Growing up, watching the Harlem Globetrotters with my family was a cherished annual tradition. Every year, our family would venture into The Big City from Long Island to watch basketball wizardry, insane dunks and trick shots, and laugh at all the team’s comical antics. It was one of those memorable childhood traditions I couldn’t wait to share with my own children.

I was finally able to fulfill that promise last week. My kids and I went to Madison Square Garden along with a dozen other NYC Dads Group members and their kids to see the World Famous Harlem Globetrotters during their 2024 World Tour. They put on an insane performance that had all of us laughing in our seats watching these masters ham it up while sinking shots from half-court.

The farcical basketball game had something for everyone — alley oops, jaw-dropping skills, and a dancing mascot (Globie) that captivated the crowd. My 9-year-old daughter was loving every minute of the experience and it converted her into a lifelong fan. My older son was dazzled by the extraordinary ball-handling skills of the players. We were all confused by the wacky scoring system, but that didn’t seem to be very important. Of course, the Harlem Globetrotters pulled out the victory to continue their undefeated win streak.

All of the NYC Dads and kids loved the experience and had many positive things to say about the game. Many of them were making memories at their first-ever Harlem Globetrotter game. For our family, we highly recommend this new version of The Original Harlem Globetrotters that features former Louisana State University women’s basketball captain, NCAA Champion and WNBA draft pick Alexis Morris, a.k.a The Show.

Definitely plan to catch the Harlem Globetrotters when they visit your city as they conduct the spring leg of their 2024 World Tour – traveling across North America, including Nova Scotia and New Brunswick! See their tour schedule here.

I remember going to the NCAA tournament with my family like yesterday even though it was many March Madnesses ago.

My first memory is of the tears of my son, Middle Man, hit the downtown Indianapolis pavement as swarms of NCAA basketball fans buzzed by us in all directions. A piece of his action figure fell off and he wanted us to find it.

We’d already walked several city blocks and were surrounded by thousands of people in Kentucky Blue and the maize and blue of Michigan. I’d been looking forward to this day for weeks, but like most outings with kids, things weren’t going the way I’d imagined.

A few weeks earlier, I received a chance to get free tickets for all of us to the NCAA tournament. I was very nervous when I saw the times of the games. The second Friday night game STARTED at 10 p.m. Sure, there was no chance of my kids making it to that game but, truthfully, there was barely a chance of me staying up that late. Luckily for us, a Sunday game time was announced with a tipoff for just after 5pm. Perfect.

The 5 p.m. start time gave us just enough time to sneak in a nap for our 2-year-old, aka The Blonde Bomber. On days she doesn’t nap, it is not a pretty sight. If things were going to go well, we NEEDED her to nap. Fortunately she slept. A lot. In fact, we had to wake her so we could head downtown for the big game.

We told the kids to bring something they could play with in the car, at dinner and at the game. My 7-year-old (First Born) brought a Barbie, Middle Man brought his action figure (ironically, it was Wolverine), and Blonde Bomber managed to make it out of the house with three dice. Yes, dice. Where does she get this stuff?

I grabbed the NCAA tourney tickets while my wife assembled a diaper bag, a diaper bag only a third child deserved. All it contained was a diaper and Ziploc bag of wipes.

We quickly loaded up the car, then headed downtown. Our plan: grab an early dinner then stuff our faces with snacks at the game.

We made it downtown an hour and a half before tip off. We immediately found parking, mainly since my wife convinced me to pay for parking as opposed to my usually routine of driving in circles looking for an elusive street parking spot. Now, it was time to find food.

When we took to the streets (without a stroller), it reminded me a little bit of when the Super Bowl was in town. Crazy. Busy. Drunk sports fans, not particularly paying attention to the short people we were dragging through the streets. This was also around the same time my son lost a piece of his action figure. Honestly, it was all very overwhelming.

The first restaurant we went into was telling its customers, it would be 45 minutes. Not the walk-ins — the people who ACTUALLY HAD RESERVATIONS!

I got on my phone and called every nearby restaurant. Nothing less than an hour wait, everywhere. It looked like if we wanted to eat, we were going to miss part of the game. I was on the verge of freaking out. Then, my wife spotted a Japanese restaurant across the street. It was our last resort.

We opened the door to the Japanese restaurant leaving behind the crazy drunken college kids stumbling through the streets of downtown, to absolute silence. An oasis in the middle of a desert! It was completely bizarre. There were a few tables of people eating and a chef making sushi, but it was absolutely silent. My wife and I just kind of looked at each other in amazement. I told her it was like walking into a daycare at nap time.

