This column appears in the December edition of US Lacrosse Magazine, which mails to US Lacrosse members this week. Don’t get the mag? Join US Lacrosse today to start your subscription.
I promise not to turn this column into a dad blog.
But four years after heralding the birth of my first son, Hudson, in this space, I would be remiss not to do the same for baby bro. My wife, Erin, and I were overjoyed to welcome into this world Reid Anthony DaSilva on Oct. 31. Trick or treat!
Erin played soccer and lacrosse in college, and well, she delivers like an athlete.
“Here’s another contraction,” the nurses would say. “Do you want to take a break?”
Erin’s response every time: “No, let’s push.”
Four years ago, in the summer of 2013, I became a father and lost a father in a life-altering three-month stretch. My worldview changed, and honestly, I became kind of a sap.
“Any advice for fatherhood, Dad?” I asked over the phone in one of our last conversations before he died of a heart attack.
“Love ’em to death,” he replied.
There is no bond like that between father and son. That’s why my favorite lacrosse moment of 2017 was when Virginia’s Zed Williams returned to Charlottesville during the first quarter of the Cavaliers’ April 9 game against North Carolina after the death of his father, Daniel. Williams, of the Seneca Nation, had just finished observing the 10-day mourning period, an Iroquois tradition. The Klockner Stadium crowd cheered Zed as teammates took turns hugging him — all in the middle of a spirited ACC game.
Zed Williams returned from mourning the death of his father during the 1st qtr of the the @UVAMensLacrosse vs UNC game to a warm greeting pic.twitter.com/Stzmv690Rc
— Lax Sports Network (@LaxSportsNet) April 10, 2017
Williams played inspired lacrosse. Most memorably, he zipped an unbelievable bounce pass through three UNC defensemen to Mike D’Amario on the doorstep for an assist to go with his three goals in a 15-12 Virginia loss.
"SPORTSCASTER TOP 10, BOOK IT!" - @AnishESPN
— Dan Aburn (@Dan_Aburn) April 10, 2017
A bounce pass from Zed Williams leads to a score from D'Amario! #LAXTop5 pic.twitter.com/sZZVFJWwGB
Three months later, Williams got married, his current and former teammates and coaches in attendance, sharing pictures on social media with the hashtag #ZeddyGetsHitched.
They say lacrosse is a game of runs. First you’re up, then you’re down. The momentum shifts. You hope you finish on the upside, but there is no guarantee, so you put your heart into every play.
See the parallel?