Dad, son share lessons of life through sports

In my house, tucked away in a closet, there is a pile of videocassettes. On them are hundreds of hours of seemingly innocuous footage of Wiffle ball, hockey, soccer, football and baseball games.

Those scenes can bring me to tears – especially today.

My younger son Paul, the featured subject on many of the videos, graduates from Bangor High School today with the Class of 2007.

The home movies, like those my father took of me as a little boy, elicit fond recollections of the simple, bygone days when spending a half-hour playing catch or kicking around a soccer ball in the backyard with my son was the most rewarding thing in the world.

Paul played several sports during his formative years. And while he achieved modest success in his athletic endeavors, it is my hope those experiences have helped mold him into a more well-rounded young man as he heads off to the University of Maine in the fall.

Introducing one’s children to sports can be as beneficial for the parent as it is for the child. While I sometimes took Paul’s playing sports a bit too seriously, I learned through his experiences and those of his older brother Will that none of it had anything whatsoever to do with me or what I wanted.

Paul has a gift for keeping things in perspective. He always approached sports with a laid-back attitude. Whether it was hockey, soccer, baseball or football, his aim was simply to go out, have fun and spend time with his teammates.

He always enjoyed playing, but never became consumed by the competitive aspect of it.

It was always a thrill for me to watch him play. He was a good little soccer player who could score but was content to distribute the ball to his teammates and play solid defense.

Hockey was the sport in which he achieved the most success and, I think, had the most fun. I often thought about how great it would be to be so fluid on skates.

Sadly, I sometimes criticized his coaches’ handling of the teams. However, I knew he had things in perspective after one particular occasion when I questioned why he hadn’t played his regular shifts late in a close youth hockey game.

Though Paul was only 11 or 12, his answer was simply that the team had a better chance of winning with other players on the ice. He had already learned the importance of unselfishness and commitment to the team.

Sports is a microcosm of life, whether it’s understanding the potential of one’s body and mind; learning the value of hard work and perseverance; winning and losing with grace; or working with others toward a common goal.

Paul, I hope you learned many lessons from your sports experiences that will help you become not only a hardworking and productive member of society, but a devoted husband and father who will pass that gift on to your own children some day.

I’ll look forward to us taking more trips to catch the Red Sox at Fenway Park, which is an excellent father-son bonding experience.

You can look back proudly at all your accomplishments, remembering the interesting places you went, the great teammates, dedicated coaches and supportive parents who helped make it fun.

Thanks for all the proud moments you have provided for mom, myself and the family.

Congratulations on your graduation from Bangor High and good luck in everything you undertake.

If you ever want to play catch, give me a call – just don’t bring a video camera.

I love you.

Dad

Assistant sports editor Pete Warner can be reached at 990-8240 or pwarner@bangordailynews.net