Fathers. Sons. Sports.

There's something inherent about fathers and sons bonding over sports.

I'm no different.

Before my kids were even old enough to play sports I would take them to sporting events. With the University of North Carolina ten minutes away in one direction and minor league baseball ten minutes in the other direction, there's pretty always something going on.

But we are not limited in our bonding with just team sports, some days we create our own sports like backyard skimboarding.

My oldest son, who is nine now, has been playing soccer since he was four. And he's quite good at it. Last year, after his team advanced from a city-wide to state-wide tournament, he scored the winning goal in a shoot-out after his game ended in a tie. His teammates ran out on the field to congratulate him like a highlight reel on ESPN. 

He's a pleasure to watch because he has such a firm grasp on the game - he also is ambidextrous unlike most kids his age and can dribble, kick and shoot with either foot. Not being a dude who grew up playing soccer, I come across like some mild mannered, humble father to the soccer dads. 

Last fall several coaches and soccer dads were bummed to learn that he was going to play tackle football. I, on the other hand, was excited. Although not quite as excited as his Uncle Mike, my older brother. As a kid, playing football was by far my favorite thing to do narrowly eclipsing BMX. But I wasn't quite prepared for how I would feel.

Hat tricks in soccer had become passe for him. So when football season started and he found himself at running back and back-up quarterback I was jazzed to say the least.

And then he scored his first touchdown.

I have never felt such pure joy in my life.

I wanted to cry.

As the season progressed, it became clear that he would excel at football like he did with soccer. Eventually, he would assume the quarterback role and direct his offense like a young Brett Favre. On the final game of the season, he would score two touchdowns. After the game an older gentleman who was standing on the sidelines waiting for the next game to start came up to his coach and asked who the boy was that scored the touchdowns. In the car on the way home he asked, "Is that like being recruited?"

Football season started again this weekend. But he chose not to play and decided to return to playing soccer.

Soccer season started this past weekend. He scored three goals helping his team to a come-from-behind victory.

I wish I could bottle that feeling, the feeling you get as a parent when you just couldn't be prouder of your child, and share it with the world.

If everybody felt it just once the world would be a better place.