Within minutes we were seated, eating edamame, and waiting for our sushi. During the wait, our kids were sword fighting, poking each other with their chop sticks, and rolling the dice they brought. I never would have guessed those were going to come in handy. So much for a quiet restaurant.

I wouldn’t say the service was the best, but they really enjoyed making sure our kids’ Shirley Temple drinks were always topped off. Sounds nice, but when your secretly trying to dehydrate your kids so they won’t have to use the bathroom at the game, it’s not that great. Honestly, we were grateful we found any place with seats open and food to serve.

After eating we headed to the stadium with just enough time to get to our seats before tipoff. Our seats for this NCAA tourney game — absolutely perfect. Our backs were to the wall of the suites, which meant we had no one directly behind us. We were on an aisle, so the kids had space to roam a bit. If given the opportunity, I would not have chosen any other seats in the place. Except maybe suites where they had beer.

The game itself went a little something like this:

Tipoff: Concession stand trip No. 1

We decided to get the messiest, most labor intense snack item possible for kids: peanuts. I spent much of first half shelling. The Blonde Bomber was eating them faster than I could shell them. Even though I was doing the work, she had the nerve to get angry when I would eat one myself.

Start of second half: Concession stand trip No. 2

Jumbo soft pretzel with cheese.

13:20 minutes remaining in the NCAA game

I get accidentally poked in the eye by my 2-year-old’s salt covered index finger.

8:00 remaining: Concession stand trip No. 3

To my disbelief, we ordered a second jumbo soft pretzel with cheese.

6:00 remaining

The ground under our seats looks like a landfill.

5:00 remaining: Fourth and final concession stand trip

We bought a bag of Reece’s Pieces so big it would have made movie theater candy jealous.

2:00 remaining

Middle Man punched the Blonde Bomber in the face over who could be the guard of the Reese’s Pieces.

1:56 remaining

Middle Man and Blonde Bomber were both crying hysterically. He was crying because we took away his candy; she was understandably upset because of the punch to the face.

1:00 remaining

My wife took over full-time parenting duty. At this point, I was too wrapped up in the back and forth of the game to do any meaningful parenting.

3 seconds left

Kentucky hit a three pointer to go up by three.

As time ran out, Michigan missed a shot that would have sent the game into overtime. I’m not sure how my family would have handled overtime, but I don’t think it would have gone well, at all. Hallelujah for the game ending in regulation time.

As soon as the buzzer went off, we headed for the exits. Most of the 35,000 fans who attended the game were UK fans and they stayed for trophy presentation so it wasn’t too bad getting out of there.

We made the long walk, actual a long carrying of the kids, back to the car. We were exhausted. It was such a fun, memorable day my family and I will never forget. What a day. What an adventure! May it never happen again.

A version of this NCAA March Madness story first appeared on Indy’s Child. Photo: © sidorovstock / Adobe Stock.

Our longtime partner Dove Men+Care is teaming with the National Basketball Players Association in an effort to better society for Black men.

The Commit to C.A.R.E (Care About Racial Equity) Now Initiative will showcase, honor and celebrate the humanity of Black men while addressing issues such as public safety, safe and fair voting, community engagement and the accurate portrayal of Black men in media.

“Black men and our community have been suffering far too long from the negative portrayals that have been built into our society, which is why we are honored to partner with the NBPA to help drive transformative change and amplify the voices and work of the players,” Esi Eggleston Bracey, chief operating officer of the men’s grooming products parent, Unilever N.A. Beauty and Personal Care, said in a news release. “We all have a responsibility to advocate for racial equity, including challenging the misrepresentation of Black men to help save lives. This partnership will help us work towards a brighter and more just future.”

The Commit to C.A.R.E. Now Initiative asks people to help by doing two things:

1. Sign the Commit To C.A.R.E. Now Pledge

The pledge says signers will:

• Educate themselves and start courageous conversations about racial injustices, particularly with Black men.
• Take personal responsibility to stand up against racism, lead by example and spread the message.
• Be an advocate for the cause by supporting legislative change that will help save lives.

2. Sign a petition for The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act

The petition encourages the U.S. Senate to pass legislation (H.R. 7120) that offers a comprehensive approach to hold police accountable, end racial profiling, change the culture of law enforcement, empower our communities, and build trust between law enforcement and our communities by addressing systemic racism and bias to help save lives.

Black Men Care video released

A recently released video for the initiative features pros Chris Paul, Donovan Mitchell, Aaron Gordon, Jaylen Brown and Danny Green promoting their work to correct the depictions of Black men in media and culture that too often rely on harmful stereotypes.

