My dad, bradsketball, dabo (long)
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CU Guru [1868]
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My dad, bradsketball, dabo (long)
Dec 3, 2022, 8:36 AM
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My dad, or as wueagle would say, my adult father is a big fan of bradsketball. He called me last night before tip to make sure I didn’t miss the game. Let me just say first, he turns 70 in about a month, I’m lucky as hale to have him, and I think a lot about what it will be like when he’s gone: the basic conclusion is, it will be really sad. That said, I’d like to share some his views here on bradsketball and dabo and explain to tnet why I must take the opposing view in order to balance the universe and propel the tigers to inevitable greatness.
So the old man insists on being an eternal optimist on brad’s program. He says a lot of judge keller type things and loves to mention that brad is the winningest coach in clemson history. So you see it’s my obligation to point out that he’s the losingest. He was eager to extoll the cal and psu wins as meaningful, so it was my duty to devalue those teams by pointing to a combined 6-9 record. He says the john isn’t full. I say why would it be with brad on the sideline and bradsketball on the court. See, the old man has to be held in check or else his glowing optimism will mess with cosmic equilibrium, and the tigers will be doomed. The rub is that deep down, I have that warm feeling, fueled by memories of all the games watched as a student in the john, all the friends of that age, not to mention the old man (not a clemson grad) hopping on the bandwagon, that feeling that I can’t suppress, that feeling that makes me so grateful and so excited for tiger basketball, even including brad. Just can’t project that, though, cuz you know, it’s my job not to.
But when it comes to Dabo and the football program, our conversation is the exact inverse. The old man questions dabo’s intelligence and his x’s and o’s, says he’s stubborn and proud and it’s costing him, says he’s in over his head in the real estate development game, said the two touchdown spread against usuc was the easiest bet of the year. So I have to take the other side: look how much we win, another great qb will emerge, dabo’s actually a lot smarter than you give him credit for, etc. This is my obligation: Keep the old man in check, counter his pessimism with belief; project that belief to friends and the tnets, but again, deep down, I have doubts, the feeling that maybe dabo has lost his grip a little, maybe those hires weren’t so great and we’re into the decline phase - that the best was yet to come but isn’t anymore. Just can’t shake it no matter what I say or do.
If you’ve read this far, here’s a congratulatory conspiracy theory. The old man said after watching the doomed special teams huddle play that he started to wonder if maybe a couple players had been gotten to, i.e. paid off. I mean, I don’t think anyone really believes that, but it did have that look didn’t it? Like that’s how unbelievable that loss was.
Thanks to my adult father for being the yin to my tiger sports fandom’s yang and to you tnet for being the emptiness that houses all these silly words. What a blessed and terrible age we live in. Let’s go brads! Let’s go football tigers beat the dang tarheels . . . Did i mention my dad went there? It’s cool, though; he’ll be pulling for the tigers even if he’s a negative nelly about it
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All-Pro [650]
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Re: My dad, bradsketball, dabo (long)
Dec 3, 2022, 8:52 AM
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Enjoyed the read. Treasure the "old man" while you can. A very empty feeling when they're gone. Hope your day ends in a celebration!
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CU Guru [1868]
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Thanks
Dec 3, 2022, 8:57 AM
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Couple of my closest friends lost their dads recently. That’s life. Glad for what I’ve got. Probably gonna go pay his old a** a visit today. The reality of the emotion about family, friends, life and death just makes me love the tigers even more
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CU Guru [1321]
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Enjoy this time with your dad…
Dec 3, 2022, 9:04 AM
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I lost my dad the Tuesday after the Syracuse game. Those last 3 games in The Valley this year just weren’t the same without him.
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CU Guru [1868]
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Sorry for your loss
Dec 3, 2022, 9:14 AM
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I feel you there. Clemson sports and the braves will definitely be changed forever when he’s gone
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All-In [25491]
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Sincere sympathies to you and your family. Mine's been
Dec 3, 2022, 9:27 AM
[ in reply to Enjoy this time with your dad… ] |
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gone nearly 23 years, and rarely a day passes that I don't recall his words of wisdom.
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All-In [25491]
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My story is somewhat reversed in that I lost
Dec 3, 2022, 9:35 AM
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my only son to cancer almost four years ago, and he remained to the end as diehard of a Clemson fan, as I have ever known.
Sometimes, he questioned my rabid enthusiasm, my ranting and raving during games, my penchant for slinging less than appropriate language. But to this day I can see him taking it in stride, always positive toward our programs, win or lose, and always wearing my old orange overalls to games.
And by the way his nickname was Tiger....
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CU Guru [1868]
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Sorry for your loss
Dec 3, 2022, 9:40 AM
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I imagine losing a child is the most difficult thing we as humans can be faced with. Glad you guys shared the bond of Clemson sports. It really does mean something more than wins and losses and stats
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Rock Defender [71]
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Re: My story is somewhat reversed in that I lost
Dec 3, 2022, 12:50 PM
[ in reply to My story is somewhat reversed in that I lost ] |
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my only son to cancer almost four years ago, and he remained to the end as diehard of a Clemson fan, as I have ever known.
Sometimes, he questioned my rabid enthusiasm, my ranting and raving during games, my penchant for slinging less than appropriate language. But to this day I can see him taking it in stride, always positive toward our programs, win or lose, and always wearing my old orange overalls to games.
And by the way his nickname was Tiger....
Watched Dabo’s 1st natty in my son’s hospital room. We had a blast. He was gone before the next one. Horrible, Satanic disease.
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Hall of Famer [23508]
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Re: My dad, bradsketball, dabo (long)
Dec 3, 2022, 9:41 AM
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I lost my dad when I had just turned 26 way back in 1989. You are correct that you are lucky to have him. Save the antagonism for us on Tigernet and don’t aggravate your dad. My uncle (Dad’s brother) passed this year at 92. My cousin bickered with him incessantly right up until he couldn’t anymore. Now he regrets it.
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CU Guru [1868]
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It’s like a game we play
Dec 3, 2022, 9:51 AM
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It’s mutual and nothing but love. There are times when we argue for real (not about clemson sports) but those are very few and far between. I pretty much leave every conversation with him feeling energized and more content with my life. Pretty sure it’s the same for him. Sometimes in those moments I remind myself that he’ll be gone soon and try to think what that will be like. I’m definitely trying to “leave it all on the field” when it comes to our relationship. Cherish it very much. Also, was wondering if you’d appear in here, and glad you did. Love to you rhettfla. Sorry for coming at you before. Game day baby let’s go!
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Hall of Famer [23508]
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Re: It’s like a game we play
Dec 3, 2022, 1:12 PM
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Family is what it’s all about. The banter on here is just cheap entertainment. I don’t hold grudges. We all get excited about the Tigers in our own ways.
Go Tigers!!
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All-In [44274]
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Thanks for sharing. Your dad has excellent evaluation skills
Dec 5, 2022, 12:16 PM
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and I applaud him for standing up to your ignorance (kidding of course).
I'm glad you are able to spend time with your father, including enjoying Clemson sports together. As others have said, cherish it!
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Orange Blooded [2002]
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Re: My dad, bradsketball, dabo (long)
Dec 5, 2022, 3:07 PM
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"He was eager to extoll the cal and psu wins as meaningful, so it was my duty to devalue those teams by pointing to a combined 6-9 record."
To be fair, you could say that #1 Houston and Cal have a combined 8-9 record. I wouldn't lump in Cal with anybody, Penn State is a solid team. Regardless, good read.
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