Most famous or infamous fathers in sports

Xabi Alonso is a worldwide name for soccer heads. Xabi is retired but first enjoyed a nice retirement tour celebrating his accomplishments with Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. However, Xabi wasn't the first international Alonso. His father, Miguel, was also accomplished in his own right as a midfielder for Real Sociedad, Barcelona and Spain.

This guy is just getting started. LaVar Ball became the nation's most talked about "stage dad," for a time and he started the Big Baller Brand. His oldest of three baller sons, Lonzo, was the second pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, taken by the Lakers. Meanwhile, LiAngelo is hoping to make an NBA roster after he and the youngest Ball, LaMelo, spent time playing in Europe.

While none of David Beckham's children plays soccer (yet), he is still an all-time sports dad. Beckham rose to fame internationally as a soccer player with Manchester United from 1993 to 2003. He married a Spice Girl, Victoria, and together they have four children: Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper. Brooklyn is a successful model, and Cruz, at just 14 years old, was signed by Scooter Braun a few years back.

Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry is now known most for his public battle with lymphoma in 2014. Berry, actually named James Eric Berry after his father, James, credits his parents for his recovery. At one point at their home in Atlanta, father and son cried together. But before that, Eric looked up to his father in a different way by following in James' footsteps to play for Tennessee, where James rushed for 1,718 yards and 18 touchdowns from 1978 to 1981.

Kris Bryant is living a fairy tale as the Chicago Cubs third baseman who helped bring the franchise its first World Series since 1918. But he wouldn't be where he is without his father, Mike. Growing up in Las Vegas, Kris learned how to play baseball from his dad. More specifically, he taught Kris how to hit, working with his son every day once he turned 5 years old. Mike is a hitting instructor by trade, but he has no student more important than his son. Before becoming dad and teacher, Mike was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the ninth round and played in the minor leagues for two years.

Cheslor Cuthbert is an infielder for the Kansas City Royals. When he made his MLB debut in 2015, he became the first player to ever play in the MLB from his hometown, Corn Island, Nicaragua. His father, Luis, had a lot to do with that. The story goes that Luis told an 11-year-old Cheslor to choose between pursuing baseball or raising chickens. Luis taught Cheslor how to play with makeshift baseballs and then created a league for him to play in. What more could a boy ask for?

Curry and the NBA didn't start with Steph. Dell Curry played in the NBA from 1986 to 2002, and Steph passed Dell on the NBA's all-time career scoring list. Dell is also dad to Seth, a standout at Duke and guard for the Portland Trail Blazers. Apparently, after Steph notched his second NBA title with Golden State, he and the Curry family got matching tattoos to celebrate.

Army Sergeant Philip Harrison is actually NBA champion and Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal's stepfather, but that never inhibited their relationship. Shaq grew up as a "military brat" moving from place to place. He has been quoted quite a bit about the impact his stepfather made on him. This, for example, is what Shaq told NOLA.com in 2013: "Everything that’s happening today, he told me it was going to happen. It took me a while to believe him… I saw him and my mother do so much in the community with very little. That’s why I do so much in the community. I’ve seen my mother have great relationships with people. I’ve seen my father, that if you disrespect him, he’ll knock your head off. Everything they taught me comes back."

This is the type of limelight that no family wants. Ron Howard made headlines when a legal battle came to light over former MLB star Ryan Howard's finances. A conflict ensued between him and his family, and in 2014 an out-of-court settlement was reached.

The picture-perfect example of a sports dad came on New Year's Day at the 2017 Winter Classic in St. Louis , as Brett Hull played in the Blues alumni game with NHL legend, and his father, Bobby (representing the Chicago Blackhawks). Bobby scored 610 career goals in 1,063 career games, most notably in Chicago. His son Brett one-upped him with 741 career goals, mostly with St. Louis, with later stints in Dallas, Detroit and Phoenix.

It is well-known the impact Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr's father, Malcolm, had on him , especially his tragic assassination while Malcolm was president of the American University of Beirut; Steve was 18 years old and playing basketball at Arizona. Steve is an eight-time NBA champion — three playing with the Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls, two playing with San Antonio and now three coaching Golden State. No one was a bigger influence than his late father. 

Frank Lampard Sr. made his name at West Ham United, first as a player for 18 years and then as a coach when Frank Lampard Jr. started developing into an even better player than his father. Frank Lampard Jr. became a legend for club (Chelsea) and country (England). He was runner-up for Ballon d'Or in 2005, having also won the Premier League three times before heading to New York City FC in MLS to finish his playing career.

