Bringing Up Bates"Bates Sports Special"
Look back at the Bates’ Most Memorable “Sports Spectacular” Moments...
“I don’t think any Bates would ever make it to the Olympics,” says Tori. But did you know that one Bates made it to the qualifying rounds? Gil was a high school state champion wrestler and qualified to try out for the Olympics.
Basketball
Trace is practicing for Crown College basketball tryouts with his friends, and Lawson joins in for a game. Trace and Lawson get along great, unless they’re playing sports. “When it comes to sports, the problem is, he wants to be the star, and I just want the ball any time,” says Trace.
Golf
The older guys take the little boys on a golfing outing. “Lawson and Nathan and Trace taking Jackson, Warden and Isaiah out to teach them golf makes me think of the blind leading the blind,” says Zach.
Mock Police Academy Training
The guys join Zach for a mock session of training at the police academy. “The main goal is to irritate you and make you mad and push you to the limit to see what you do under pressure,” says Lawson.
Downhill Skiing
Nathan arrives late, so Kelly shows him what she learned. “Nate, I’m going to be teaching you, but that doesn’t mean I know how to ski good, it just means that I remember facts good,” says Kelly. After a few minutes, Nathan says he’s ready to hit the slopes. According to Gil and Kelly, Nathan would have no problem going down a black diamond without a single lesson.
Ice Skating
Four days before he marries Michael, Brandon goes ice skating with his future brothers-in-law. The other guys enjoy horsing around, while Brandon takes it slow but still somehow manages to walk away with a gash in his head.
Wrestling
With the rest of the family watching, Lawson and Nathan each try to beat their dad at wrestling. Gil prevails, although Nathan still thinks he won.
Football
Growing up, Gil was the quarterback of the high school football team and was consumed with sports, but he has higher hopes for his sons. “I think Gil loved sports so much, it was hard for it not to be number one,” says Mama Jane, Gil’s mom. “He didn’t want his boys to have sports as their number one. He wanted Christ first in their lives.”
