Ad Hudler - Ad Libbing

The Geeky Dad? That's me.
Saturday, January 31, 2009

So you've all seen the rabid dads and moms who sit in the stands during sports events, yelling and ranting like maniacs? Well, I've always made fun of these people ... and I really shouldn't. Because doing so makes me a hypocrite.

You've heard of soccer moms and football dads? Well, I'm a Mock Trial dad. A quick explanation: In Mock Trial competition, students are given a case to study. Then they compete as either defense or prosecution against another team. A real judge and jury presides over each competition.

My daughter's team is one of the best in the state, and last night they won county level once again. And when we learned they'd won, I jumped to my feet and whooped and hollered like a redneck at a NASCAR event. I had to fight to control myself from yelping out a dog-like chant, jabbing my fist in the air.

We're not all that different, the football dads and mock-trial dads. Instead of saying, "Dude, how could you let that offensive end run free like that?" we say, "Why didn't you object on grounds of speculation?"

Instead of saying, "Man, could you believe that tackle?" we say, "Man, was that closing argument a killer or what?"

Instead of Gatorade, we provide high-protein snacks of nuts and dried fruit to keep them sharp and witty.

A Mock trial dad carries lint brush and hairpins and hi-liters in his backpack.

3 Comments:

Anonymous said...: High protein snacks of nuts and dried fruit keep you sharp and witty?

Cool!; January 31, 2009 1:16 PM
Ad Hudler said...: At least for the short-term.; January 31, 2009 1:22 PM
Kathy Grey said...: Not a geeky dad, a smart one with a smart kid. You guys rock!

Oh, hey, I have 4 books for signing. Two for my mother-in-law and two for me. (My library is now complete.)

Let me know when I can drop them off.; February 2, 2009 10:30 AM