Your BasketBecoming a top sports star requires hard work, dedication and innate ability. The same could be said for being a top dad. So how good a trick is it to pull off a combination of the two? Here, in no particular order, we present our Top ten sporting dads...
One. David Beckham
Okay, so you know all about his footballing achievements - his goal from the halfway line, the medals, the trophies, the 99 (so far) caps for England.
Beckham earns his place here for his transparent and unembarrassed devotion to his sons and for the fact that he did more than anyone else to make being a dad actually seem cool.
Buy David Beckham's autobiography from Amazon.
Two. Ian Wright
Arsenal legend and England striker Ian Wright has got five kids and two of them are professional footballers. Bradley Wright Phillips plays for Southampton whilst Shaun is an England and Chelsea star.
Want to know what kind of a dad Ian is? Watch him doing punditry for England matches, trying, not that hard, to remain impartial when he clearly wants to shout "See him? That's my son that is!"
Buy Ian Wright's autobiography
Three. Ian Botham
Proof that it's all in the genes, Ian Botham was not only capable of beating the Australians at cricket more or less single-handedly, playing centre forward for Scunthorpe and keeping several tabloid newspaper editors happy, he also produced a son, Liam, who went on to play cricket and rugby professionally.
Buy Ian Botham's autobiography
Four. Phil Neville
Everton captain Neville may seem a little out of place in such exalted sporting company (despite his many medals and 50 plus caps) but he's here because, upon being told that his daughter, Isabella, had been born with cerebral palsy and had only a 50 per cent chance of walking, Phil determined to do everything he could to ensure that she would. Sure enough, at the age of three, Isabella took her first steps.
Now that's what you call being a dad.
Buy Phil Neville's book
Five. Jose Mourhino
Talented, charismatic, handsome, urbane and witty, with the world at his feet, yet the former Chelsea manager has gone on record many times as insisting that the most important thing in his life is his kids.
For a practical example, see the way he stepped into a playground argument on his 11 year old daughters behalf late last year. Not the wisest move, perhaps, but typical doting dad behaviour.
Buy Jose Mourinho's autobiography from Amazon.
Six. Frankie Dettori
Record-breaking jockey Frankie lives an idyllic country life with his wife Catherine and his five kids.
Yes, five.
He describes his daily life as a riot of kids banging around the house, screaming and hammering at the piano. And he isn't complaining.
Buy Frankie Dettori's Italian Family Cookbook
Seven. Ken Griffey
Ken Griffey was a major league baseball player in the 1970s and 80s. His son, Ken Griffey Jr went on to become one of the all-time great players.
What earns Ken his place here is that, in August 1990 the Griffeys became the first father and son to play in a Major League game together. Playing with your son, at the top level of professional sport... nice.
Buy Ken Griffey's book
Eight. Laurence Dallaglio
Former England captain Dallaglio is determined that the pleasures and positives of sport should play a part in his three children's lives, but he goes beyond that.
He's heavily involved in the Premier Sport project, which aims to provide top level sports coaching to kids in schools throughout the country.
Buy Laurence Dallaglio's autobiography from Amazon.
Nine. Jim Redmond
Bit of a cheat here, but justified. Derek Redmond was an athlete running in the 400m semi-final at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. On the back straight he suffered a painful hamstring tear, but hobbled on tearfully, determined to try and finish the race. Then his dad Jim made his way from the crowd, pushed through several officials, and put his arm around his son's shoulder, with the words "We'll finish this together". Look it up on YouTube, but make sure you've got the Kleenex ready...
You can't buy a book from Amazon about Jim or Derek, but you can find the YouTube video here.
Ten. Muhammad Ali
Okay, so with nine children from three marriages and two extra-marital relationships, Ali may not be dad-of-the-year material. However, his daughter Laila became a professional boxer and three times world champion, leading us to believe that dad may have taught her a thing or two about the will to win.
Buy Muhammad Ali's autobiography
Author
Steve Cochrane is a freelance journalist and scriptwriter who is married with three children, varying in age from 17 to eight. As well as writing he has worked as a full time househusband, unofficial family childminder and has spent many years trying to come up with a better word for househusband.
Your top sporting dads
Any more? Who do you think should be added to the Dad roll of sporting honour. Make your suggestions below.
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