Talking to your Father

[underdog]

Ronnie B made the comment today that when he talks to his father, its always about the Phillies. And it made me realize that basically the only thing my father and I talk about is sports.

Every phone call its, "Wow, those Pats look great. You see that play?" Or, "The Bruins sure do suck." Or "The Red Sox are good/bad." Even today, we didn't talk directly about the actual games, but it was still about sports. My parents scratch too many scratch tickets, so they keep winning Red Sox prize packs off the Red Sox lottery tickets, so they have like 50 things for me at the house, including a Red Sox watch, a jersey, and a Sox cooler.

But as soon as any conversation reaches a standstill, its always, "Oh, your mother wants to talk to you, let me get her." And then my mother tells me a story she's already told me 100 times and ignores what I say.

Is this a common thing between sons and fathers? Do people actually talk to their fathers about more than sports?

[TheGameHHH]

My father and I talk about sports a lot....whether its our favorite teams or how we golfed the past weekend. I honestly love it. We do discuss other topics but I would say majority of our talks revolve around sports, whereas my mother and I delve into more personal aspects of life and gossip in the world (the "deeper" stuff so to speak). I wouldnt change a thing about how my father and I talk, and I know he wouldnt want to either. I think its a great relationship.

[A.J.]

Yeah, most of my conversations with my Dad are about sports. But lately I talk more with him about his job problems and retirement plans.

Funny thing is that even thogh the depth of our conversation is limited, we're closer now than during my teenage years.

[Crispy123]

The weather. It usually starts out with the weather and then moves into sports, maybe we'll talk about work if its been awhile.

[Justice4all]

Well if you ever saw the movie City Slickers they would explain how when fathers and sons would talk sport, it seemed to be the 'manly' way to communicate. We may talk about sports or our favorite teams but lets face it, deep down inside we are happy that we are still talking to our dads.


That's what I think anyway.

[cougarjake13]

Yeah, most of my conversations with my Dad are about sports. But lately I talk more with him about his job problems and retirement plans.

Funny thing is that even thogh the depth of our conversation is limited, we're closer now than during my teenage years.

i pretty much have the same experience with my dad, mostly sports with the occassional foray into what my direlect brother is doing, his retirement plans, and him asking me how things are going with my attempts at teaching

[FUNKMAN]

My Dad has never been into sports. He tells a sad story when a kid being asked by the coach to give his uniform back because he wasn't that good and it crushed him. We talk about food, family, the cars, health, and dipping the weasel...

[JPMNICK]

me and my dad usually talk sports. the winter is the lean time of our relationship because no Yankee baseball.

we also talk stocks and about work things, but 90% sports

[buzzard]

Ronnie B made the comment today that when he talks to his father, its always about the Phillies. And it made me realize that basically the only thing my father and I talk about is sports.

Every phone call its, "Wow, those Pats look great. You see that play?" Or, "The Bruins sure do suck." Or "The Red Sox are good/bad." Even today, we didn't talk directly about the actual games, but it was still about sports. My parents scratch too many scratch tickets, so they keep winning Red Sox prize packs off the Red Sox lottery tickets, so they have like 50 things for me at the house, including a Red Sox watch, a jersey, and a Sox cooler.

But as soon as any conversation reaches a standstill, its always, "Oh, your mother wants to talk to you, let me get her." And then my mother tells me a story she's already told me 100 times and ignores what I say.

Is this a common thing between sons and fathers? Do people actually talk to their fathers about more than sports?

My Dad & I have a unique(IMO)relationship..he's been my best friend for many years he taught me to siphon gas when I was a kid I'd come home late and he's still be awake laughing,joking and swapping stories with my drunken ass ,he even loaned me $$ to buy pounds of smoke,he's always been there for me and we laugh at most every opportunity.honestly,there's nothing we haven't shared...He's also very much the reason why I don't have any children nor do I want them.When he married my Mom she already had 5 children,so obviously there was No advise he could or tried to give me exept to be selfish,travel & enjoy my life.None of the other siblings stay in touch with him because he's brutally honest and blunt to a point of at times crass.Now that he's 80,he's started to slow down a bit and repeat himself here and there.I try to savor every moment that I have with him and will undoubtedly lose it when he's gone,that's not one thread I look forward to having to start even though I know one day,I will have to.
Sorry for the novella Underdog,I'm just very proud of my Dad as I'm sure that you are yours.Sincerely,buzz

[LiddyRules]

Neither my father nor I like sports. I always felt we had kind of a business-like relationship. There's no real emotion there, no real feeling, there's not even coldness. Sometimes it feels more like awkwardness. We just happen to be two people who were thrust into a relationship by circumstances beyond our control. I'm the perpetual failure/disappointment and there is a power he has over me that I guess is more a subconscious thing than anything. But I can't remember the last time we had a substantial conversation.

[sr71blackbird]

My talks with my father are usually health or job related topics, though lately he is asking a lot of computer stuff; attaching files or doing virus scans.

[mildly amusing]

It always starts with sports...then movies...then how a certain segment of society is ruining the neighborhood...then what's on TV...you know, the usual...i've only had 3 serious conversations with my dad in my entire life...

[PopPop]

My Pop is a old guy now. Just a shriveled up old man. When I was a kid he was a TOWERING alcoholic. Fucking mean when he was drunk and he was never sober. He used to beat the piss out of my Mom. He is "recovering", working the "program". He recently hit the big C. Cancer. After a brutal chemo and radiation treatments he is cancer free now. I love my Pops but I don't like the fucker very much. We talk about his sickness and his treatments. The last time we talked he asked me to pick a prescription at the pharmacy for him which I did and paid for. I will do what I can for him but it would not take much for me to tell him to go screw himself. We talk about my work and farming. Cars. I am sure I will regret not spending more time with him someday but right now I just try not to hate him when I do talk to him.

