Henry Roldán
In honor of Father’s Day, which is this Sunday, June 19, JefeBet has compiled a list of the top father-children moments in sports history.
Throughout the years there have been many special moments, with hugs, celebrations and many tears included in them. So, without further ado, we leave you with this exciting list.
Best Father-Children Moments in Sports History
Pat Cash and His Father After Winning Wimbledon
Pat Cash, winner of the 1987 Wimbledon, not only demonstrated that father-son love is above all else, but he also established a tradition at one of the world’s most renowned tennis events.
After winning the title, the tennis player made his way through the cheering fans to embrace his father in a big hug. This was not only the first time a tennis player climbed the Wimbledon chairs to celebrate the victory, but from that moment on, it became a tradition among the winners of the tournament.
Gigi Bryant and Kobe Bryant
Although unfortunately both of them aren’t here to celebrate this special day, we had to include this pair in our list of the best father-child moments in sports history.
One of the reasons Kobe Bryant retired from professional basketball was to share more time with his daughter Gigi, who was projecting a great career as a professional player. They were seen together at NBA games on multiple occasions as Kobe talked more about the game they both adored.
The Ken Griffey’s Back-To-Back
One of the unforgettable moments in sports and Major League Baseball was not only having Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. sharing the Seattle Mariners’ bullpen at the same time, but also hitting back-to-back home runs.
In a 1990 season game against the Los Angeles Angels, the father-son duo produced one of baseball’s greatest moments by hitting back-to-back home runs. What a feat!
Derek Redmond and His Parents at the Olympics
It is impossible not to feel distressed and touched by this video. One of the best moments in sports, not only because of what the Olympics represent, but also because Derek Redmond and his father demonstrated that being an athlete is much more than just winning a race.
Redmond was one of the favorites to win the 400-meter gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. However, halfway through the journey, he suffered a hamstring injury, which effectively ended his dream.
Lying on the ground and crying his eyes out, Derek tried to stand up and finish the race. And he accomplished it with the assistance of his father, Jim, who not only ran down from the bleachers to assist his son, but also had to dodge many organizers who were preventing him from completing the task of crossing the finish line.
José and Robinson Canó in the Home Run Derby
Back to baseball, we head straight to the 2011 Home Run Derby, where Robinson Canó battled Adrián González to win the event.
The Dominican batter, then a member of the New York Yankees, ended up hitting 12 homers in the final round to defeat the Mexican. But the feat could not have been possible without the help of his father, José Canó, who was his pitcher and main supporter.
Earl and Tiger Woods in One of the Best Moments of the Masters
One of the most spectacular stories in the sport was the relationship between Earl and Tiger Woods, as the former was the mentor and coach of his son, who is considered the best golfer in history.
Proof of the great love and affection that existed between the two is that Tiger, after winning his first Masters at the age of 21, went to celebrate with his father and friend once he made the winning putt.
Ron and Bryce Harper in the Home Run Derby
After Robinson Canó introduced his father as his star pitcher in the 2011 Home Run Derby, Bryce Harper followed suit with his father Ron, who also helped his son win the 2018 event.
Ron Harper got tired to throw strikes for his son to defeat Kyle Schwarber in a heart-stopping final, all in front of a Washington crowd that was cheering for its star at the time. After the final home run Bryce told ESPN’s Buster Olney, “It’s a dream come true to be able to do this with my dad.”
Ty Lucas, Reunited With His Father
In the United States, stories of young athletes who do not see their parents for extended periods of time due to military service are extremely common, but that does not mean that every reunion isn’t emotional and memorable.
In 2018, a video surfaced online of Clemson University’s Ty Lucas visibly excited to be reunited with his father Cody Lucas. The freshman running back was surprised by his father, who returned home after nine months in Afghanistan. Lucas and his father were seen in a video released on Clemson Football’s Twitter account enjoying a long hug, high-fiving, and crying in between.
Michael Jordan and His Triumph on Father’s Day
After his father’s tragic death in 1993, Michael Jordan was never the same. While his career continued to be successful, the Chicago Bulls player was constantly saddened by the loss of one of the most important persons in his life.
Proof of this is that after returning to the NBA from his brief stint in the Major Leagues, a dream he shared with James Jordan Sr., Michael led the Bulls back to the finals of the 1995-1996 season, winning the title on Father’s Day. After the game against the Seattle Supersonics, Jordan broke down in tears on the sideline and confessed that it was the hardest day he had ever had playing basketball.
Ron Hunter’s Fall After R.J.’s Triple
During the 2015 NCAA season, the Georgia Southern team was performing well under coach Ron Hunter and his son, R.J. Hunter.
R.J. scored a three-pointer with 2.6 seconds left in a game against No. 3 seed Clemson, putting Georgia up 57-56. The basket drove everyone there wild, including Ron, who was sat with a splint on one foot and fell down with a smile on his face. After the win, he walked out to find his kid to melt in a big hug.
