Fathers Day Memories
By Val Porter

Bob Porter was a great guy, for so many reasons. Sadly, my Dad passed away in April. I'd like to remember him here, because he loved sports and he passed that on to my three brothers and me.

In high school, he lettered in football and basketball. He played on adult softball teams and went to many state tournaments. He was an avid bowler and golfer, once nailing a hole-in-one. He loved to hunt and fish and passed that along to us as well. In 2006, my Dad treated my brothers and me to a bass fishing trip on Lake Champlain in Vermont. Four days on the water and hundreds of bass, all released to fight another day.

He was a also wrestling referee, and umpired high school baseball, softball and Little League for nearly 30 years. At his funeral, about a dozen PIAA umpires came together, all dressed in uniform to pay their respects, leaving in his casket an umpire's indicator. I thought that was kinda cool.

But my Dad really loved all the Pittsburgh sports teams, no matter how well they were doing - or how poorly. I had the good fortune of being able to take my Dad to many Pirates, Steelers and Penguins games over the years, and the Pens were his favorite team.

I have great memories of the games we went to together. Like the time the Pens were down by two with about a minute left in regulation. They came back to tie the game, and Mario Lemieux scored on a breakaway in overtime to win it.

We were also there the night Mario came charging out of the penalty box and went after referee Kerry Fraser.

And then there was the game in which, upon jumping to celebrate a goal, he caught his pocket on the armrest of the seat and ripped his pants right down the side! We both laughed a long time about that.

He called me this past February to lament the Colby Armstrong trade to Atlanta; Colby was one of his favorite players.

My Dad would have loved watching these Penguins in the playoffs this year.

But one of the most vivid memories I have about my Dad comes from when I was about five years old. As usual, my Dad was watching a game, basketball I think. I woke up with a tummy ache. So I went downstairs and said "Daddy, I don't feel very good."

He responded with, "Just a minute, I want to see this play."

Without waiting that minute, I proceeded to throw up right then and there - all over the carpet.

Thank goodness they developed instant replay.

And thank goodness that I had a Dad who shared his passion for sports and passed that same passion on to me.