“Our partnership with Dove Men+Care is groundbreaking because it emphasizes the humanity of our players and calls on the world to see them as men – not just as athletes. We are eager and committed to systemic change that will make the world more equitable for them and for all Black men,” Payne Brown, president of THINK450, the innovation and partnership engine of the NBPA, said in a news release.

The Commit to C.A.R.E. Now Initiative is one of many Dove Men+Care has taken over the years to try to try the public’s perception of modern fatherhood. City Dads Group has worked with them multiple times on campaigns to champion men in their roles as fathers, such as the fight for paid paternity leave. This year, the company has placed more of an emphasis on matters of racial violence and injustice.

In June, it launched “Father’s Day Taken,” a pro-fatherhood fundraising initiative to remember the thousands of black dads who have lost their lives due to racism and violence, and the families left behind. DM+C established a fund to invest $1 million to support these families in need.

I took my son to a day of intensive basketball training a while back. Before workouts they play a game called “break the chain” to warm up, encourage teamwork and wake the kids up.

I watched as a simple game became difficult because the kids were not working together. The coach eventually stopped everyone and explained to them that they could not win without acting as a team. It took them a while, but they finally got it.

As I watched them, I realized that teamwork is a hard concept to grasp at any age. We are taught to take care of and worry about ourselves first. But this same thinking can ruin your progression or even your relationships.

Learning to work as a team takes some time but once it’s mastered, things work much better. Here are some of the things I try to emphasize with my kids and, sometimes, even with other adults.

Empathy for teammates, others

To be a great team member, you have to be able to think and care about what others feel.

Kids sometimes don’t understand empathy because many of us adults don’t understand it, either. We assume our kids will just figure out that part of the game by themselves, but that’s not the case.

It starts with us parents first. Letting our kids know that people are different and that that OK is something we can do on the daily. Reminding your kids to be great people starts with them being great toward others. So show them how it’s done.

Communication is key to teamwork

Everybody thinks are the best communicators in the world. Sorry to burst your bubble most of us really, REALLY suck at it!

Kids, like some adults, think they know it all and assume the most. This can be detrimental to any team. My dad always used to tell me, “Don’t make yourself an ass by assuming you know what others are thinking. “

I’ll never forget that. I always tell my kids that the more details they give me the better the results will be. The only way for anyone to know what you are really thinking is to actually tell them, so why hold back? Assumptions don’t help anyone, real talk does.

A great way to work on communication is to ask your kids questions about every thing and anything that pops up. Even if you understand what they are trying to say, ask for more. Don’t work on understanding them, work on them giving you all the information you need.

You won’t shine alone forever

Kids are quick to blame each other and quick to worry about their own personal accomplishments before they worry about others. Especially when they want to show off for mom or dad.

This is bad in sports and in life. We all hate people who hog the spotlight or take too much credit. Just think of your boss at work LOL, I hate him/her too!

I always tell my son that he can score 100 points in a game but if his team loses no one will care. He doesn’t always remember but that’s cool: he’s a kid.

Take the time to remind your child that his/her team is stronger when everyone is working for each other, not for individual accolades. Remind them that winning as a team is way more important than an individual winning on a team that loses.

Everyone smiles when they win, no one wants the credit for losing especially if it’s their fault!

Chill. Your child isn’t a pro yet

As parents, we think our kids can do no wrong. They are the best at everything we see them doing. Or so we think!

I get it, you created the perfect child but that child can mess up just like everyone else. It only takes one bad link to break the power of a chain.

If your child always thinks he or she is the best and doesn’t need anyone else, they will always be a liability for any team.

It’s our job as parents to keep it 100 with not just yourself but also your children. Even if you think they are great they will always need the rest of the team in order to win or to even improve. They can’t do it alone no matter how good you or they feel they are.

Teamwork is about knowing everyone’s strength and then applying those strengths where others might be weak. A great team player knows this and finds ways to make everyone better. Kids need to that reminder. Just like adults, kid notice when one person acts like they are the best, and sooner or later they will stop interacting with them. This can and probably will kill a team’s moral. Don’t let your child be that kid.

A little teamwork goes a long way

You don’t have to take a full day to just teach your kids about teamwork. Besides incorporating it in everyday life, I like finding activities around building things together like Lego or Home Depot’s Kids Workshops! Here the kids are forced to have to work together or with their parents which makes the lessons easier to apply.

Remember kids learn by examples, so it starts with you. Represent!

