Kirk Gibson Misses Son’s High School Graduation Because “You Are Supposed to Graduate”
Here’s your inspirational Father’s Day story as we head into Father’s Day weekend. Kirk Gibson’s son, Cam, was graduating high school Thursday night in Michigan. Gibson opted to remain with the Diamondbacks for the final game of the Texas series, rather than go to the graduation and re-join the team Friday in Anaheim.
When asked about his son’s graduation, Gibson responded:
You’re supposed to graduate. His mom and the rest of the family will be there. He’s coming to see me next week.
Yes, you are supposed to graduate. You are also supposed to go to the graduation ceremony of your child when they have accomplished something that takes a lot of effort, even if they are “supposed” to do it. Gibson must be a peach at birthday parties: “you are supposed to get older, kid”.
Just two weeks ago, Cam was drafted by the Diamondbacks in the 38th round of the baseball draft, though Gibson said that he will likely follow in his footsteps and attend Michigan State University. Gibson said this at the time:
I think he has a dream to be a Major Leaguer someday. He’s worked hard and he continues to work hard. I just try to encourage him if he has a dream to try and realize that dream. There’s no pressure from me. If he needs help, wants me to help him in any way, he knows I will always support any of my kids.
Well, unless it is something you were supposed to do.
[photo via US Presswire]
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88 Responses to “Kirk Gibson Misses Son’s High School Graduation Because “You Are Supposed to Graduate””
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June 15th, 2012 at 10:42 AM
He’s right though. People who celebrate HS graduations like its this big thing must not expect much from their kids.
/ did not go to HS “convocation”
June 15th, 2012 at 10:42 AM
I’m sure people will come in lauding this but virtue as it’s own reward is retarded.
/It’s fun to do bad things
June 15th, 2012 at 10:44 AM
Yeah, but there’s a difference between supporting your son as he reaches milestones in his life, and overblowing small achievements.
June 15th, 2012 at 10:44 AM
I never received my high school diploma b\c I lost my bio book in 10th grade and never paid it back. Sucks to suck.
June 15th, 2012 at 10:45 AM
I’m sure Gibby said something like this.
June 15th, 2012 at 10:45 AM
162 games this year.
162 games next year.
1 high school graduation.
priorities
June 15th, 2012 at 10:47 AM
/ thinks back to HS career
// looks at the people who also graduated
Nope. Doesn’t take that much effort.
June 15th, 2012 at 10:49 AM
Intelligent.
June 15th, 2012 at 10:50 AM
Cam is used to the phrase “Get me a beer” would be my guess.
June 15th, 2012 at 10:51 AM
I’ll agree with that.
June 15th, 2012 at 10:52 AM
was graduating high school Thursday night in Michigan.
Thursday night? In June? Wasn’t graduation a month ago? Who the hell is still in school in June?
June 15th, 2012 at 10:53 AM
My wife still has another week left.
June 15th, 2012 at 10:53 AM
Somewhere, Jack Buck can’t believe it.
June 15th, 2012 at 10:53 AM
I’m not trying to be a dick about it. Having originally come a poor ass country, I hold the belief that if you’re lucky enough to have free education through the end of HS, you need to at least take advantage of that opportunity.
June 15th, 2012 at 10:54 AM
Minnesota kids just finished last week. State law to start after Labor Day
June 15th, 2012 at 10:54 AM
I think my graduation was the 1st or 2nd weekend in June.. the rest of school still had a week left after that
June 15th, 2012 at 10:55 AM
It was college that got out in May
June 15th, 2012 at 10:56 AM
Most Michigan schools that I know of had graduation the week right after Memorial Day. Non-seniors didn’t get out of school until a week ago.
June 15th, 2012 at 10:56 AM
The school district I live around now either finished up yesterday or today. Where my parents lived, the teachers are in the middle of their second strike of the year, and the non-graduating kids are supposed to be going until June 29th.
June 15th, 2012 at 10:57 AM
That’s like not celebrating birthdays because you’re supposed to be born. No shit, life isn’t all about just doing what you’re supposed to do, and even so I’d argue a parent is supposed to support his child.
June 15th, 2012 at 10:59 AM
I too graduated from a High School in Michigan in June. 06-06-06 to be exact.
June 15th, 2012 at 11:00 AM
Do you perchance have a wedding?
June 15th, 2012 at 11:00 AM
fuck.
June 15th, 2012 at 11:03 AM
gotta say – surprised at the reaction. Would love to dig deeper and find out the people who think it is “no big deal” …
relationship with father?
did they hate high school?
are they currently parent?
June 15th, 2012 at 11:04 AM
My dad didn’t come to my graduation.
/Parents divorced when I was 15…
June 15th, 2012 at 11:04 AM
My dad didn’t come to my graduation.
