We are still going strong here at Life of Dad for the 30 Dads for 30 Days. Today we look at one of my good friends Torey Champagne.
I was lucky enough to meet Tor when he and I attended the Connecticut School of Broadcasting just outside of Boston. He and I would talk after class about everything from Star Wars to possible careers in the entertainment industry.
Since our days at CSB, Tor has been a force to be reckoned with his work in television and producing documentaries. He works for Comcast SportsNet in Boston and owns his own business Torey Champagne Productions.
He is an Emmy Award Winner for making what I call “Good TV” (inside joke). He has won Emmy’s for “Villains: The Bad Guys of Boston Sports,” “A Decade of Dominance: Ten Years In Boston Sports History,” and “Manny Being Manny: The Final Days In Boston.”
You can take away all the accolades and accomplishments in his career and he wouldn’t care. The main thing in Tor’s life is his wife Tasha and his daughter Brooklyn. Tor is a great father and cares so much for his little girl. It is great to catch up on the phone when we can and I can hear how happy he sounds when he talks about Brooklyn.
Here are Tor’s answers from our Life of Dad’s questions for Father’s Day.
My first memory as a father is……
My daughter Brooklyn’s birth was a blur, as I am sure it is for most first time Dad’s, but the moment I remember the most that clearly resonates with me today is the first night I brought her home from the hospital. I lied next to her as she slept and just gazed at her until I fell asleep. I can clearly recall everything about that night today.
The funniest thing my child does is…..
The funniest thing my daughter does happens to be pretty “adorable”. If she sees a dog or cat, and I mean any dog or cat she screams out, “Oh my God, it’s so adorable!” as she places her hands over her mouth as if to stop herself from gobbling up the puppy (or kitty) from their shear adorableness.
What’s in your man cave?
Well the man cave in my house is little bit more live a “work cave”, but in a good way. As a director my man cave is more of a film editing suite so I can work from home, but I also produce music so I have an array of musical instruments and my Pro Tools rig. But the one that I have in my man cave that I absolutely cherish is a framed picture I have of me and Conan O’Brien. I had the opportunity to interview Conan for a documentary I was directing a few years ago and it still ranks as the best moments of my career to this day.
If you and your wife could vacation without your kid, where would you go?
Paris. My wife and I have always wanted to go to Paris. What can I say…I’m a hopeless romantic.
If you could go on any vacation with your kid, where would you go?
Is this really a question guys!?!? I mean, doesn’t that damn mouse, and all of those princesses render any other vacation idea null and void. Disney World! Even if you think you have a better idea than this if your child is under the age of 10, you will end up there. It’s basically like if your car was the Millennium Falcon, and you’re trying to drive the kids to Alderaan, you’re going to get stuck in a Disney World tractor beam.
What’s your favorite meal to cook for your kid?
One of my favorite things in the whole world to do with my daughter is make homemade pizza from scratch. She loves being part of the process with my wife and me, and 9 times out of 10 we all get into a “flour fight”. Brooklyn also takes pride in her pepperoni placement, which is pretty impressive. It’s a great way to spend time together as family.
What sports team must your kid like?
Being from Boston it would have to be…ah, you thought I was going to say the Red Sox, but that would be crazy talk. Don’t get me wrong, I love heading to Fenway as much as the next guy, but they can’t hold a candle to the Boston Celtics. 17 Championships. Bill Russell. Larry Bird. Red Auerbach. Garnett. Pierce. They are running out of numbers to retire. This actually has become a pretty funny topic in my home since my daughter knows I love the Celtics, but she declares herself a Nets fan because her name is Brooklyn.
What sports team can your kid never like?
This is such a typical, simple-minded, Boston-centric answer, but my daughter will never cheer or say a kind word about a team in which a Manning plays for. I can’t explain it, and I’m ashamed to admit it because I am sure they are both solid individuals who come from an All-American family, but Peyton always blows it, and Eli always gets lucky. So I guess the Giants and Broncos will be booed heavily this year in our home.
If I was forced to name an actual team, I will make sure my daughter never becomes a New Orleans Pelicans fan, because that would just be absurd.
Describe your perfect Father’s Day.
Honestly, this is simple for me. Wake up and make brunch for my wife and daughter because they love when Daddy makes breakfast. Then, head to Boston common to ride the Swan Boats. Grab lunch in the city, and then snuggle up to a Disney princess movie until it’s time for Brooklyn to get tucked into bed. The simple, laid back days always end up being the ones I enjoy the most.
-Written by Art Eddy