You are dead on, OldFriend. This is a very sad story. I can not even imagine getting a big hit in a game, rushing home to tell my father, and discovering he is too busy CUTTING THE LAWN to express interest in my achievement. Pathetic! This guy had a lousy dad and it is no surprise this story sticks with him.
Sadly, the writer is probably pulling the same crap on his own kid. Which is why he now writes the story trying to justify the actions of his father.
You don't have to live your life over thru your kids' sports but you do have to be their life coach.
Not every minute they demand attention but when you are able you must let them know they matter.
After reading the article and the thread, especially your comments, I went back and read the article again, more carefully. I think the point the author was making is that an obsessive interest in sports, standing alone, doesn't make a good parent. I think he's criticizing parents who, as he says, put in their "x hours" on sports and think they've punched their card, without honoring certain other obligations of parenthood. I'd agree with that. Having said that, though, I also think his own anecdote is kind of strange, since it seems like he really did want his father at his games. It sounds more like he made peace with his father's approach later and at least saw some value in it, though he still was disappointed by it. I am not so sure he is saying that is the best approach, just that attending every game doesn't make you a good parent any more than missing games makes you a bad one. The article isn't very artfully written, I don't think.