Yesterday I became a father for the second time. As I sit in the hospital room, I was thinking of what I hope he learns from me as far as sports is concerned.

I want him to appreciate the little things about sports. Not just the glitz and glamour that professional sports brings, but the fact that the most successful athletes work their asses off to get where they are. They don't always find ways to continue their ethic once they sign a contract, but no one gets anywhere without working hard at some point.

I hope he gains an appreciation for pitchers hitting and learn to loathe the DH. And along with that, an understanding that if pitchers hit at every level leading up to the majors, maybe it wouldn't be quite so putrid.

I hope he come to love teams that grind it out. Sure, everyone loves a steamroller to follow every now and then, but teams that grind it out year after year and are somehow successful are a good role model for life.

I hope he prefers he 4-3 defense and getting the "big uglies" out there to control the line.

I hope he understands that you normally can't win without a running a game.

I hope he likes a solid hot dog and fried dough at the ballpark, while keeping score of course.

I hope he comes to love the 2-3 zone, but also understand it has no place in the NBA.

I hope he likes the pass-first point guard- the orchestrators and "set-up" men of basketball.

I hope his eyes get big at the first big bending curveball he sees, but learns to throw a changeup first.

I hope he sees the value in coaching. In teaching others the importance of not just doing it, but doing it right.

As important as all of these sports fans' principles are to me, most of all I hope with all of my being that at the end of the day he's no one else but himself.

Plain and simple.