When Ben Affleck discovered his youngest child, Samuel, wasn’t into Boston sports, it hit him hard. The Hollywood star was so shocked that he took drastic measures to ensure his son would grow up loving the sports teams Ben himself has always been passionate about. Let’s dive into the story Ben shared on Jimmy Kimmel Live and explore how far he went to instill a love for Boston sports in his family.
Ben's Heartfelt Reaction to Samuel's Indifference
On February 14, the 46-year-old actor appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live and recounted an amusing yet heartfelt tale about his 6-year-old son's lack of enthusiasm for Boston sports. Samuel wasn’t thrilled about the New England Patriots winning the Super Bowl or the Boston Red Sox's latest triumph. During a trip to a Red Sox World Series game last October, Ben attempted to rally his kids with a pep talk about the significance of the event. He explained the history and excitement surrounding the Red Sox, hoping to ignite a spark in his youngest child.
Ben, who has two Oscars under his belt, told host Jimmy Kimmel, “On the way to the game, I was giving my kids a pep talk. My kids are 13, 10, and 6, about to be 7. I was particularly addressing my 6-year-old son, telling him, ‘We’re really excited because we’re from Boston, and this is a big deal for the Red Sox.’”
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Samuel's Bold Declaration Shocks Ben
Ben continued, “And he listened to me, then suddenly stopped and said, ‘Dad, you’re from Boston. I’m from L.A.’” This simple statement sent Ben into a full-blown existential crisis. “I failed, I’m a bad father, this is a disaster, I don’t know what to do!” he exclaimed. Ben joked about the Bostonian pain he felt, a sentiment he hoped to pass on to his children. “There’s a certain sort of tragic pain that you carry with you as a person from Boston, and you expect your kids to inherit it. You suffer through the cold and the misery and lose big sporting events,” he quipped.
Ben Goes All Out to Convert Samuel
Not one to back down, Ben decided to take drastic measures at home to turn Samuel into a Patriots fan. “I tell you what, I was going to put an end to that,” Ben laughed. “Because once my son starts telling me, ‘I’m from L.A.,’ I knew I had to act. I called in some favors from my Boston friends out here in L.A. who work in the trades, like painters and carpenters, to give his room a Boston makeover. If not literally, then spiritually, I wanted him to understand his roots.”
Ben’s ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, found the entire endeavor a bit creepy. “She thinks it’s weird,” Ben joked while showing Jimmy photos of Samuel’s room, now filled with Boston sports memorabilia, including a chair shaped like Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s head. “I think it’s appropriate for grown men to make totems and idols out of other grown men,” he added.
Ben reflected on how parents often pass their neuroses onto their children. “We take our quirks and put them onto our kids. If this clip is still on YouTube by the time my son’s in therapy, he can just show it to his therapist and say, ‘Do I have to say anymore? This is my dad,’” he joked.
Tom Brady's Heartwarming Response
Thankfully, some good came from Ben's efforts. Tom Brady heard about Samuel's decorated room and decided to send him a personalized football and jersey. “He was very nice,” Ben revealed. “Tom sent my son a football and a jersey, signed.” Alongside Samuel, Ben also shares daughters Violet and Seraphina with Jennifer Garner.
