This has been the year of the great foul ball catch videos in Major League Baseball. We seen the good, the ugly and everything in between. This dad at a Cubs game last week, proved that you can get your foul ball and still use fatherhood best practices by not dropping your kids on his/her head. Good job dad!…and great catch.

(H/T CS)

Article originally posted at Kmart Playdate Place, updated for the appropriate sports season .

Like many sports fans, I’m excited and relieved that football is back in my life. NFL Sundays in my house are just great days. The kids though (rightfully so) aren’t planning their weekends around the games schedule. Often game day falls smack dab in the middle of some core play date time.

Is it possible for dads to have cake and eat it too? Do you dare try and actually commingle your sports obsession with your kids’ play dates? You can and you should.

One of the things that kids immediately pick up on from sports is the uniforms. No matter, who’s playing; no matter what sport, my daughters will always ask: “Daddy, what team do you want to win? The team with the blue shirts or the team with the white shirt”? Doesn’t matter if they understand all the rules, they are quickly able to navigate some aspects of the game by watching the uniforms and deciding which ones they like best. This is a fantastic kid to sports integration point. If you have the big game on, have a table of arts and crafts ready and have the kids create some of their own teams and uniforms. Dad can help by coloring in some jerseys while watching the game.

Another huge part of the big game is the tailgate. Pick some great tasting easy snacks for your game menu and let the kids help in putting the menu together. They can also put together a pre-game menu and play a game of restaurant while hand delivering snacks to the game viewers.

One of the most important parts of integrating sports into play dates is getting off the couch…not always easy. During halftime or after the game use great plays from the game as a model for some fun exercise with the kids. Was there a gaming winning shot at the buzzer? Act out buzzer beaters and have huge celebrations after someone makes a shot.

As dads, we often compartmentalize big game weekends and choose either spending time with the kids or watching the big game. With the right mindset and some of the right toys and equipment, dads can absolutely have their cake and eat it too.

In every parent’s absolute worst nightmare, a 13 year old little league baseball player in Phoeniz, AZ died this week after being hit by a pitch while he was attempting a bunt.

According to the Associated Press:

Hayden Walton went for the bunt during a game Tuesday night in the close-knit northern Arizona city of Winslow, said Jamey Jones, a Winslow Little League official.

“He took an inside pitch right in the chest,” Jones said. “After that he took two steps to first base and collapsed.”

He died the next morning at a local hospital.

Hayden’s parents were at the game. The league suspended games through the rest of the week and supplied counseling for players and parents. Our heart goes out to the Walton Family.

(via ESPN)

Remember this dad? Well the guy in this video is the polar opposite. No big piece of chicken at dinnertime and socks for Father’s Day.

Click here to view the embedded video.

(H/T Cosby Sweaters)

ESPN’s 30 For 30 series is one of the best things to come to television in a long time. The set of sports documentaries are genius with directors taking a slice of sports history and going deep on the subjects to surface fantastic looks into the importance of sports in our world.

ESPN had released the series in 2 separate sets previously and they finally have a limited edition sku with all 30 of the documentaries and 5 hours of extras on Blu Ray. The limited edition set is being sold exclusively through Best Buy. According to the Best Buy website, it goes on sale on 5/31/2011. I’ve already sent my wife this link and hinted how great of a Father’s Day gift this would be.

Click here to view the embedded video.

This week Derrick Rose became the youngest player in the history of the National Basketball League to be named its most valuable player. Rose receives the league’s highest honor at the ripe age of 22 years old. The humble Chicago native gave a refreshing acceptance speech and slowed down to give thanks to his mother’s influence on his career.

Click here to view the embedded video.

At a Chattanooga Lookouts game, this dad shows why he deserves the big piece of chicken at dinnertime.

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(h/t CS)

Empty out the college fund mom and dad. Use the cash on something you’ve always wanted. You won’t need the money. This kid is getting a hoops scholarship:

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I have seen lots of youth soccer games in my life and if any of our team’s ever came across this little guy from Japan…let’s just say the soccer gene doesn’t run in our family. Anyway, this young man has yet to be identified, but he’s being referred to as the ”The Japanese Messi.” The kid is amazing…

Click here to view the embedded video.

(via Deadspin)

©(DISNEY CHANNEL/SKIP BOLEN)

My daughters were simply familiar with Imagination Movers and their show on Disney Junior. But we all became huge fans after having the opportunity of seeing their live show recently in Oakland, CA. The kids had a great time dancing and singing along with the truly engaging show and I gained a ton of respect for their story. Before the live show I had written them off as just the “new Wiggles”. But I learned that they are a group of dads from New Orleans and they basically came together after the destruction of Katrina. Also, way less important of course, they sold booze at their show for mom and dad…although, I didn’t partake that day, the Imagination Movers had a new fan.

My fandom continues as I’ve learned that Detroit Piston and former UCONN Huskie, Rip Hamilton will be appearing on the show this Friday, showing the guys how to hoop it up. Rip’s episode entitled “Slam Dunk Solution” will be on Disney Junior at 1:30-2:00 p.m. ET/PT. If you’re not home, DVR and watch it with the kids over the weekend during halftime of one of the March Madness games.

Also, if you want to see the guys live, check their tour calendar.

Preview of the episode: