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It’s no surprise that the paternal bond can come to the fore at sporting events.
You have heightened emotions, raised stakes, pride, competitiveness and love all swirling around to form a potent cocktail of emotions. Fathers have often taken the journey with their famous sons or even blazed a trail in the sport in question.
Here are five heartwarming sporting moments that remind you that your Dad would be the first one by your side when things get tough.
Father’s Day Title
Basketball legend Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to a particularly poignant NBA championship win in 1996. His father wasn’t present on the day as he’d been murdered earlier that year and the win clearly meant a lot in light of the recent tragedy.
Jordan’s post-victory reaction shows how emotional the moment was for him, sobbing uncontrollably on the floor instead of celebrating. That championship is now simply referred to as “Father’s Day Title” in a fitting tribute to Jordan and his late father.
https://youtu.be/OQ7pR87sfV0
Clip via The NBA Showtime
Father and son home runs
Most lads grow up hoping that they can one day fill their father’s boots. That particular dream can be even more difficult when your dad’s a professional athlete. Ken Griffey Jr didn’t just follow his father Ken Griffey Sr into Major League Baseball – he got to play alongside him.
The Griffeys managed a unique feat when they hit back-to-back home runs for the Seattle Mariners on September 14, 1990. The apple certainly didn’t fall far from the tree with these two!
Clip via MLB
The McHughs bridge 20-year All-Ireland gap
It’s fair to say that Donegal wasn’t traditionally a county that was expected to win All-Ireland titles. Martin McHugh was one of the pivotal figures in the team that won their first title in 1992, upsetting the odds and the Dubs on the day.
20 years later, McHugh was on commentator duty for the 2012 final when his son Mark lined out for Donegal against Mayo. After 20 years in the wilderness, the Ulster men picked up the county’s second title and this emotional moment between the McHughs summed up what it meant to the family and the entire county.
Clip via RTÉ – IRELAND’S NATIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE MEDIA
Jim Redmond helps Derek to finish race
Sprinter Derek Redmond was running in the 400m semi-final of the 1992 Olympics when his hamstring gave out, causing him to collapse. What followed was one of the most memorable Olympics moments of all time. Redmond refused medical attention and started limping on to finish the race.
His father Jim had been watching in the stands but instantly ran to his son’s aid. Jim started walking him to the line, despite officials’ attempts to get them to clear the track. It’s a serious display of perseverance, heartbreak and paternal love that can’t help but move you.
Clip via Olympic
Team Hoyt
When Rick Hoyt told his father Dick that he wanted to participate in a 5-mile benefit run for a Lacrosse player who had been paralysed, there was one obstacle to overcome. Rick was a paraplegic with cerebral palsy.
“Dad, when I’m running, it feels like I’m not handicapped,” Rick told his father. His father responded by pushing his son through the race, forming a team that would go on to complete over 1000 races including marathons, duathlons, triathlons and Ironman competitions.
When asked what he would like to do for his father, Rick said “The thing I’d most like is for my dad to sit in the chair and I would push him for once.” We think we’ve got something in our eye…
Clip via IronmanTriathlon
SMA® Nutrition have a 24/7 free SMA Careline® to support Dads and Mums. They understand Dads as well as Mums to give help and support 24/7. Call 1800 931832 or check out their website.
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ZRI438/06/17
