LITTLE ROCK — Some dads get to live dream twice
With Father’s Day today, Mark McGuire of the Albany (N.Y.) Times Union ranks the best father-son (daughter in one case) combinations in sports history.
10. Man o’ War and War Admiral (horse racing). Man o’ War won 20 of 21 races, losing only to Upset at Saratoga. War Admiral won the 1937 Triple Crown.
9. Gordie and Mark Howe (hockey). Dad is perhaps the second-greatest player ever. The son (who got to play with dad and brother Marty in the World Hockey Association and later with the Hartford Whalers) enjoyed a 22-year career in the WHA and NHL.
8. Dick and Pete Weber (bowling). When you have a father and son who are both top five of all time in their sport, they have to be noted.
7. Kyle and Kyle Rote Jr.
(football/soccer). Dad was a college All-American who had an11-year career with the New York Giants and then became a coach and broadcaster. Son was one of the first well-known American soccer stars, a celebrity aided in the 1970s by his three victories in ABC’s Superstars competition.
6. Archie and Peyton Manning (football). Archie is in the College Football Hall of Fame, although he spent much of his pro career running for his life on bad teams.
Peyton could be called the best quarterback ever when he’s done.
5. Ken and Ken Griffey Jr. (baseball). Griffey was an important piece of the Cincinnati Reds Big Red Machine of the 1970s. Appreciation for Junior’s first-ballot Hall of Fame career will grow with time.
4. Lee and Richard Petty (NASCAR). The pioneer who won the first Daytona 500 (and a whole bunch of other races) and his son The King are forever royalty in stock car racing.
3. Muhammad and Laila Ali (boxing). Muhammad Ali is considered by many the greatest heavyweight of all time. His daughter is the greatest female boxer ever (24-0), a heady accomplishment even if you dismiss her sport.
2. Bobby and Barry Bonds (baseball). Are they No. 1? Should they be knocked off the list? No and no.
1. Bobby and Brett Hull (hockey). Father and son Hall of Famers who have their names engraved on the Stanley Cup belong here.
Seinfeld’s call
Jerry Seinfeld is getting a special Father’s Day gift to fulfill his longtime dream.
“His wife, Jessica, has arrangedfor Seinfeld to take part in a broadcast of a New York Mets game,” writes Ken Belson of The New York Times. “On Wednesday, when the Mets play the Detroit Tigers at Citi Field, Seinfeld willspend at least three innings in the SNY broadcast booth with Gary Cohen and Keith Hernandez.
Seinfeld’s appearance will be a reunion of sorts.
In 1992, Hernandez was at the center of a two-partepisode on Seinfeld called ‘“The Boyfriend.”’ In the episode, Jerry sheepishly befriended his baseball hero, Hernandez. Their friendship fell apart after Hernandez dated Jerry’s ex-girlfriend, Elaine. The final straw came when Hernandez asked Jerry to help him move his furniture.
“It gave me a second shelf life, it’s just incredible,” Hernandez said.
Seinfeld, who declined to comment for this article, has a suite at Citi Field, has thrown out the first pitch and often mentioned the Mets on his show. A Mets cap hung in the corner of his New York apartment on the show.”Quote of the day “What am I supposed to do - yell and scream?
Criticize people. That
doesn’t do any good.
You have to play on the field. That’s all you can do.” Chicago Cubs Manager Lou Piniella after the Cubs’ 12-0 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday
Sports, Pages 26 on 06/20/2010