When I think of Father's Day, I think of the many things I've done with my dad over the years, many of which are sports related.

As a kid, my dad and I spent countless hours throwing baseball and football, kicking field goals, hitting golf balls, bowling and much more. He taught me how to do all these things, and we also watched a lot of sports together as well, both in person and on TV.

Dad and I still play golf several times a year and plan other sports-related events as a reason to get together (we live 350 miles apart). Future plans include going to Tiger Woods' golf tournament in the Washington D.C.-area in early July and to a Penn State football game in the fall.

My dad is the reason I enjoy sports so much, and I find myself thinking of him and all the fun we've had together while watching the U.S. Open golf tournament, which always ends on Father's Day.

I've tried hard to recreate these father-child memories with my two kids, with some success. We've tried all kinds of sports and ourdoor activities, I've coached some of their teams, and we've gone to a lot of games at the University of Maryland, which is just down the road from our house.

Sports is a great way to spend time with family and friends. We've had a few instances recently where my dad, my kids and I have thrown the football or played catch. To my mind, it doesn't get any better than that -- a flashback to the past and a look ahead to the future.

Dad, thanks for the memories. I look forward to our creating many more.