Hugh Jackman and Oscar Give Basketball Another Try
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During his last appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Hugh Jackman recalled his first — ultimately unsuccessful — attempt at introducing son Oscar Maximillian, 9 on Friday, to professional basketball. Telling the story on national television got Hugh thinking that he should try again, however. During an appearance on the same show last week, the 40-year-old actor said that Oscar’s enthusiasm the second time around was much better — he was just enthusiastic for the wrong team!
Father and son sat courtside at Madison Square Garden, which provided them with their tickets, as the New York Knicks battled the Denver Nuggets. “He was sort of into it when we began,” Hugh recalled.
“He said, ‘Dad, who’s everyone going for?’ I said…’Everyone here will traditionally go for [the Knicks]‘. He goes, ‘Right…Go Nuggets! Go Denver!’”
Oscar’s love of the Nuggets only intensified as the game went on. ”We were given swag by the Knicks to kind of shut him up,” Hugh laughed, including a Knicks hat. “The camera kept coming to me. It was all bad. So he had the hat in his hand and every time the Knicks scored, he was like, [smacking the hat on the ground], going, ‘No, I hate the Knicks!’” After the game, Nuggets shooting guard J.R. Smith was so impressed with Oscar’s display, he gave him the jersey off his back. “It came down to [Oscar's] ankles…it was like a dress,” Hugh explained. “He wore [when] we walked home…That’s when I thought we were going to get beaten up.” Hugh quipped of his son,
“He loves basketball now, but it’s been very expensive, because we fly to Denver every other week.”
In retrospect, Hugh said that Oscar’s reaction to the game was somewhat predictable. Describing his son as “contrary,” Hugh explains that whatever team he roots for, Oscar often ”goes against it.” Hugh has come up with creative ways for Oscar to work out all that oppositional energy, however. The crew of his new film X-Men: Origins gave Hugh a blow up Wolverine punching bag with Hugh’s face on it and the gift went straight to Oscar, who uses it often when he’s been sent to his room. “It’s cheaper than therapy,” Hugh joked.
In addition to Oscar, Hugh and wife Deborra-Lee Furness are parents to Ava Eliot, 3 ½.
Source: Jimmy Kimmel Live!
– Missy
Watch the video in the extended post!
