Fathers Day: Game Days With Dad

When this years NBA Finals were over, amidst the celebration was Lakers radio analyst and former player Mychal Thompson. Thompson was there cheering for the Golden State Warriors and his son Klay Thompson. The elder Thompson won two championship rings when he was playing with the Lakers, but watching his son win a title, Thompson said it was better watching his son accomplish the ultimate NBA dream more than when he was playing basketball. The Thompson’s celebrating on the court, had me thinking what were my favorite sports memories with my dad.

Sep 12, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; NBA former player Mychal Thompson throws out the ceremonial first pitch before the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Like most sons I suppose sports was an easy way to communicate with my Dad , during breakfast we split the sports page, I would program my Dad’s phone so he would get game alerts, and we could split a bag of peanuts at any game whether it was the Dodgers, Lakers, or the Kings. Over the years my favorite moments with Pop revolved around some pretty cool sports moments and here are a few.

Game 6 1987 NBA Finals

Game 6 fell on a Sunday, the Los Angeles Lakers were up 3-2 and on the verge of beating their rivals the Boston Celtics for the second time in the eighties. My father had it all set up, he was barbecuing in anticipation for a Lakers clinching win. Lunch would be ready before game time, he had the VCR ready to record and save the game; it was all set up.

Just as Brent Musburger started the festivities on CBS the cable goes out, nothing but snow on the TV for the entire game. The family could only watch the game on a small black and white TV in the kitchen while Chick Hearn was on the radio, as the seconds ticked off for the Lakers coronation and the clock struck zero the cable comes back on.

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Summers at Dodger Stadium

Having grown up five minutes from Dodger Stadium it was easy going back and forth to Dodger games growing up, this was still when the Lakers and Kings played in Inglewood which for me as a kid might as well have been on the other side of the world. So I spent many a summer going to games with Dad, usually we were in the Loge Level, we would eat Dodger Dogs split a bag of peanuts and stay till the end. Sitting in the parking lot after games we would listen to Ross Porter on Dodger Talk and make fun of everyone stuck on the freeway as we made our quick 5 minute trip home.

Father’s Day tradition

Thanks to the Lakers dominance over the years Father’s Day was always easy. When the Lakers would play through June and win a Larry O’Brien trophy I would pick up a t-shirt and hat collectors items commemorating the championship for myself and a set for Dad, easiest Father’s Day present he always enjoyed.

Game 3 2008 NLDS

Having waited twenty years for the Dodgers to win a playoff series, I was able to get tickets for my Dad and I to watch the best chance they had since their last World Series win. Leading 2-0 in the series the Manny Ramirez led Dodgers were trying to put away the Chicago Cubs.

The Dodgers took a 3-1 lead, into the ninth I noticed my father getting more animated with each strike called, with each out. When the Dodgers got out number 3 and the players rushed onto the field my father and I pumped our fists hugged each other, high-fived strangers, we both acted like little kids and just enjoyed the moment.

Game 1 2012 Stanley Cup Final

Dad’s cancer had spread all over, he was bed ridden but he still read his sports page, the Los Angeles Kings had gone on an unprecedented run dominating teams on their way to the Stanley Cup Final. Even though he was sick and in pain I would sit with my dad for long hours and we would talk about sports and the run the Kings were on. I being the typical Kings fan at the time was skeptical that they wouldn’t blow their chance, my Dad ever the optimist said they were going to win their first Stanley Cup.

As Game 1 against the New Jersey Devils was on in the background, I sat next to my Dad’s bed and we talked about life, we followed little of the game. It was too hard for me to concentrate on the game knowing that we had little time left together. As the game went to overtime my father would close his eye and try to get some rest, then his phone began to buzz and my phone began to buzz as well. He opened his eyes and asked me what happened in the game. I told him the Kings won on an overtime goal by Anze Kopitar. He closed his eyes and said “Told you Kings were going to win the Stanley Cup”

The Kings did win the Stanley Cup a week later the first in their 45-year history, my Dad didn’t get to see it, he died June 2, 2012 but in keeping with our Father’s Day tradition I bought a t-shirt and hat commemorating the championship one for me and one for my son (his grandson) and his namesake. I’m sure he would have wanted it that way.

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