[buzzard]

Ronnie B made the comment today that when he talks to his father, its always about the Phillies. And it made me realize that basically the only thing my father and I talk about is sports.

Every phone call its, "Wow, those Pats look great. You see that play?" Or, "The Bruins sure do suck." Or "The Red Sox are good/bad." Even today, we didn't talk directly about the actual games, but it was still about sports. My parents scratch too many scratch tickets, so they keep winning Red Sox prize packs off the Red Sox lottery tickets, so they have like 50 things for me at the house, including a Red Sox watch, a jersey, and a Sox cooler.

But as soon as any conversation reaches a standstill, its always, "Oh, your mother wants to talk to you, let me get her." And then my mother tells me a story she's already told me 100 times and ignores what I say.

Is this a common thing between sons and fathers? Do people actually talk to their fathers about more than sports?

this kinna says it;

http://www.buzzard8.com/wmas/fatherson.wma

[Bellyfullasnot]

My father passed away in '98, just before I had kids. I had a pretty good relationship with him throughout life but I never fully understood him until I had kids of my own. It's amazing how smart your dad becomes once you walk in his shoes a little. I hope my kids can feel this way as adults and I'm still around to see it. I do still talk to him. Might seem weird I guess.

[cupcakelove]

This could be why conversations with my Dad are always awkward, we have almost nothing in common.

[Dougie Brootal]

My Dad And I Talk About Business, Money, And Women. Thats It.

[badorties]

i see/hear from my father every ten years or so, and about the only thing we talk about is the yankees

[angrymissy]

My dad talks strictly about his job or his ghost hunting expeditions. He loooooves to talk about himself.

[Death Metal Moe]

Since I despise sports, I do not talk about sports with my father. He watches some football and NASCAR but knows I know nothing about the shit so he really never brings it up around me. Except how we both love to see the Giant's lose. God that's nice.

There's not one specific thing I talk about with my father, it's pretty much just whatever happens to be happening at that moment. I guess I never have long discussions with him, but we'll shoot the shit every now and then, it's not like a buddy but it's pleasant conversation. I wouldn't characterize it as unpleasant in any way. Just a lot more to the point than with friends.

[cupcakelove]

My dad talks strictly about his job or his ghost hunting expeditions. He loooooves to talk about himself.

Your Dad's a ghost hunter?!

[angrymissy]

Your Dad's a ghost hunter?!

Yes. And he loves to bring it up to everyone to see if he can get a reaction out of them. He was even in a local magazine. He's part of a paranormal group that goes to haunted places and cemeteries and take pictures and video. He's gotten pretty good at taking ghost pictures.

[ralphbxny]

I Talk sports, family and bs with my dad. Nothing really important. Dad when I was growin up and now really wasnt too involved unless something bad happend.

[zentraed]

Well, I'm not into sports, I haven't dated in forever, and he doesn't understand any of the science/math stuff I've engaged in over the years. So, we don't talk much. If we do, it's about computers or home theater stuff.

This thread reminded me of "Rescue Me". Sometimes when Denis Leary and his dad would talk, they'd put subtitles underneath to show what they really meant.

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

I wish I could talk to him again. It's been 19 years since he died.

I would love to sit him down and ask him about his war experiences. He stopped telling me those stories when I freaked out after finding out he actually shot and killed a Japanese soldier. It's getting to be that there won't be too many veterans left to talk about it.

Plus, it would be great to just relate to him as an adult and not a snot-nose punk kid.

Crap-- there's something in my eye.

[TooLowBrow]

Our Father, which art in Heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
in earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
But deliver us from evil.

this thing is a lot shorter than i remember it

[Axem Red]

The only thing I have in common with my dad is sports. Football and that's about it. He's a Christian, I'm not. He's conservative I'm not. So when we meet up it's "Green Bay is going to kill everyone..." and then a bomb drops when the conversation veers into something else and it's nothing but two stammering dolts weaving in and out of conversations.

[commish13]

A bunch of posts here echo exactly the relationship I have with my parents.

My father and I talk about sports a lot....whether its our favorite teams or how we golfed the past weekend. I honestly love it. We do discuss other topics but I would say majority of our talks revolve around sports, whereas my mother and I delve into more personal aspects of life and gossip in the world (the "deeper" stuff so to speak). I wouldnt change a thing about how my father and I talk, and I know he wouldnt want to either. I think its a great relationship.

This one is just about exactly it. I talk to my father more often than I talk to my mom, but when I do talk to my mom, it's generally something meaningful or about something important in my life. My dad calls me almost every day just so he can tell me something about Rutgers or the Yankees or anything interesting in sports. When I'm home, we just talk about sports. He'll vent about the problems he's having with his job (they're fucking him over miserably) and I listen. When I had a job, I would try to relate, even though my situation was nothing like his. Then he asks me something ineffectual about school, I'll give him a generic answer, and we go back to talking about sports. Then there's a very comfortable silence (especially at a diner or driving somewhere) until he comes up with something else sports related to talk about.

Like someone else said, I'm closer to my father now than I ever have been. Granted I'm still only 21, but he treats me like I'm an adult now, even though I'm pretty fucking far from that. One of the biggest things that he ever did for me was the day I moved into my dorm at college in freshman year -- he held out his hand to shake mine. I had never shaken his hand before. And now we shake hands the first time we see each other when I come home for a weekend and again right before I leave to come back to school. That's where our relationship is deep, I guess.