June 19, 2016
Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad.
I’m running a little late. (You may say that I have been burning the candle at both ends.)
Regardless, there’s still time (where I am) to make a post about Father’s Day. In honor of this day, I wanted to share a great quote about male parents.
Who Said It?
What I quoted above comes from Wade Boggs’ Baseball Hall of Fame Speech in 2005.
The heart of the speech was, of course, the part when Mr. Boggs began to talk about his friends and family. This is the part of the quote where Boggs talks about his beloved father:
Daddy, I wouldn’t be up here without you. I owe everything to you. My mentor, my idol. Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad, and that’s why I call you dad because you are so special to me. You taught me the game and you taught me how to play it right. Thank you, dad, along with my stepmom Pat. Thank you for being here and enjoying this wonderful day, because without you, I wouldn’t be standing up here.
There is also a quote attribute to famous photographer Anne Geddes, who is best known for her artistic photo shoots with sleeping babies. Here is the (undated) quote from her:
Any man can be a Father, but it takes someone special to be a dad.
Where Did I First Hear This Quote?
To be honest, Wade Boggs wasn’t the first source. I remember hearing a variation of what he said from an after-school commercial on FOX. At one time, they had a series of “Totally Kids!” spots they extolled some words of wisdom for younger viewers. Here is one I remember, called “Fatherhood.”
This was made in the mid-1990’s.
What Does “Any Can Be a Father…” Mean?
It’s fairly simple. Fatherhood isn’t just a biological occurrence. It’s a long-term commitment to one’s children and family.
Whether you call your father by that name, or “Dad,” “Daddy,” “Papa,” “Pops” or
Mothers are often honored for the roles that they play in their children’s lives but the role of the father is often overlooked, even by fathers themselves. Sadly, Many people feel that a father’s role ends at conception (or birth), but that couldn’t be farther from the truth.
The fact is a child needs both parents. A girl needs her dad as much as a son does, even if some aspects of that development are different. Children learn from their elders and parents should serve as the first and best role models for children. The time spent playing with a child or helping them with their homework has a profound if an understated effect on someone’s development.
Whether you’re a proud papa or you’re found of yours, I hope you had a Happy Father’s Day.
Works Cited
Anne Geddes. Web. Retrieved 19 June 2016. <http://www.annegeddes.com/>.
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. “Wade Boggs Hall of Fame Induction speech – 2005.” YouTube. Published on 6 Feb 2014. Video. Retrieved 19 June 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QL141TMrKs>.
“Transcript: Wade Boggs induction speech.” ESPN.com. 1 Aug 2005. Web. Retrieved 19 June 2016. <http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2121545>.
Shmaltz and Menudo 
Did you see Lebron James with his kids in the post game interview after the Cavs win on Sunday? Does he meet your definition of a real father or was that for show?
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I did not watch the finals. (And I was rooting for the Warriors, btw.)
Anyway, I have no doubt the display with LeBron James and his sons was real (even if I didn’t see it). Also, his wife was his high-school sweetheart.
I like seeing proud parents, famous or not. (And regardless of whether I’m a fan of the parents.)
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