My father - until the day that my dad died - didn't know how many points you scored in a touchdown. He could say there were nine innings in baseball, but no intricacies of the sport.

Damon Lindelof’s quote reflects the contrast between his father’s lack of interest in sports and the more detailed, competitive world of athletic achievement. Lindelof shares that his dad never truly understood the intricacies of various sports, such as the number of points in a touchdown or the rules of baseball. This highlights his father’s detachment from the technical aspects of these games, instead appreciating the broader, simpler elements like the idea of nine innings in baseball, which points to a more basic understanding of the sports.

The quote also implies that Lindelof’s relationship with his father wasn’t centered on detailed knowledge of sports, but rather on shared moments that were not dependent on expertise. His father's ability to enjoy the broader aspects of sports, without getting bogged down in intricacies, speaks to a sense of simplicity in his approach to life. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the enjoyment of something doesn’t require deep knowledge or expertise but rather the experience of being present.

Lindelof’s reflection could be seen as a personal tribute to his father, emphasizing how he was not defined by his understanding of sports but by his character and the way he related to others. It shows that understanding or mastering something like sports may not be the most important thing in life—human connection and shared experiences are more significant.

The origin of this quote comes from Lindelof’s personal recollections of his father, who, despite his lack of sports knowledge, clearly had an impact on Lindelof’s life. This anecdote helps us understand the relationship between the two, where love and connection were more important than sports knowledge, reflecting Lindelof’s deeper perspective on family and values.