/Parents divorced when I was 15…
June 15th, 2012 at 11:06 AM
I’m not, this site is full of contrarians.
/guilty
//but not in this case
June 15th, 2012 at 11:08 AM
the Northeast
June 15th, 2012 at 11:09 AM
you’re failing at it.
June 15th, 2012 at 11:10 AM
1. Awesome relationship. Very close. I didn’t end up going to my graduation because in Canada they do it in the fall at some schools and I was too busy having fun/studying for midterms in university to make the 1.5 hour trip back for a HS grad.
2. Loved high school, especially my final year.
3. Not a parent, but I wouldn’t miss my son/daughter’s graduation. However, I’d still (privately) hold the thought that its not a big deal and that it should be something that should be expected of them.
/ “what you want, a cookie?!?”
June 15th, 2012 at 11:11 AM
It’s tough to judge this situation without truly knowing the relationship between Gibson and his son. But yeah, he definitely should have been there
June 15th, 2012 at 11:12 AM
For the record… I had to miss softball game last nite to attend my 2nd child being born. Priorities
June 15th, 2012 at 11:15 AM
Gibson is right. Unless you’re the valedictorian, or receiving some other special recognition, high school graduations are not a big deal. They have pre-school graduation, grade school graduation, middle school graduation…so why is high school special? All it signifies is that you showed up often enough not to flunk.
What IS important is showing up for work when you have a job. Gibson did that, and by doing so, set a GREAT example for his son.
June 15th, 2012 at 11:16 AM
so what’s their situation, divorced, married? son doesn’t want him there, told him not to come?
high horses are getting brushed off and saddled up around here today
June 15th, 2012 at 11:18 AM
The list of celebrations are henceforth cancelled as this is what is expected of you:
Birth
Funeral
Birthdays (you are expected to live until you die)
Weddings (coupling is expected)
New Years (time is linear)
Championship (you play to win the game)
June 15th, 2012 at 11:19 AM
I agree with Gibson. To graduate from high school, all you have to do is show up. I skipped my college ceremony to play in a softball tournament.
June 15th, 2012 at 11:20 AM
Don’t have a huge problem with him missing. All up to how the kid feels about it.
June 15th, 2012 at 11:22 AM
Who the hell is still in school in June?
My wife still has another week left.
Jebus. My wife is a counselor and had to work two weeks after school was out and she has been on summer vacation for two weeks now.
However, I keep forgetting that Kansas schools start early. Mid August. Gotta have those kids out of school for wheat harvest in June.
/1940′d
June 15th, 2012 at 11:22 AM
congrats riggs
June 15th, 2012 at 11:23 AM
On the surface this looks retarded, but how the heck does anyone else know anything about their relationship?
Being a parent is effing complicated. Maybe Gibson is being a moron, but maybe tone down the “OMG THIS IS A BIG DEAL”.
June 15th, 2012 at 11:23 AM
so what if my funeral is cancelled, not like i’d be around to get sad about it.
June 15th, 2012 at 11:24 AM
relationship with father?
Great, but passed after my sophomore yr of H.S. Nothing to do w/my opinion of the situation, however.
did they hate high school?
I enjoyed high school. Played 4 sports, had a g/f at time of graduation and had lots of friends.
are they currently parent?
Not currently a parent.
I do think its unfair to judge Kirk as a parent on this, due in part to his son being a star athlete (like father), going to MSU (like father), and getting drafted by his father. Because of these things I can make a safe assumption that their relationship is quite strong & not worthy of being scrutinzed by the national media.
June 15th, 2012 at 11:25 AM
I agree with not celebrating this. At least out in public. Amateur hour.
June 15th, 2012 at 11:26 AM
Your expectations as a parent or person in general don’t automatically transfer to your kids or anyone else. From their time as a toddler trying to teach them their ABC’s and 123′s, we as parents are drilling into our kids the importance of an education. So, on the day that represents the child realizing this “expectation” it is a parent’s duty to make every effort possible to recognize the achievement.
June 15th, 2012 at 11:26 AM
If you Tom Sawyer’d though that’s a slap in face right there.
June 15th, 2012 at 11:26 AM
BTW, congrats Riggs.
June 15th, 2012 at 11:26 AM
What IS important is showing up for work when you have a job. Gibson did that, and by doing so, set a GREAT example for his son.
pretty goof point here. look, gibby has a different job than most parents who are home-based. and as someone else says, if the kid was ok with it, and the rest of his fam was there, much ado about nothing
i just went through preschool graduation for three kids last year and this, so while i think it’s too much, the teachers make a big deal in preparing the kids with song and ceremony, so they are excited.
if you don;t show up to things like that because of your grown-up beliefs, you are being a dick.
