For James Rice, Father’s Day is about something much simpler than presents.
“It’s about those moments — the experiences and memories that stay with your family long after the event itself is over,” the Markham father said.
On May 2, Rice and his son took part in the Minnesota Twins’ “Manager for a Day” program during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays, giving them a behind-the-scenes look at Major League Baseball.
“The baseball was exciting, but the memory of sharing it with my son is what I’ll remember most,” Rice said. “For me, that was the real reward.”
The experience came after Rice lost around 150 pounds over a two-year period by exercising consistently, improving his nutrition and focusing on building sustainable habits rather than looking for quick fixes.
A few years ago, he weighed 300 pounds and was living with high blood pressure, arthritis, chronic pain and prediabetes.
“Like many people in their 40s and 50s, I was busy with work, family responsibilities, and convinced myself I simply didn’t have time to take care of my health,” he said, “I wasn’t just risking my health, I was risking the quality of time I would have with my family.”
Rice went on to win a national body transformation championship in Canada. The journey also inspired him to write two books, “The 100 Pound War” and “Transform Yourself: A Pump Club Story.” His upcoming book, “I Hate Running: How I Learned to Love the 5K,” tells the story of how someone who hated cardio eventually completed multiple 5K races after the age of 50.
Baseball has long been part of Rice’s relationship with his son.
“Like many fathers and sons, we’ve spent countless hours at practices, games, batting cages, and talking baseball on the drive home,” he said.
“As parents, we often don’t realize how quickly those moments pass. One day you’re helping them learn the basics, and before you know it they’re developing into athletes and young adults. His baseball career is over but his love for the game remains.”
Through his support of the Little League Disaster Relief Fund, Rice had the opportunity to become the Minnesota Twins’ “Manager for a Day.” He specifically asked for a date when the Twins would be playing the Blue Jays.
The experience included watching batting practice from the field, spending time in the dugout, meeting players and coaches, participating in pre-game media interviews and delivering the lineup card before the game.
“For most of the game, the Twins were winning until the eighth inning,” Rice said. “The Jays pulled off a victory and I am 0-1 as a MLB manager.”
But for Rice, the final score was beside the point.
“What made the Minnesota Twins experience so meaningful was that I wasn’t experiencing it alone,” he said. “My son was there beside me. We were able to stand on the field together, meet players together, and experience something that connected both of our passions.”
Looking back, Rice said he hopes his son has learned that change is possible at any stage of life.
“The physical changes are easy to see, but the biggest transformation was learning that it’s never too late to change the direction of your life,” he said. “I hope he has seen that ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary things when they are consistent and willing to keep going, even when progress feels slow.”
Most of all, Rice hopes his son understands that success isn’t really about trophies, titles, or achievements. “It’s about becoming the kind of person who is willing to try, willing to grow, and willing to do difficult things. If he learned that lesson, then this journey has been worth far more than any weight I lost.”
