Utah Jazz alums: Hayward deserves major props for making ‘Daddy’s always happy’ a positive

Former Utah Jazz star Gordon Hayward caught major flak for his ‘Daddy’s always happy’ moment, but has turned it around in a major way.

I’m about to do something that a contingent of the Jazzland masses still can’t bring themselves to do — pay former Utah Jazz star Gordon Hayward a major compliment.

I know, I know…even now, one year after Jazz fans’ worst-ever Fourth of July weekend (when Hayward bolted for Beantown), the wounds still feel fresh. Sometimes, though, you’ve just got to give the devil his due.

After coining the now infamous phrase, “Daddy’s always happy,” during an awkward gender reveal video with his pregnant wife and family, the former Jazzman was the butt of just about every joke on social media.

And rightfully so; Hayward’s reaction to the news that he was having another girl didn’t exactly come across as joyous. Check it out —

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlCJhnKAJNs/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

That never gets old.

In Hayward’s defense, he had been feeling strongly that his next child would be a boy and was caught off-guard when he learned that girl No. 3 was on the way instead. Here’s his explanation, via GordonHayward20.life —

"A lot of people thought the whole thing was staged, and that I already knew that we were having a girl. I didn’t. I had no clue. Not only that, but up until that point, I had this strong feeling that we were having a boy. I love my daughters and being their father. Still, there was just a part of me that wanted to have a boy, mostly because as a man, there are certain things you can relate to with a boy that are just different. You have this vision in your mind of guiding your son into being a man, of helping him follow in your footsteps, and teaching him all the things you’ve learned.And for whatever reason, I had kind of convinced myself that’s what we were having. So when I found out we were having a girl, I didn’t know what to say or what to think. It was a hundred percent natural reaction."

At any rate, rather than succumb to becoming a human meme, Hayward actually used the public response to the video as inspiration to create some cutesy, cool t-shirts, which are available for purchase through the Daddy’s Always Happy online store.

He’s not just hocking the shirts for his own gain, either.

A percentage of the proceeds will be used to support the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty. Specifically, the funds are earmarked for the purchase of blankets, diapers and clothes for young people who can’t afford baby necessities.

Hayward announced the campaign on Thursday.

Say what you will about Hayward’s now complicated relationship with Jazz fans, there’s no denying that this is a class move. The 2017 All-Star could be pouting over his status as the ultimate cranky dad; instead, he had a sense of humor about himself and turned a negative into a positive.

We all like to think we would do the same, but Hayward actually made it happen. As a result, some people in genuine need are going to benefit.

Regardless of the way his Jazz career ended, I think we can all get behind that.