11.   But other dads watched their sons play, too.

12.   But watching their sons play baseball one recent afternoon, the two agreed the wisdom that comes with middle age also is an antidote for cynicism.

13.   By league rules, Byron Boston can officiate one preseason game this season in which his son plays, but no regular-season games.

14.   Cathy Gamble, a coach and teacher at Waco Midway High School, was on her way to watch her youngest son play in a baseball game in Palestine.

15.   Chestine Bell did not travel to Japan to see her son play his first game with the Mets.

16.   Charles Thomas also said he doubted his son would play basketball at USC this season.

17.   Cruz Sr., who rejoined the Astros this season as a coach, thinks the time is right for his son to play in the majors.

18.   Day weekend, Clemens flew home to Texas to watch his sons play football.

19.   Despite a tight presidential campaign, Gore has blocked out Saturday afternoons to watch his son play for Sidwell Friends School, a private school in northwest Washington.

20.   Daniel was watching a Braves game on TV in his bedroom, Joni was surfing the Web in another room, and their son was playing Nintendo upstairs.