A version of this first appeared on Cool4Dads. Photo: ©WavebreakMediaMicro / Adobe Stock.

“Just let them play,” I said, loudly.

“That’s a good idea,” snapped the referee, staring me down from the baseline.

I was in the front row, mid-court. Everything was a blur save the anger on the ref’s face and the echoing whispers of my wife begging me to stay quiet. She was probably right.

A moment earlier, the crowd buzzing with confusion, I had turned to those seated behind me, a collection of parents from both teams, and shared my feelings on the call that had been made. I had been loud then, too.

It was the 6th grade boys basketball championship. A player on my son’s team had just fouled out, his last coming on a technical immediately following the actual infraction. The foul itself was probably accurate. He’s a quick, handsy kid, tenacious and prone to contact. The technical, however, was given without pause, warning or justification.

The child had yelled the word “no” in obvious frustration to no one but himself. Not the ref. Not another player. He yelled it with the passionate disappointment of a kid in a championship game who knew what the foul meant for his team. The ref, far too heated for the situation, with actions animated and a stance stern and challenging, issued a technical foul even before the “no” stopped bouncing upon the bright, wood floor. He stood there, striped as a zebra and puffed as a peacock, daring the boy to argue, despite the tears that flowed between them.

It was a terrible call, hence my saying so. The referee would admit as much after the game, stating to other parents that he had misheard the player. Fair enough. Still, it didn’t change the fact a grown man had overreacted in an emotional moment in a gym full of people, embarrassing a 12-year-old in the process.

Referees are only human, and despite yelling at me, I truly appreciate the work they do. It is a thankless job, and often the subject of ridicule and harshness. They are there, I presume, because they care about youth sports and the integrity of the game, and not, contrary to popular belief, to be jerks to middle school kids.

Integrity made me speak up

The season had been rougher than anticipated. My son was on a team of nice kids that he hardly knew, whereas they shared years of friendship with one another. He had a hard time adjusting, and even then, in the first championship game of his young basketball career, he still admitted he wasn’t fitting in. It negatively affected his play and his attitude, noticeably so, two things I had never thought possible.

The team he was facing was filled with some of his closest friends. These kids had been to sleepovers at our house, their voices a regular humming from video games and group calls. Their parents sat beside me as we cheered against each other.

The point being, I wasn’t angry on behalf of my son’s team. I was angry for everyone. The game wasn’t very close at that point and, if anything, the player fouling out only guaranteed my son more playing time. Rather, I was angry like I would have been had I seen an adult berate a crying child in any setting. And I still would have said something had the kid been on the other team.

Funny enough, I actually didn’t coach this season because of parents yelling in the stands. I’m not a fan of the “win or lose” mentality, or the intensity that goes with it, and I didn’t care to spend the season on the receiving end of that attention. I believe youth sports should be fun, healthy and educational. The pride I have in my son has little to do with what he can do with a basketball. It has a lot to do with his heart and his integrity.

Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything. Perhaps the referee should have collected himself. Some examples are louder than others, and lessons are learned everywhere. The basketball court is as good of a place as any.

“Just let them play,” I said, loudly.

“That’s a good idea,” said the ref. And then they did.

September 6th 2017 Note: I’ve updated this post to include my own experiences with four teams; the Texas Marshals, the Texas Legends, the Dallas Wings, and the Dallas Sidekicks, as well as the annual Frisco College Baseball Classic. I also want to highlight the benefits of getting Pogo Pass*, which gets you into several RoughRiders, Wings, Legends, and Revolution games each year, as well as many other DFW area family attractions. If you go to more than one game a year, the pass will be very cost-effective for your family.

If you’re a sports fan like me, you’re probably also raising your kid(s) to love sports. With a team in each of the major professional sports leagues, the DFW area is an incredible place for us sports lovers. Going to a Rangers, Mavs, Stars, or Cowboys game is a great time, but they’re also expensive and sometimes not as kid-friendly as they could be, especially for younger kids.  However, if you’re looking for something more cost-effective with the same fun factor for your young sports fans, here is a guide to the many options the DFW sports scene offers:

For any sport: For both boys and girls teams, your local high school is a great place to start. You’ll be exposing your young ones to school spirit early, and in our area, many schools have players who will end up on division 1 college teams, so there is no lack of talent. For football, in addition to the game, your kids will also get to see the marching band. My son loves this as much as the game. We also go to see basketball, baseball, and soccer. There will be mistakes made at this level, so for kids learning the game, these can be used as teaching moments.

