Honor Whose Father

Even though it's for a good cause, there are opportunities missed when celebrations are held to celebrate celebrities for their celebritiness. And so, while it is nice to know we should save the date (June 18) for the 68th Annual "Father of the Year" Awards, which will benefit Save the Children, it does feel like an important moment is being missed.

Duke bball coach Mike Krzyzewski, U.S. General David Petraeus, ABC newsie George Stephanopoulos, really richie Jonathan M. Tisch, race car driver Al Unser Sr. and Peerless Clothing prez Ronald Wurtzburger are all either or both wealthy and famous. However, does that really make them "Fathers of the Year? (Or is the point of "naming" them" on press releases and seating them at a dais just to sell tickets and raise money for a good cause?) Off hand, I am pretty sure that Al Under Sr. sired a Jr., but I am not as sure what the remainder of the group have done for their sons and/or daughters. Actually, my guess would be that they are all pretty busy, traveling often, and maybe aren't actually spending that much time with their kids. They can well be doing the best they can and better than most fathers, but does that really make them "father of the year" material?

What exactly are the standards? REALLY, that's like saying Clay Aiken is a "spectacular" father: a guy who flies in once in a while to hold his kid is highly unlikely to merit spectacularness at the daddy role. [Earlier: No Mo' Fakin' Aiken]

My vote for a seat at the table — at least for today and probably tomorrow as well — is Canada's Paul Ceretti, who is hanging in there with his 6-year-old twin autistic daughters and fighting alongside (not against) his ex-wife to make sure his daughters keep getting all possible funding to help them.

Let's see the famous fathers match that sort of commitment before we anoint them.