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I've been blessed to have a career that deals with sports writing. I have many people to thank for that, whether it's my college professors, the editors at the Acorn, or my inability to hit a curveball and make it to the major leagues.

But there is one guy who really got me involved with sports. He goes by the name of Dad, or Jeffrey Lee Gase to everyone else.

When I was 5 years old Dad took me to my first baseball game at what was then known as Anaheim Stadium. I was hooked from the onset- hooked on Crackerjacks, cotton candy and soda. In the fourth inning, I asked him a question.

"Dad, what is going on down there on the grass?" "That's the game," he replied.

Shortly thereafter, I went to the driving range with my father. As he started scorching golf balls well into the distance, I asked if he was a professional golfer, perhaps the best golfer of all time, even.

"No, there are probably about a million players better than me," he said.

I quickly gave up golf, and I decided to give baseball another try.

Dad took me to my first Dodger game a couple years later, and within a few moments I caught a batting practice foul ball. From there on out I had two favorite teams- the Dodgers and the Angels. It was difficult to pick a favorite because Dad would always take me to watch both teams play.

Watching games on TV with him was fun. If the Giants scored a run in the first inning of the first game of the year against the Dodgers, the season was over and L.A. should pack its bags. Three hours later, he would come in when the Dodgers were ahead and say, "Wow, they really played great!"

Refs and umpires on TV made for great conversation as well.

After a fan interfered with Lonnie Smith's extra-base hit in the 1992 World Series between the Braves and Blue Jays, my dad wouldn't stop yelling at the umpire. After constant heckling, my mom muttered, "Jeff, they're in Toronto. They can't hear you."

I heard my dad and his great advice loud and clear over the years, and I learned a lot.

My father retired last month after working hard his entire life. I'm sure he will spend a lot of time on the golf course now. May the rest of his life be filled with eagles and birdies. Like many of your hardworking dads, my father earned it. Happy Father's Day.