To my dad – thank you. Always.
Father’s Day.
For me a day to appreciate not only the dad that raised me, but also his indelible influence on not only my personality, character and morality but also my passion for sports.
So when I began to think about what I could ‘give’ my dad on this Hallmark holiday, I came up with but one thing on my limited budget. Written word to express my love and thankfulness to someone who’s basically become my best friend as I’ve grown into adulthood. Well that, and a home-cooked meal complete with a two layer cake from someone who was just hoping the food wouldn’t kill anyone.
When I was a tyke, some of my earliest memories and photographic proof of my existence revolve around a softball diamond, a volleyball gym, a football field. Memories of getting a centipede stuck to my foot (ew!) and having to get it peeled off at the ballpark, getting spiked in the head by the biggest, scariest spiker ever (at least to my young and short self) – Scott, and making road trips to cheer for my uncle’s football teams while bundled up in the stands drinking hot cocoa beside my dad are some of the first to invade my thoughts when I think of my pops.
Other days of watching the Tiny E 3-on-3 basketball team practice, taking my dad to his first game in Fenway Park and his first Oklahoma City Thunder game, being the substitute catcher on the co-ed softball team and sharing my last birthday watching the Tulsa Golden Hurricane take on Boise State in the rain also come to mind as well as snapshots from hundreds and hundreds of other days.
As I was watching the U.S. Open and waiting for the cake to bake yesterday, I reflected on just how special my dad is to me and just how many things that he – and our shared sports experiences – have shaped my life.
So here’s just a brief glimpse of a few of the life lessons I’ve learned through him about life as it relates to sports.
Teamwork – In all aspects of life, there is always some time or some experience (no matter how independent and self-reliant that I believe myself to be) that will require my participation or need to part of a team. This might be in business or sport, personal relationships or professional, but watching teams like this year’s Thunder squad or the 2004 Boston Red Sox show that being a team, a solid unit, can sometimes far outweigh the impact that playing as an individual can have.
Sometimes that ‘team’ is just being an active member in a friendship. When I moved to Boston alone, I had many days that I felt completely detached from everything and everyone I knew. But when I could flip on the television and watch the Oklahoma State football team beat Nebraska or lose a close one to Oklahoma, I knew I could pick up the phone, call my father and get the play-by-play, be able to feel and experience the game from the ones who were there or were watching along with me halfway across the country. Do I pretend that I’m always a team player – hell no. But do I know it’s importance as I try to remember that I can’t always to everything on my own for the rest of my days – you better believe it.
Resiliency in defeat – I’ll admit it, I’m a terrible golfer. But knowing my weaknesses and sharing them with my golf-buddy father show me how to keep going, keep trying to improve. Us Lantz’ don’t do so well with poor performances, but to see my dad do the “Tin Cup” – hit it in the water or the weeds, curse at himself, and then go salvage a good score – those are things I try to emulate. Sometimes it works (or doesn’t) for the both of us, but the point is you can still hold your head up when you or life has handed you a defeat. And quitting is just not an option, which leads me to….
Winning really isn’t everything (or maybe it is) – Losing the argument, the game of Monopoly or watching my team lose to their rivals lead to a pouty face from yours truly. But big picture, winning the game is not the end result that is a measuring stick for success. What is, you ask? Winning the series, the battle, life. You can ‘lose’ but that doesn’t make you a loser. There’s always a winner and a loser in sport and life, but there’s always another game to play another day to succeed. And while there are times that I don’t want to see or hear that – at all – it’s a truth that my dad has shown me throughout my life.
Playing your hardest sometimes pays off – It might pay off with a trophy for winning the league championship, a coach of the year award like I saw my uncle earn, a trip to a bowl game, a promotion at work or maybe even only a “job well done” comment. But no matter what the reward may be, the reward is there if you look for it. As I write this, I am preparing diligently to embark on a new adventure in my professional life. I’ll be working for Oklahoma City University in their sports information department – basically a dream come to life. And I owe a lot of this new transition to the encouragement of my father, who’s read my ramblings and argued with my assertions but always told me to keep going.
There’s so much more he – and sports – have taught me about myself and the world around me and I could write and write and write about examples of how the mixing of sports and my father continue to mold me even as an adult, but I won’t – at least not today.
Today – and every day – I just want my dad to know how much he’s appreciated, loved, admired and respected by his only daughter.
4 Comments on “To my dad – thank you. Always.”
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Hi Jessica
Your dad forwarded your comments to me–because he was proud but humbled to have you write such complimentary things about him. You didn’t have to convince me–as his Uncle I have seen a lot of the things in him that you write about. And, of course, I have that ultimate picture of him with his brother, Jon, and two cousins, Kevin and Bret, after having won the Lantz Invitational Tournament at Great Hills Country Club in Austin, TX. I remember Jon saying more than once in our home the evening before that they had no chance to win and your Dad, Jeff responding, “yes we can, we might each have an exceptionally good day.” And, they each did. It was a proud moment in my life to present their trophies. Uncle Ron
Jessica, your dad is definitely one of the great dads – always dedicated to his family. The greatest evidence of that is that you learned and appreciated the lessons and grew into a wonderful woman who understands the gift he gave.
Jessie, I’ve always been able to count on your dad, my brother. His loyalty, positive outlook, humor and determination are strengths you also possess. I am so proud of your life-path and just watch in amazement as you continue to progress and succeed. Here’s to an independent young woman adored by her dad and loved by his family!