For baseball:

1) The Frisco Roughriders seem by far the area’s most popular minor league attraction. They are the Double-A affiliate of the Rangers and all of the team’s top prospects will end up playing for the Riders at some point. It’s also a great way to catch Rangers players on rehab assignments. We got to see Josh Hamilton and Yu Darvish at past outings. You can use Pogo Pass to get into two games each season.

2) The Texas Airhogs (formerly Grand Prairie Airhogs) is a smaller, cheaper option than the Riders. They are not affiliated with a major league team and therefore you won’t be seeing top prospects, but it’s still pro ball and it’s still fun.

3) The Texas Marshals of the Texas Collegiate League is a team of college baseball players looking to continue to play competitively throughout the summer. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for kids. They have a small concession stand, and you can bring your own food and drinks. They play at the Prestonwood Christian Academy and it’s a great way to see competitive baseball up close. The crowd is small and tends to be mostly parents of the players, and this past summer I ran into a hall-of-fame parent of a player on the opposite team, Greg Maddux! And if you were wondering, his son is just as crafty as he is.

4) In early March, check out the Frisco College Baseball Classic. It’s a four-team round-robin style event with a doubleheader each of the three days. Played at Dr. Pepper Ballpark, they bring in top teams and you get to see two games each session.

5) Other local college baseball: TCU is usually very competitive nationally. For folks in greater Fort Worth, it’s a great way to see quality ball without having to make a long drive. Likewise, Dallas Baptist also fields competitive teams.

For basketball

1) The Texas Legends are the NBA developmental league team of the Dallas Mavericks, who play at the Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco. There’s not a bad seat in the house, and they have a kid zone behind one of the baskets with some inflatables for kids who need a break from sitting. For a small arena, it’s a great atmosphere to catch a game, and the players play hard every night, trying to earn a call-up to the NBA. You can use your Pogo Pass to get into a couple of games each season.

2) The Hoop City Dallas Pro-Am summer league features teams made up of players who have played in the NBA, NBADL, professional leagues in foreign countries, and top NCAA division 1 programs. It’s a very inexpensive way to see pro-level talent in the intimacy of a high school gym.

3) Local Colleges: SMU is having lots of recent success and therefore can be a tough ticket to get. They are in the same conference as UConn, so go see the UConn Women’s team for some of the best basketball you’ll ever see.  TCU is historically not very competitive in the Big 12, but they host Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas each year.

4) The Dallas Wings experience is relatively inexpensive and family-friendly. The area’s WNBA team includes Skylar Diggins-Smith, one of the game’s most talented and exciting stars. The games are played at UT-Arlington’s arena, creating an intimate experience without a bad seat. Don’t be deterred by their advertised ticket prices…use Pogo Pass to get into up to 3 games per season, or look for deals on Groupon.

For Soccer:
1) FC Dallas: I’m including them here even though they’re a major league team because you can get good seats for minor league prices. Toyota Stadium is a great venue, big enough to draw a loud crowd, but small enough that you can buy the cheapest ticket and you won’t be up in a nosebleed seat.

2) Dallas Sidekicks: I’m not a soccer fanatic, so when I first heard about an indoor professional soccer team, I was skeptical, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. We got a chance to have a group outing last season, and it was incredibly exciting. Because of the small playing area, the ball moves fast and the action doesn’t stop, creating an intense, high-energy atmosphere. Between the two teams, we saw 18 goals scored. I was also surprised at how physical the game was. I’m not sure I’d watch it on TV but was extremely fun to be there.

For Hockey:

1) Allen Americans – An affiliate of the NHL San Jose Sharks, this team draws top talent and has been at the top of the standings the last few seasons. If you’ve never seen live hockey from close seats, definitely give this a try. In my opinion, of the four major sports, the action of hockey translates the worst to TV, so seeing it live will be a whole new experience for those who have never been.

2) Lone Star Brahmas – this is a team of 18-20-year-olds who are hoping for college scholarships and attention from pro scouts. Several of their players end up on top division 1 NCAA hockey teams. Their arena is very small and it’s a great and low-cost way to watch quality hockey live.

For Football:
1) I’ve never seen indoor football before, so I asked group member Josh Graziani to guest-write about the Texas Revolution, who play in Allen: “The Texas Revolution indoor arena football games are intimate and action-packed. You get close-up experience of America’s favorite game and the team does a lot of giveaways and entertainment between quarters. The kids love it and the fans get into it. All of the games have great attendance and energy.” You can use Pogo Pass to get into some Revolution games each season.

