In 2011 Robinson Cano had his Dad pitch to him as he won the Major League Baseball Home Run Derby. Robinson Cano is my age, so it made me wonder what it would feel like to have my Dad pitch to me in a competition like this as a grown man. I remember what it was like growing up having Dad throw to me. It felt good, and it felt comfortable. When my Dad threw to me I had a sense of comfort that I was never going to get anywhere else. The reason is because no one else was ever going to pitch to me with the same level of pride and hope that I would get a hold of a ball and crush it. Dads do everything in their power to set their children up for success. That’s a HUGE advantage. Even for a grown man who is an all-star professional athlete.
The phrase “Daddy’s Boy” just doesn’t exist. There’s another term for that: it’s “man”. Or at the very least, “young man”. Scripture tells us to “honor our mothers and fathers”, and when we do amazing things start to happen. It pays off exponentially for everyone. In the case of father-son relationships boys are strengthened into men, and men are filled with joy and pride (the good kind of pride).
Let me show you a few other examples of special father-son combinations in sports:
Ken Griffey & Ken Griffey Jr
Archie and Peyton Manning
You know what these guys all have in common? They’re strong, stable, and level-headed. They were fortunate to reach the highest levels of success, but I’m certain it never would have happened quite as well if it weren’t for their fathers.
My advice to any young man would be to embrace your relationship with your Father. Cultivate it. Encourage him. Honor him. Even if he isn’t perfect his intentions and his love probably are. You’ll be much better off for doing so.
* This post has nothing to do with sports.