Athletes Who Inspire Dad Goals: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Cristiano Ronaldo And David Beckham

Photo: Instagram/kingjames

In the world of sports, we often hear about the accomplishments and talents of athletes. However, remember that these athletes are also humans, juggling their demanding schedules with the responsibilities of being a parent.

From LeBron James' dedication to his sons to Dwyane Wade's open support for his family, Cristiano Ronaldo's transition into a loving father and Russell Wilson's commitment to his children and community, these athletes exemplify what it means to be a great dad.

LeBron James

Balancing career and fatherhood, LeBron James, a renowned basketball player, has been in the spotlight for his skills on the court and his devotion to his family. Despite his demanding NBA (National Basketball Association) career, LeBron has tried to spend quality time with his sons and support them in their endeavors. His influence on and off the court has shaped his sons' athletic careers, and LeBron's goal is to play alongside both his sons in the NBA one day.

Dwyane Wade

Leading with Love, Dwyane Wade, a retired NBA player, has been an exceptional father figure to his children and nephew. Through his foundation and personal experiences, Wade advocates for leading with love and being there for his kids. He has been open about challenges, such as infertility and his daughter's gender transition, demonstrating the importance of support and understanding within a family.

Cristiano Ronaldo

From a soccer legend to a cover model to a loving dad Cristiano Ronaldo is known for his extraordinary skills and being a devoted father. Despite his glamorous lifestyle, Ronaldo has shown a softer side as a parent. His journey, including losing a child, has reinforced his commitment to his kids and brought out his human side.

David Beckham

The global soccer sensation has been in the headlines lately with his MLS (Major League Soccer) team, Inter Miami, signing soccer's best, Lionel Messi. Beckham moved his family to the U.S. at the end of his playing career, and his children and wife, Victoria Beckham's businesses, have continued to soar. Son Brooklyn, a chef, was recently married to American actress Nicole Peltz. And son Romeo is following in his father's footsteps playing on the Brentford F.C. under-21 team.

Russell Wilson

Embracing fatherhood and community, Russell Wilson, the quarterback for the Denver Broncos, has shown his dedication to fatherhood through his involvement with his children and stepchild. Wilson's efforts in the community, especially in children's hospitals, have showcased his compassion and support for those in need. Although he faced challenges with his charitable foundation, Wilson's commitment to being a role model for his children remains strong.

The Good Ones

The best part about sports isn’t the scores; it’s the stories that allow you to connect with others and create conversation.

Monday for the win,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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MLB (Major League Baseball)

Today starts the beginning of the All-Star festivities in Denver. The home run derby is tonight, and all eyes are on slugger (and pitcher) Shohei Ohtani, who is the first-ever Japanese-born player to compete in the derby. Also, keep an eye on Baltimore Orioles player Trey Mancini who missed last season to fight (and win) a battle with cancer who is also participating in the derby. The game itself will be tomorrow night.

While the stars of the game are on the field, they’re not the only heroes. At an MLB game yesterday, the father of Washington Nationals pitcher Joe Ross saved a fan’s life, performing the Heimlich Maneuver. LIFESAVER

Overtime

Some of England’s biggest soccer fans including David Beckham, Prince William, Duchess Kate and Prince George attended yesterday’s Euro 2020 Final. England was vying for its first major title in 55 years. Sadly, the England fans will have to settle for second. Italy took home the win after a great game that was decided by penalty kicks at the end. The British Beer and Pub Association estimated that fans would buy nearly 13 million pints of beer yesterday in expectation of the event. That indulging may have led to the thousands of abusive tweets and racist messages directed at the three Black England players who missed their penalty kicks. SORE LOSERS

Sideline stat

There’s a new name to keep an eye on in women’s tennis – Australian Ash Barty. Yesterday Barty won her first Wimbledon, her second Grand Slam title of her career. Novak Djokovic won his sixth Wimbledon, his third major of the year. With the win, he tied Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for most titles in history. He could break the record at the U.S. Open in August; the only Grand Slam tournament left this year. ON FIRE

Coaches’ corner

The MLB All-Star Game made headlines after a maid tipped off Denver police who seized guns, ammunition, narcotics and body armor from a hotel near Coors Field, home of the All-Star Game. They arrested four people. It was initially feared it was some sort of planned attack on the event, but it turns out it may be unrelated. The All-Star Game was scheduled to be in Atlanta, but the league pulled the game after the state passed new voting rights laws. SEE SOMETHING SAY SOMETHING

Have Mercy! 5 Scandals That Rocked College Sports

If you thought the Kardashians brought the drama, enter in Operation Varsity Blues. The scandal has rocked Hollywood along with the sports and academic world but it’s not the only (or even the biggest) college athletics scam out there.

They always get caught.

The Last Night’s Game Team

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1. Yesterday, the Justice Department released the news about Operation Varsity Blues, a cross-country admissions scandal. Over 50 people were charged in the scheme, with 33 of them being parents, including CEOs and actresses Felicity Huffman (Desperate Housewives) and Lori Loughlin (Full House).  In some instances, parents bribed college coaches to recruit their students as elite athletes, even though they had no athletic background. Some even went as far as creating a fake athletic profile for their children by photoshopping them into sports photos and including them in the admissions packets. (This scandal goes way beyond the sports aspect, so click to read more). IT WASN’T ME

2. From photoshopped to something more permanent, five football players at Ohio State were suspended for selling memorabilia and receiving discounted services at a local tattoo parlor. “Tattoo-Gate” was just the tip of the iceberg of Ohio State football scandals that eventually led to the resignation of their head football coach. HOPE THE TATTOO WAS AT LEAST SPELLED RIGHT

3. In late 2017, the FBI uncovered a college basketball bribery scandal so big, people are still being sentenced for it. This scandal had more moving parts than a lobster. It included coaches pocketing cash for referring players to agents and financial advisors to Adidas paying athletes when they committed to play for Adidas sponsored schools. And of course, there were adventures to topless bars with lots of booze. WHERE ARE THEY NOW

4. The mob and college is not something you’d typically put together until discussing the Boston College points shaving scandal. Richard “The Fixer” Perry bribed Boston College basketball players to do everything they could to throw the games. But it didn’t really work out for the mob as despite the threat of physical violence and brutal intimidation tactics, they couldn’t control a bunch of college kids. The mob didn’t make a ton of money on the scandal and Perry was later charged and thrown in the slammer. FIX THIS

5. SMU (Southern Methodist University) received the sharpest penalty on this list. They ignored the NCAA’s (college sports governing body) warnings about cheating and illegal benefits for their players (think cars, cash, etc). The NCAA shut down their football program for an entire season. SMU still has the distinction of being the one and only major college football program to be shut down by the NCAA. A BADGE OF HONOR?

Changing the subject

Let’s talk about the top three topics in the world of sports today including James Corden’s brilliant punk of David Beckham, why you’ll need hand sanitizer in Coachella this week and the ‘most dramatic “Bachelor” ending ever.’ READ