2) College Football: This is a hard one to summarize.  If you go to see TCU, particularly against a big 12 rival, neither the game nor the impact on your wallet, will seem minor.  UNT and SMU would be more cost-effective choices but can be pricey for certain games.  There’s a lot of variances depending on who the opponent is.

Lastly, Some General Tips:

1) Before the game, go online and look at the rosters to learn the names of a few of the team’s key players.  When you’re there, point them out to your kids. They will feel more involved if they can cheer for the players by name.

2) Look at the promotions schedule before choosing the game you will attend. Many teams have days they give out free souvenirs such as jerseys, bobbleheads, etc. Your kids will get something cool and it won’t cost any extra. Some teams also have food deals like dollar hot dog nights.

3) Get there early.  Find a staff member to ask if there are any ways your kids can be involved. Some teams pick a kid to say “play ball”, announce a player, ride the Zamboni, or bring out the ball to start the game. Even if your kids don’t get to do any of those things, they can watch pre-game practice up close, or head to the area where players come on and off to get high fives.

4) Groupon and other similar websites can be your friend. Many of the local teams mentioned here run deals that can save you extra money.

*5) As mentioned above, Pogo Pass gets you into several games a year. Dallas Dads Group is an affiliate member of Pogo Pass.

One of my favorite things to do with my daughter is to attend New York Liberty basketball games. If you haven’t been to a game before or you missed the 2017 season opener, there’s a lot of season left. If you need more persuading, here are five reasons why Liberty games are so awesome:

1. They play in The Garden

Madison Square Garden is one of the best places in the country to watch a game. The energy of the fans. The history of the arena. Seriously, nothing beats it!

2. Family friendly and affordable

“Affordable” and “New York City” are rarely seen in the same sentence. And to be fair, “friendly” and “New York City” are not often paired either. But, the Liberty genuinely offer family-friendly and affordable fun. You can buy tickets in the $20 range. The Liberty play six Sunday home games at 3 p.m. that feature kid activities such as face painting, on-court family games and autograph sessions with the players. Family Fun Zone on the kids. The Liberty even offers a Family Funday Sunday partial season ticket plan for those games as well as other great deals. The team also offers other great giveaways while Maddie the mascot always makes the rounds and most games feature three dance teams, including one of senior citizens and a kids’ group. So, bring your family, and you will definitely have a blast.

3. Tina Charles

I had the pleasure of attending a Liberty event that featured Head Coach Bill Laimbeer. A basketball legend in his own right, Laimbeer told us that Charles is one of the best players in the world. And she is coming off of a season when she was the MVP runner-up and led the league in scoring and rebounding! Not to mention that she won another Olympic Gold Medal last summer. Rumors are that she has spent the offseason extending her range. Yeah, she’s getting better, and she plays her home games at The Garden!

4. See some of the world’s best basketball players

While a New York Liberty game is a great opportunity to cheer for your home team, it’s also a chance to see some of the world’s best players like Maya Moore, Diana Taurasi, Breanna Stewart, Nneka Ogwumike and Elena Delle Donne. If you love basketball, you will see great basketball on display.

5. New York Liberty one of the WNBA’s best teams

The New York Liberty have been a top 3 team the past two seasons, even finishing with the best regular season record in 2015. They are again a serious championship contender, and added some depth during the offseason. Coach Laimbeer has the team play hard-nosed defense with players like Kiah Stokes and Shavonte Zellous. That’s what New Yorkers love. In addition, guards Epiphany Prince and Sugar Rodgers, and the aforementioned center Tina Charles put the ball in the hoop with regularity. A championship banner at The Garden is not out of the question.

I hope these reasons will lead you to Madison Square Garden to watch the Liberty. If you’re not in New York City, the WNBA plays in 11 other cities across the country! So, get out there, watch some superb basketball, and support a league full of amazing women! See you at The Garden!

Check out this preview of the upcoming season!

Chances are you took many losses while becoming the man you are today, but watching your kids catch an L isn’t always the easiest.

My oldest son recently took not one but two back-to-back Ls in basketball like his name was Meek Mill! These were two huge championship games in competitive basketball leagues and I won’t lie, losing both hurt even if we got second place in both leagues.

Even though I was the coach and was super upset I couldn’t show that to the kids. See, we dads get all caught up in our feelings forgetting that our kids are lost in their feelings. They need someone strong by them and they need to be able to vent or cry as needed!

So your kid took losing hard, what are you going to do about it now?

Are you going to cry with them, blame someone else, fight the ref or are you going to step your game up and help them overcome that L?

When my kids catch a loss I am reminded of these 3 things below!

