Perhaps not the best time for a Varsity Dad reboot, given that two kids is a lot more than twice the work. But still...came and went.
The irony is that Gabe is WAY more aware of sports -- playing, watching -- than he ever was before I hit the snooze button on this blog.
He took soccer classes this spring -- yes, at age 3. He loved them, even though they are not exactly in line with this site's mission to raise an all-star sports fan. (Now: WATCHING soccer on TV? Totally in line. In fact, he was home from daycare sick last Wednesday, and I had him on the couch with me watching the US upset Spain in the Confederation Cup.)
Gabe's fandom remains a work-in-progress. We were both thrilled when Florida's Percy Harvin -- Gabe's favorite player (sorry, Tim Tebow) -- was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings; purple is Gabe's favorite color, so the notion of buying him his first NFL jersey (Harvin's purple Vikings No. 12) is absolutely on the table this fall.
He and I went to an outdoor basketball court last week -- again, not so much with the actual sport-playing, versus the sport-following/-watching. It didn't help that he is still way too young to actually be able to grasp (or play) basketball -- or that I am so pathetically out of shape.
This weekend, we did take shots on a 3-foot-tall mini-hoop; much more his speed, and he even showcased a pretty good "mid-range" jumpshot -- I have no idea who taught him this, but he instinctively knew to bring the mini-ball over his head to shoot it. (Could he have learned it from... TV?!?! One can only hope.)
Anyway, it's unnecessary to deliver some unifying theory of this reboot. The mission remains the same: To cover the journey of raising an all-star sports fan, however that might happen.
As before, I want you to share your own stories, pass along your own links to interesting VarsityDad-worthy material and otherwise join in the process.
Otherwise, the proof of the reboot is in the posts, which I will hope to make frequent. I want this to become THE intersection of parenting and sports fandom.
But, as always, NOT about getting your kid to become a sports star, but raising them to be a sports FAN.
-- Dan
But that's no excuse.
Too many great stories to talk about. Too many other fans like me have had kids (or continue to parent their kids) since this site launched -- wow -- 3 years ago.
In fact, when we celebrated my first kid's 3rd birthday in May, I recognized that as an ideal moment for a Varsity Dad reboot. Came and went...
Then there was Father's Day two weeks ago. Great time for a Varsity Dad reboot! Came and went...
Not to mention the birth of my second kid, last October. Perhaps not the best time for a Varsity Dad reboot, given that two kids is a lot more than twice the work. But still...came and went.
The irony is that Gabe is WAY more aware of sports -- playing, watching -- than he ever was before I hit the snooze button on this blog.
He took soccer classes this spring -- yes, at age 3. He loved them, even though they are not exactly in line with this site's mission to raise an all-star sports fan. (Now: WATCHING soccer on TV? Totally in line. In fact, he was home from daycare sick last Wednesday, and I had him on the couch with me watching the US upset Spain in the Confederation Cup.)
Gabe's fandom remains a work-in-progress. We were both thrilled when Florida's Percy Harvin -- Gabe's favorite player (sorry, Tim Tebow) -- was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings; purple is Gabe's favorite color, so the notion of buying him his first NFL jersey (Harvin's purple Vikings No. 12) is absolutely on the table this fall.
He and I went to an outdoor basketball court last week -- again, not so much with the actual sport-playing, versus the sport-following/-watching. It didn't help that he is still way too young to actually be able to grasp (or play) basketball -- or that I am so pathetically out of shape.
This weekend, we did take shots on a 3-foot-tall mini-hoop; much more his speed, and he even showcased a pretty good "mid-range" jumpshot -- I have no idea who taught him this, but he instinctively knew to bring the mini-ball over his head to shoot it. (Could he have learned it from... TV?!?! One can only hope.)
Anyway, it's unnecessary to deliver some unifying theory of this reboot. The mission remains the same: To cover the journey of raising an all-star sports fan, however that might happen.
As before, I want you to share your own stories, pass along your own links to interesting VarsityDad-worthy material and otherwise join in the process.
Otherwise, the proof of the reboot is in the posts, which I will hope to make frequent. I want this to become THE intersection of parenting and sports fandom.
But, as always, NOT about getting your kid to become a sports star, but raising them to be a sports FAN.
-- Dan
Monday, January 12, 2009
1-Year-Old Knows Her Blazers
Very sweet, particularly "Kobe sucks." Either Gabe's first word was "Tebow" -- or I have just convinced myself it was. (Either way, it was one of his FIRST words.)
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Better Dad Than I Am
Logan Tebow Bradley. I tip my cap to you, sir.
The best I could manage with Kid No. 2 was a first name that anagrams to "J. Noah"
The best I could manage with Kid No. 2 was a first name that anagrams to "J. Noah"
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