Like Fine Wine...

It's funny how certain things get better with age.  When I was a kid I couldn't stand eating broccoli, watching documentaries, or listening to my father's stories.  But these days, broccoli is one of my favorite vegetables, I can spend hours watching documentaries if the topic is interesting, and one of my favorite things to do with my parents is listen to their childhood stories.

Last year on one of my trips down to Las Vegas, the three of us were sitting around the dining room table.  Somehow we started talking about football which eventually led to me essentially interviewing them about sports.

Most of the stuff was just confirmation on things I already knew.

For example, I already knew that my father was a big Packer's fan from the late 50's to the early 70's.  During that time, he enjoyed watching guys like Herb Adderly, Forrest Gregg, Paul Hornung, Jerry Kramer, Ray Nitschke, and Jim Ringo.

But like a lot of football fans, his favorite player was the team's quarterback:

My father's favorite sports memory is attending Super Bowl I with my mother and watching #15 and the Green Bay Packers beat the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10.

My parents moved the family back to California in the early 70's and started rooting for the San Francisco 49ers.  That's about the same time that I joined the family... and ever since, they've been diehard Niner fans.

They were even season ticket holders for a few years... but that was way before Joe Montana led them to four Super Bowl titles.

I also knew that my father loved to play golf.  It was one of his favorite hobbies and up until a few years ago, he'd play 3 to 4 times a week.

Whenever The Masters, U.S. Open, or the Ryder Cup was taking place... that's what graced our family room television.  I grew up cheering for guys like Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, and Greg Norman.

And even though I don't remember watching him, I knew that my father's favorite golfer was Arnold Palmer.

But one thing I didn't know about him was that he was once huge boxing fan.  In fact... he even dabbled in boxing himself as a kid in Hawaii and while serving in the Coast Guard.

His two favorites boxers were two guys that I had never heard of from Hawaii: Dado Marino and Bobo Olson.  After that talk... I immediately searched eBay, COMC, and Beckett to see if either of these guys had cards.

I eventually discovered and picked up these:

Both of these were sitting in 4 Sharp Corners' inventory,  I don't know much about either card, but I figured the $40.46 was money well invested, since they were for him.

My father never actually got into collecting sports cards.  But hopefully these two cards bring back fond memories.  And one day... I'll inherit them and they'll bring back fond memories for me as well.

I'm pretty sure my father won't see this post... but if by chance he does...

Happy Father's Day Dad!

I'm the person I am today because of you and Mom... and I'm very thankful for that.  I love you.

Happy Sunday and sayonara!