Chill, Pops. Set the Example

The main thing we dads must always remember is that we are our kid’s most important example. Dads will do anything for their kids but we sometimes take it overboard, especially after a major loss. We are ready to defend our kids’ actions, ready to kill for them but often forget that they are already there, taking it all in.

If you start complaining about playing time or that the game was rigged against your child, guess what? Your child will do the same. Take it from me there is nothing worse than a complaining parent, especially a dad.

After losing at something, take a second to think about your actions and who they ultimately will hurt. We all want our kids to be great, but greatness doesn’t happen overnight and it’s never possible if all they do is complain about a loss.

Take the time to explain that sometimes we win and sometimes we lose. Taking a loss doesn’t mean that they are losers; it means someone else was better that day. Tell them that they are dope and are winners in your book at all times simply by trying.

Hold that L and Learn from It

They say losing is the ultimate truth serum and they are not lying.

We tell our kids how great they are all the time, but there will come a time when they will lose. They will be upset. They might even cry, but a loss isn’t the end of the world. A loss gives us an opportunity to learn about the things we can do to become better.

For example, when my son lost both his championship games we had a REAL conversation about what went wrong and what he could have done to get better.

There was no need to place the blame on his team, especially since the game was over. We focused on his game. We spoke about him not being as aggressive as he could. We also spoke about his lack of leadership and sense of urgency during the game. The team lost, but he contributed to that loss by not playing to his fullest potential.

He didn’t do his best that day and, after a while, he realized it. Did he still complain about everyone else? You better believe it; the blame game was in full effect!

No matter how bad the losses, kids need to learn they still have to show up for the next game. They will have to perform even better if they don’t want to catch another L so take the time to talk about what went wrong. You don’t have to belittle them. Tell them how dope they are and where they can improve to be even better.

There’s always a lesson to be learned after a loss. Not sure where to begin? Focus on effort, having the right attitude and having them give it their all for starters.

You Appreciate Winning After Losing

Kids and adults have a hard time dealing with disappointment, won’t lie about that. However, disappointment can be a huge motivator.

My son’s soccer team was the best in his league for six years straight. Then it all changed. We lost almost all our players and started catching Ls left and right. The kids and parents that remained were stunned all season.

None of us were ready for these losses, especially our kids and they let us know. We watched them cry off the field after a loss and even saw their love of soccer start to diminish. You could tell by their attitude every game. It seemed like they didn’t want to be there. They felt worthless losing.

Most parents would dismiss this and simply tell their kids, “Oh, it’s just a game. Get over it!”

They are right but to kids, it’s not just a game!

Kids hate losing and they get lost in their emotions. They want to be accepted, they want to feel proud and they want to show off for us dads. A loss kills that but it’s so necessary.

My son and his team had to learn how to appreciate a win now because they honestly didn’t know when they would win again. Now every goal was gold, every assist drew smiles on their faces, and every win actually meant something.

Remind your kids that it is OK to get upset over losing, but they must leave that loss in the past and focus on what will get them that future win. It feels good to win, but it feels even better when you win after a loss. It can’t happen if you stop playing.

With March comes madness — the college basketball tournament kind — and City Dads Group members were there to witness it again this year, thanks to our longtime partner, Dove Men+Care.

The men’s grooming products brand once again gave a few of our members and their children in select cities the opportunity to attend a few games during the run to the annual NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. The hook? Dove Men+Care’s latest twist on its long-running “Real Strength” tag line — the Real Strength Manifesto, a call for fans as well as those on the court to exhibit both passion for their teams and sportsmanship toward each other and opposing players. The manifesto has been signed by such college basketball legends as player Alonzo Mourning and retired UConn coach Jim Calhoun.

“It takes skill to win, but it takes care to be a winner,” the company notes in a recent ad, released along with the March Madness tourney, to promote the manifesto’s mission:

We asked a few of our dads who were lucky enough to snag some of those free tickets from Dove Men+Care to tell us about their experience at the games. here are their stories.

Coolest thing in the world

My 4-year-old son and I hit the road from Chicago to catch the NCAA March Madness games in Milwaukee. We got to the arena just as it opened and literally walked around the entire building several times since I told him we could go wherever he wanted. He loved being the leader and finally figured out that it meant that if he wanted ice cream, he could have it. We got to sit next to another dad and his son, so when the kids got restless, we took them back into the concourse and let them run around some more while he had some awesome dad chats.

