ABOUT JOE SR.

Born in Connecticut, Joe Connor Sr. served his country in the U.S. Air Force and later became a successful television sales executive in Hartford, Connecticut. From sun up to sun down, Joe Sr. lived each and every day to the fullest. Whether it was watching his sons' athletics or just cruising over to Block Island on the boat he worked very hard to buy – Joe Sr. was one guy who didn't stand still very often! Hyper like Mr. Sports Travel!

Joe Sr. was also an avid sports fan, so much so he had season tickets to the Hartford Whalers (now Carolina Hurricanes) of the National Hockey League. Of course, that took a lot of dedication. You see, the Whalers – um, Failures – lost A LOT more games than they won! Joe Sr’s love of sports extended beyond watching the "Fail Whale." He also coached Mr. Sports Travel in the local youth hockey program in suburban West Hartford.

During his "hey day," Joe Sr. was also one of the most feared slow-pitch softball pitchers in the fruited plain! His stuff was so nasty that he helped the Peter Pan Cafe to multiple championship men’s softball victories over the rival Beacon Cafe in the sweaty Hartford summers! Mr. Sports Travel was the Bat Boy on those teams and it was then that his father became his "guiding light to baseball."

When the Peter Pan Cafe wasn't playing, Joe and his Dad were either practicing or playing sports; watching sports on television together; or attending professional sporting events. Mr. Sports Travel played hockey, baseball and football as a youngster, and in high school, competed in track and field and cross country. Among the most memorable times together were the "road trips" like to travel hockey games and to the Red Sox at Fenway Park. These events in his childhood help shape Mr. Sports Travel's love of sports – and travel.