June 15th, 2012 at 11:28 AM
Absolutely. Most of the comments seem to be along the lines of “Highschool is so easy any idiot can graduate”. Which is sort of beside the point when it comes to parenting, though. Like I said, who knows about his relationship… but hell, if and when my kids graduate I’ll be there just to celebrate the fact I didn’t totally and completely fuck them up.
June 15th, 2012 at 11:28 AM
Births are a completely bigger deal than a HS graduation. Especially if you like your wife.
June 15th, 2012 at 11:29 AM
I’d agree with that but Gibson said…
Pretty reasonable inference to think that he doesn’t think he “needs” to be there. Especially if his excuse is managing a regular season baseball game.
June 15th, 2012 at 11:31 AM
I’m kind of on both sides. As someone who didn’t particularly care for high school, and didn’t think graduating was a big deal, I didn’t really care if my parents were there… and I actually had a speech and an award and shit during it. I’ll go to my kid’s graduation I guess… but it’s hard for me to think of it as a big deal.
On the other hand, as much as happiness and satisfaction should be derived internally, rather than externally, it’s tough to explain that to an 18 year old kid.
I’m having difficulty finding TBL’s stance when Mark Tiexiera missed time for the birth of his kid. Anyone?
June 15th, 2012 at 11:31 AM
pretty goof point here
my kingdom for a d
June 15th, 2012 at 11:32 AM
Maybe it was tongue in cheek?
Instead of ESPN-izing a worthless topic, find something more interesting to write about.
June 15th, 2012 at 11:33 AM
However, I keep forgetting that Kansas schools start early. Mid August. Gotta have those kids out of school for wheat harvest in June.
TN schools, in my county start first of August and end week before end of May. Gotta plant that tobaccy
June 15th, 2012 at 11:34 AM
rusty can you go somehwere else and tell people what to do while letting us know how you feel?
there has to be a blog where folks like you gather
June 15th, 2012 at 11:34 AM
You could flip it back on the parents, too. If your kid is graduating and it was too easy for him, why didn’t you push him to get honors, take AP courses, get good grades, etc.
It should be an accomplishment because your kid should have been pushed/encouraged to work hard and do his best, which is worth recognizing. If you let your kid skate by graduating easy with a bunch of Cs, slacking off and not generating a good work ethic and ambition to maximize his potential, that’s your failure as a parent.
If your kid works hard just to pass, then you should be proud and go.
If your kid works hard to get all A’s and get a scholarship etc, be proud and go.
If you kid had “A” potential and got “C”, maybe you aren’t as proud and excited, but that’s a lot your fault.
June 15th, 2012 at 11:34 AM
oh yeah, twitter
/tell sg i said hey
June 15th, 2012 at 11:34 AM
Did this girl’s parents attend her graduation? The answer settles this.
June 15th, 2012 at 11:35 AM
maybe the kid genuinely said it’s not a big deal to him for his dad to be there. maybe he’s an 18 year old kid who figured it out and won’t put sad faces on his facebook b/c his dad wasn’t there.
June 15th, 2012 at 11:36 AM
Lot of fuckups graduate highschool. You won’t be out of the woods quite yet.
June 15th, 2012 at 11:38 AM
Its not like the guy was staying at home sitting in his favorite chair crushing Natty lights during the ceremony.
June 15th, 2012 at 11:41 AM
Great relationship with Dad. High school was good, and I’m not a parent. I’d probably attend my kid’s graduation, but I consider HS less than a minimum in the education department unless you did something wildly unique (start a business, entertainment, sports in certain circumstances).
June 15th, 2012 at 11:43 AM
Oh, no doubt. However I will have achieved some minimal level of parental success.
June 15th, 2012 at 11:44 AM
This. I never felt any desire for my parents to attend anything. I was doing these activities, not them. If they had been disparaging, I would have gotten the sads, though.
June 15th, 2012 at 11:48 AM
On the surface this looks retarded, but how the heck does anyone else know anything about their relationship?
Being a parent is effing complicated. Maybe Gibson is being a moron, but maybe tone down the “OMG THIS IS A BIG DEAL”.
I agree with this, and it is complicated. Saying that he didn’t go because “he is supposed to graduate” though, is my issue. Kids are supposed to do lots of things. My kids are supposed to stop jumping on the couch, right now, for example.
June 15th, 2012 at 11:49 AM
This. Again, I’d attend the graduation, but I wouldn’t think its a big deal. Kind of like the HS graduation speech on YouTube where the speaker told the kids “you are not special” (he’s right, of course) and everyone got all pissy.
June 15th, 2012 at 11:52 AM
Graduation isn’t for the kids. It is for the parents.
/Now get the fuck out of my house and get a job.
June 15th, 2012 at 11:52 AM
When you’re a professional athlete or coach, you accept that there are some sacrifices you have to make, such as missing a huge chunk of your kids’ lives. I wonder what the reaction would be if an NFL coach missed a game for a kid’s graduation. Would the “it’s just a regular season game” law still apply?
