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Nine Heartwarming (And Not-So-Heartwarming) Father-Child Relationships In Sports

by Evan Sporer | 3:00 pm, June 18th, 2012

Happy Monday, everyone. Hope you had an enjoyable weekend, and most importantly, a great Father’s Day. Truly one of the more important holidays, Father’s Day lets us recognize one of the most influential and important figures in our lives. And sometimes, in the sports world, we’re lucky enough to witness a father-child bond. So with that, check out the nine best (and worst) father-child moments in sports history.

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1.Tiger and Earl Woods

Tiger always credited his father for introducing him to the game of golf. In 2005, while his father was battling serious illness, Tiger dedicated a Masters win to him. A year later, he passed away. When scandal forced Tiger to stop playing golf in 2010, Nike aired this commercial of his late father asking him questions about his return. The commercial, which struck some as odd, illuminated one thing: Tiger's father meant the world to him.

2.Ken Griffey Jr. and Ken Griffey Sr.

Being able to share a love of baseball with your child is one thing. Being able to share a major league dugout with your child is another. When Ken Griffey Jr. burst onto the baseball scene in 1989, he was greeted by his lifelong teammate, dad Ken Griffey Sr., a 39 year-old outfielder finishing out his career. In 1990, father and son hit back-to-back home runs in a game against the Angels, the only father and son to ever accomplish that feat.

3.Michael and Marcus Jordan

While Michael Jordan said he never forced his sons toward basketball, Marcus (pictured) and Jefferey have both found the hardwood. It has been Marcus' actions off the court, though, that have generated the most attention. Marcus recently said his Twitter account was hacked when it attempted to solicit a prostitute. Whatever the case may be, it can't be easy being Michael Jordan's kid.

4.Prince and Cecil Fielder

While the relationship of Prince and Cecil Fielder has since soured, who can forget the images of Prince playing catch with his dad as a youngster. Or this incredibly cute commercial the father and son filmed for McDonalds.

5.Nastia and Valeri Liukin

Nastia Liukin was not only competing for herself at the 2008 Olympics in Bejing. Her coach, and father, Valeri Liukin, once came in second place and within one-tenth of a point of Olympic gold in 1988. Nastia said she hoped to make up for her father's loss in the 2008 Games, and she did. Nastia brought the Liukins home a win, in a great moment for both her and her father.

6.Mike Milbury Gets Defensive

Mike Milbury is known for his offbeat style of analysis for NBC Sports Network, but recently got in the news because of his son. Milbury, a former hockey player himself, has a 12 year-old who plays youth hockey. Late last year, Milbury's son got into a fight with an opposing player during a game. Milbury then, according to witnesses, grabbed the boy by the collar and shook him repeatedly. Charges against Milbury were later dropped, and the analyst apologized for his actions. We're all for standing up for your son, but this was a little too much.

7.Dwayne Wade and Sons

Dwyane Wade's battle to gain custody of his two sons received some ugly press recently, but D-Wade was finally granted physical custody of both of his boys. Wade has proven himself a dedicated father, recently sitting out the 2010 FIBA World Championships to devote more attention to his sons.

8.Patrick and Jonathan Roy

What appeared to be a feel-good father-son story quickly turned into a legal battle. Patrick Roy, one of the best NHL goalies to ever wear the pads, was coaching son Jonathan in the Quebec Junior League. Jonathan is a goalie, just like dad Patrick. But a full out brawl in which Patrick appeared to to instruct son Jonathan to attack an opposing goalie resulted in suspensions for both Roys, and Jonathan being charged with assault and battery.

9.Dale Earhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

In what instantly became one of the more iconic sports moments ever, Dale Earhardt Jr. simply won one for his dad. In 2001, Dale Earnhardt tragically died in a crash during the Daytona 500. Later in that same year, with NASCAR returning to Daytona, Dale Jr. pulled out a miraculous comeback victory in what turned into an emotional scene. Yesterday, Dale Jr. broke a four year, 143 race winless drought to win a Sprint Cup race--on Father's Day.