The Sports Life: Father’s Day Reflections: A Year Without My Dad

This weekend hits different.

It's the second Father’s Day without my dad, and it still feels raw.

He passed on June 9, just days before Father’s Day last year. The timing made everything sharper. And now, with a full year behind me, I find myself sitting in the weight of that loss while also carrying all the lessons he gave me.

My Dad was the ultimate sports fan. Yankees, Giants, Knicks, Rangers, tennis, golf—if it was on, he was watching. A fierce competitor. A gritty athlete. And in many ways, my first mental performance coach, long before I ever knew what that term meant. He coached with intensity, led with high expectations and never sugarcoated the truth. His feedback was direct. His standards were uncompromising. And sometimes, as a kid, it was hard to take.

But here’s what I’ve come to know deeply: it shaped me.

His toughness taught me how to fight. His criticism built resilience. His belief–expressed more in action than words–gave me the mental edge I now teach others to develop. He wasn’t always easy. But he was steady. Consistent. Honest.

And it made all the difference.

If you're a parent raising kids in sports, don’t be afraid to hold a high bar. Don’t shy away from hard truths when they’re needed. Accountability, when done with love and consistency, is a powerful gift. It doesn’t always feel like it in the moment. But over time, it becomes part of their foundation.

My Dad gave me that. And every day, I feel more grateful for it.

I miss him. I hear his voice in my head when I compete. I carry his legacy in my work. And I hope, on this Father’s Day, you take a moment to reflect on the tough love that shapes the strongest parts of us.

Happy Father’s Day to the ones who show up with honesty, grit and heart.

We remember you. We thank you. We carry you forward.