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Re: Anyone have any cool stories about sports and your Dad?
Kind of a funny story about my dad, the "star."
Growing up, people always used to tell me how they couldnt believe how my dad never made it to the Majors. "What a hitter!" "What an arm he had!" I heard it all for years. Honestly, I never really paid attention to it. My dad was and still is a very humble guy, just occasionally talking about his playing days, though I usually brushed it off. As a side note, he went to tryouts for the Pirates, Indians, Reds and Mets, all of which were interested in signing him, but he chose to enter the Marine Corps, was injured in combat, and was then unable to compete.
In any case, my dad always talked about his "buddies" growing up, never using their names. He talked about how he didnt compare to their skill levels and could never have made it...he seemed to be the only one that thought this way.
All the years he talked about these guys, I never thought to ask who they were. Several years ago, I came back to visit my parents and my dad met me at the door. His words to me, "Don't take off your shoes, we have some people to meet." I went along with it and got in the truck. My dad told me he wanted me to meet some of his buddies from "back in the day" as he called it. The drive was a short one. When I got out of the car, there stood Joe and Phil Neikro and John Havlicek. These guys talked about my dad that afternoon like he was a Hall of Famer. Sharing stories of their high school days playing baseball together and best of all, hearing first hand confirmation from people that were at the doubleheader where my dad hit 7 home runs and threw a no hitter all within about a 5 hour span. Until this point, it was like hearing about Al Bundy and his "4 touchdowns in 1 game" story.
I was able to talk with these 3 gentlemen and see my dad laugh harder than I had ever seen him. It was the first and only time in my life I have seen my dad act embarrassed at others talking about him. To hear the Neikro's and Havlicek talk about my dad like a legend...I cant even describe it. When Phil told me that my dad threw "the best knuckleball he had ever seen" I was speechless. Really, what was I supposed to say?
After talking for nearly 2 hours, we all went to the Italian-American Club and had a few beers, talked about families and life in general. On the way home, my dad didnt say a single word, but I've never seen a bigger smile on his face...almost a smirk...telling me "told ya so!"
I'll never forget that day. That was the day I found out what a star my dad really was, though he was more of a legend to me off the field and continues to be a Hall of Famer in my eyes.
Kind of a funny story about my dad, the "star."
Growing up, people always used to tell me how they couldnt believe how my dad never made it to the Majors. "What a hitter!" "What an arm he had!" I heard it all for years. Honestly, I never really paid attention to it. My dad was and still is a very humble guy, just occasionally talking about his playing days, though I usually brushed it off. As a side note, he went to tryouts for the Pirates, Indians, Reds and Mets, all of which were interested in signing him, but he chose to enter the Marine Corps, was injured in combat, and was then unable to compete.
In any case, my dad always talked about his "buddies" growing up, never using their names. He talked about how he didnt compare to their skill levels and could never have made it...he seemed to be the only one that thought this way.
All the years he talked about these guys, I never thought to ask who they were. Several years ago, I came back to visit my parents and my dad met me at the door. His words to me, "Don't take off your shoes, we have some people to meet." I went along with it and got in the truck. My dad told me he wanted me to meet some of his buddies from "back in the day" as he called it. The drive was a short one. When I got out of the car, there stood Joe and Phil Neikro and John Havlicek. These guys talked about my dad that afternoon like he was a Hall of Famer. Sharing stories of their high school days playing baseball together and best of all, hearing first hand confirmation from people that were at the doubleheader where my dad hit 7 home runs and threw a no hitter all within about a 5 hour span. Until this point, it was like hearing about Al Bundy and his "4 touchdowns in 1 game" story.
I was able to talk with these 3 gentlemen and see my dad laugh harder than I had ever seen him. It was the first and only time in my life I have seen my dad act embarrassed at others talking about him. To hear the Neikro's and Havlicek talk about my dad like a legend...I cant even describe it. When Phil told me that my dad threw "the best knuckleball he had ever seen" I was speechless. Really, what was I supposed to say?
After talking for nearly 2 hours, we all went to the Italian-American Club and had a few beers, talked about families and life in general. On the way home, my dad didnt say a single word, but I've never seen a bigger smile on his face...almost a smirk...telling me "told ya so!"
I'll never forget that day. That was the day I found out what a star my dad really was, though he was more of a legend to me off the field and continues to be a Hall of Famer in my eyes.
Hope you enjoy!
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