June 15th, 2012 at 11:53 AM
of course people got pissy, they just had someone tell them their unique snowflake was generic and likely to melt like all the others.
June 15th, 2012 at 11:53 AM
Gibson is usually pretty sarcastic when talking to the media. I don’t think there is much to be read into it.
That says a lot more about his relationship with his son than a funny remark to the media.
June 15th, 2012 at 11:53 AM
I agree with this, and it is complicated. Saying that he didn’t go because “he is supposed to graduate” though, is my issue. Kids are supposed to do lots of things. My kids are supposed to stop jumping on the couch, right now, for example.
we can equate this with lauding an athlete for his all, great effort/hustle….theyy are supposed to, so praise for it is silly. again, gibby’s actions/statements are only harsh if they hurt his kid. period. this shit is personal
June 15th, 2012 at 11:54 AM
no b/c regular season NFL games get higher ratings than regular season MLB games.
priorities, yo.
June 15th, 2012 at 11:55 AM
/Now get the fuck out of my house and get a job.
and this one, snoop doggy dogg, need to get yourself a jobby job
/MTV
June 15th, 2012 at 11:56 AM
Actually most of the reactions i’ve seen agreed with the teacher.
June 15th, 2012 at 11:57 AM
But we can all agree that attending graduations are the fucking worst?
At least my high school was cut off during the E’s because of thunderstorms. That helps with a class of 750.
June 15th, 2012 at 11:58 AM
That helps with a class of 750.
my hs had 750. total
June 15th, 2012 at 11:59 AM
The last one i went to, the girl who was valedictorian rambled on for 20 minutes about how she was picked on for being smart. At that point i decided the next graduation I would attend would be my kids’ (about 16 more years).
June 15th, 2012 at 12:03 PM
Yes, you certainly should be there when your kids accomplish something that takes a lot of effort.
But these days, getting through high school is hardly a high effort proposition. From helicoptor parents literally sitting in on their kids classes to browbeating teachers and sueing school districts because their pwecious ittle angels didn’t get all A’s to obscene grade inflation, a 5 year old could get through high school no problem.
Good for Gibby for having his priorities straight.
June 15th, 2012 at 12:04 PM
This is definitely sprinting well past the boundaries of “tough love.”
But this much is clear: Kirk Gibson eats live alligators for breakfast.
June 15th, 2012 at 12:04 PM
i’ve heard a mix, but most of the ones who didn’t like it echoed some sort of sentiment along the lines of it being inappropriate, families were there, etc. i think they’ve got a bug up their ass and probably helped their kids find easter eggs when they were little so they wouldn’t end up with zero
June 15th, 2012 at 12:06 PM
helped their kids find easter eggs when they were little so they wouldn’t end up with zero
this happens
/tales from the front lines
June 15th, 2012 at 12:06 PM
Yeah, I’m really just thinking about the myriad ways parents try to deal with kids who are a pain. As a parent, I can’t ever imagine not going to HS graduation… but I also haven’t gotten to many of the crazy situations your kids can put you in.
June 15th, 2012 at 12:09 PM
As a parent, I can’t ever imagine not going to HS graduation… but I also haven’t gotten to many of the crazy situations your kids can put you in.
not picking on you timmy, but this should be simple…everyone’s relationship is different and gibson’s job is unusual. it’s not like there was no one there. i would hope i raise kids who can understand life situations…again, the kid is 17/18, not 7
June 15th, 2012 at 12:11 PM
Sometimes you really need to take a step back and assess your life. I just spent some of my day defending a Dodger hero. The hell.
Screw you and your soulless, black-hearted spawn, Gibson.
June 15th, 2012 at 12:42 PM
I only have really bad diarrhea about once every year, but I don’t expect my family to come watch.
June 15th, 2012 at 12:59 PM
I’m gonna venture a guess and say that the “you’re supposed to graduate” tough guy types would probably whine if their parent or even their boss provided such little support for milestones.
June 15th, 2012 at 1:04 PM
i dunno…im not gonna give gibson credit for it, but i don’t want a bunch of fanfare for the shit i do. i hated my bdays, graduations, etc. if you really wanted me to be happy, you’d let me smoke a bong and hit the range, not force me to make small talk.
June 15th, 2012 at 1:05 PM
Nope. My parents wanted to come to my HS graduation, I was the one who didn’t want to go so we didn’t go. Would I be hurt if my mom made it and my dad couldn’t because of work? No. Because I was aware at 18 that a HS degree is not that significant.
People act as if this kid is 7 and can’t think for himself, or that he’s getting his Masters degree and it is imperative that his Dad show up. Its a HS diploma, and other members of his family are coming. This is especially irrelevant if he’s cool with his dad not coming.