CLEMSON — Happy Father’s Day out there.
This is the one day of the year when great men get honored by their children. And yes, if your children texted you or called you and told you, “Happy Father’s Day!” then you are a great man.
See, being a father is earned. It is earned by his actions. It is earned by how much he cares. It is earned by how much he shows he cares. It’s earned with hugs and kisses on the head. It’s earned when he is there for his children when they need him the most. It is earned when he travels across country to support his child in a soccer match or baseball game.
Being a father is earned with discipline and tough love. Being a father is earned by just being there.
Not all fathers deserve to be told “Happy Father’s Day!” Most do, but, unfortunately some do not. I am not going to go into those reasons, but they know why.
I had two great fathers. I was lucky. It does not mean they were perfect, but they tried to be which is what made them good dads.
I had my dad, who taught me about sports and my beloved Steelers. Most of my memories of my dad revolve around the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pittsburgh Pirates. During this time of the year when I went to my dad’s house, he would turn on the old AM radio and find KDKA Radio out of Pittsburgh.
Every summer, we would get just enough reception to listen for like an hour or so to the Pirates. This truly was some of my favorite memories about my dad. He loved to tell me stories about his favorite player – Roberto Clemente.
My dad was a proud Yinzer. He taught me everything he could about his hometown of Pittsburgh.
I will never forget that afternoon in early January of 1980. I was running around like a wild man, and my dad scooped me and sat me on the couch. He wrapped his arms around me, and pointed to the television set and said, “That’s the Pittsburgh Steelers. This is what we do on Sunday afternoons. We watch the Steelers.”
That moment forever impacted me. I did not move. I remember watching that AFC Championship Game between the Oilers and the Steelers and just being amazed. I did not understand what was going on, but I knew I loved it.
I have not stopped loving football since.
While my dad helped me fall in love with my Steelers and Pirates, my stepdad introduced me to Clemson, particularly Clemson football. I have shared in my book, The Hidden History of Clemson Football, when I first noticed the Tiger Paw—I was four-years old—but my curiosity for Clemson football did not take off until after I first learned about the Steelers.
My first real memories of Clemson football came in 1981. I listened to every game or watched it on television if I got the opportunity. I remember my stepdad went to the 1981 Wake Forest Game with some of his friends and when he came back, he told me all about it. It was amazing, or at least my nine-year old self thought so.
I soon started going to Clemson games with him and he took me on tours of the campus and gave me all the history. What a history it is. I fell in love with Clemson as a child and I have my stepdad to thank for that.
It’s crazy how things work out. Because of my dad’s love of sports, I became a sportswriter and from that I got the opportunity to do something I never thought was possible, cover the Clemson Tigers.
I remember my stepdad telling me before he died how proud of he was of me, and not because I was successful at what I do, but that I went and did what I love to do and I stuck with it. It’s a moment I will never forget.
I started covering Clemson in 2004, two years before he died. My mom told me he told everyone he could that I was a sportswriter and I was covering Clemson. He loved Clemson and it warms my heart to this day that I get to share his love for his school with all of you through my writings.
My dad passed away in 1997. I was just starting my career when he suddenly died. But his passion for sports, especially baseball and football, is passed to all of you in everything that I write.
See, both of those men are a part of me. They shaped my life and made me who I am today.
That is the power all fathers have. So, I hope you enjoyed your day with your children. You deserved it.
Happy Father’s Day!