When the second game started, the noise level was really intense and my son thought that was the coolest thing in the world. Even better than the ice cream, box of popcorn, chocolate-covered pretzel, and pink lemonade he talked me into letting him have. It was an experience we will never forget: getting to take a cool trip to a cool place and to have such a cool time together. We laughed, we cheered for “the blue team,” we cheered for “the white team,” we rode every single escalator multiple times, we bought souvenirs, and in the end, he passed out in the car on the way home with a huge smile. Seeing that little sleeping face finally rest after the excitement of the day was priceless for me. Thank you, Dove Men+Care for giving us this opportunity to make memories together.

— Pat Jacobs, Chicago Dads Group
and blogger at Just a Dad 247.com

Unforgettable experiences

I took my three kids to the Michigan-Louisville game in Indianapolis. My kids have no rooting interest in these teams, but they like taking vacations to Michigan, so that was their team. We also filled out brackets earlier in the week, and all three kids picked Michigan to advance to the Sweet 16 for the same reason.

College basketball is such a great experience for families, even with my kids having little to no interest in the game beforehand, I was able to get my 5-year-old daughter excited about it because I told her we would be watching lots of cheerleaders. My 10-year-old daughter was excited to see the band play, my 7-year-old son had some interest in the game itself and, of course, all three kids were super excited about cotton candy.

It’s so great that Dove Men+Care gives dads these unforgettable experiences to have with our kids.

— Brian “Pete” Craig, Indianapolis Dads Group
and blogger at Indy’s Child

Experience bigger than life

It is always fun to watch a good sporting contest with my boys. It’s moments like these that created a strong bond between my grandfather and I. This year is the first year that my boys filled out their own brackets for March Madness. Being able to see that these teams were more than just names on a paper made the experience bigger than life for them. The final game for the night was Purdue vs. Iowa State, and it was epic! A nail-biter right to the finish.

I was able to teach my boys some of the finer points of basketball and the ethics of being a fan. They learned you can celebrate your team’s successes and recognize the accomplishments of the opposing team. I also taught them that the referees have a tough job, and a good athlete and a good fan shakes off a “bad” call and gets ready for the next play. Dove Men+Care got me to the court so I brought the care courtside because my boys deserve nothing less.

— Eric Bennion, Chicago Dads Group
and blogger at DiaryDad’s Dadventures

One-on-one time

Having the opportunity to go to the NCAA games this past Saturday with my son was amazing. Being a stay-at-home dad of three (soon to be four) makes it difficult for me to have specific one-on-one time with each of my kids, which makes opportunities like this so much more valuable. My son was so excited to spend the day together I think he hardly slept the night before. We took off early in the morning and spent the day at the Discovery World Science Museum in Milwaukee, making bobblehead art projects and viewing the exhibits and aquarium. We were joined at the arena by Pat Jacobs of Chicago Dads Group and his son which made for great conversation and plenty of laughs. The best part of this experience for me was that I was able to spend some quality  time with my son. If you asked him what his favorite part was, I bet he would say the cotton candy or the mascots — we all know that’s how a 4-year-old’s brain works. Thank you Dove Men+Care for providing the opportunity to spend the day with my son taking in some March Madness action while taking a break from the regular madness that is my day-to-day.

— Eric Jacobs, Madison Dads Group

“March Madness” infected NYC Dads Group Friday during an evening of college hoops and male camaraderie in midtown Manhattan.

NYC Dads Group’s long-time partner Dove Men+Care sponsored this latest “Dad’s Night Out” event that brought 40 of our members from neighborhoods throughout our five boroughs together to enjoy the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament at Public House NYC bar and restaurant. It was one of 17 such viewing parties for City Dads Groups around the United States that night, thanks to the men’s grooming products maker. Dove Men+Care has not only graciously supported these events for us over the past three years, but also is a sponsor of the national tournament.

In quintessential NYC Dads Group fashion, our group’s diversity was on full display during this Dad’s Night Out. Fathers discussed the games on television, their children’s strollers, their occupations and even shared cooking tips. People dove into wings, discussed their devastated brackets (I’m looking at you, Coach Izzo!), and developed new connections. The event even drew out several newer members who made the party their first NYC Dads Group event. It was truly a lively and fun event.

The evening perfectly complimented Dove Men+Care’s “Bonds of Real Strength” ad campaign that focuses on male friendship. These bonds might be the ones friends share with one another, coaches share with players, or a father might share with a son. The company even conducted a study of male friendship that found, among other things, while many men bond with friends over sports or fitness, a vast majority of guys agree their friendships are built on trust, not having a good time.

Thanks again to Dove Men+Care for their generosity in helping support this multi-city Dad’s Night Out.

Photos: Christopher Persley