Carl Lindros is the father of Eric Lindros, who was selected No. 1 overall in the 1991 NHL draft, and Brett Lindros, who also played in the NHL. Eric was recruited as young as 16 years old, but many felt he had overbearing parents; Carl was Eric's agent (and micromanager). Eric, like his brother, had his career cut short due to concussions, which Bonnie and Carl blamed the Flyers for, even alleging that the team tried to kill him.

Howie Long was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000 after playing 13 seasons with the Oakland Raiders and winning one Super Bowl (XVIII) . More recently, Long has appeared in numerous commercials and makes his living as an analyst for FOX. His sons, Chris and Kyle, both play in the NFL for the Eagles and Bears, respectively, although Chris recently announced his retirement. Chris also was part of the New England Patriots Super Bowl LI victory, and his father was there as well. Of course, Chris won back-to-back titles, taking home the Lombardi Trophy the following year with the Eagles.

Let's recap what is already national knowledge: Archie Manning is an NFL legend in his own right and patriarch and father to future Hall of Fame quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning. Archie is a Hall of Famer, too. He played college football (quarterback, of course) at Mississippi and then in the NFL for 11 years.

This time three years ago, John Paul Manziel reportedly said he believed the best place for his son, Johnny, was jail — worried that his son might not see his next birthday. John Paul Manziel was part of Johnny Football's narrative dating back to the height of his fame and success at Texas A&M. 

Speaking of overbearing fathers, Marv Marinovich might be the most infamous of them all. In 2011, ESPN aired a "30 for 30" detailing the father-son relationship between Marv and Todd, which ultimately led to the demise of son. In 1988, Sports Illustrated reporter Douglas Looney called Todd "the first test tube quarterback." Two years after making it to the NFL, Todd was arrested for cocaine possession, and his career never recovered.

Father to troubled former NFL running back (a standout at Auburn), Tre Mason, DJ Maseo (real name Vincent Mason) is a member of the famous hip-hop trio De La Soul.

The only thing more flamboyant than Floyd Mayweather is two Floyd Mayweathers: Sr. and Jr. Floyd Mayweather Jr., of course, is one of the best boxers ever, with an undefeated career record. When he fought MMA star Conor McGregor, McGregor announced the fight by sending out a tweet jabbing Mayweather Jr.'s age (40) with a photo of Mayweather Sr. instead. Happy Father's Day! 

Ed McCaffrey played wide receiver at Stanford, where his son Christian played. Christian is now entering his third season as a running back for the Carolina Panthers , having been drafted at No. 8 overall in 2017. If Christian continues in his father's footsteps, he will win three Super Bowls like Ed did, with San Francisco (1994) and Denver (1997, '98). Ed is also dad to Dylan and Luke, both of whom also shine on the football field.

You have heard his commentary plenty throughout the NFL season during games broadcast on CBS, where he now contributes to "NFL Today. " Simms played quarterback for the New York Giants from 1979-93 and won Super Bowl XXI. His son Chris quarterbacked at Texas before having an NFL career with stops in Tampa Bay, Tennessee and Denver. Chris is now an NFL analyst. His other son, Matt, was a backup QB in the NFL as well.

After the Cleveland Cavaliers historically won the 2016 NBA Finals, J.R. Smith spoke passionately about his reason for playing basketball. It, of course, went viral. "My dad is easily my biggest inspiration to play this game," he said. "To hear people talk bad about me it hurts me because I know it hurts him. It’s not who I am. And I know he raised better, and I know I want to do better. Everything I do is for my parents and my family. The cars nice, the houses is nice but none of this matters without them.”

There is nothing to be written here that wasn't already nationally consumed via the 2009 biopic "The Blind Side" (earning $300 million worldwide and Sandra Bullock an Oscar), which portrayed the story of how former NFL offensive lineman Michael Oher was first taken in and then adopted by the Tuohy family. Sean Tuohy is also father to biological children S.J. and Collins, was a professional basketball player and now owns dozens of restaurants worldwide and is a sports commentator, previously broadcasting for the Memphis Grizzlies.

Richard Williams molded one of the greatest tennis players of all time in Serena, and her sister, Venus, is also pretty great. Richard began as a sharecropper before seeing a rather large check handed to the winner of a tennis match on television one day. He taught himself, and then his two daughters, the game. The rest is history.

ESPN reporter Wright Thompson wrote extensively about how Tiger Woods' life began unraveling upon the death of his father, Earl Woods, who  died at age 74 in 2006. At the time of his death, Tiger wrote on his website that his father was "my best friend and greatest role model. He was an amazing dad, coach, mentor, soldier, husband and friend."