Larry Fitzgerald was so upset his son skipped his NFL game, he spiked a ball for first time

Throughout a long, storied career marked mostly by examples of sportsmanship, Larry Fitzgerald has never spiked a football in celebration of a scoring play. That changed Sunday and it’s all his kid’s fault.

The Arizona Cardinals wide receiver’s oldest son, Devin, opted to skip Dad’s game against the San Francisco 49ers, choosing to go to the Arizona State Fair. Here’s what he missed: Pops caught a 2-point conversion for an 18-15 lead with 34 seconds left and let loose his first massive spike. He also missed his father’s best game of the season, catching eight passes for 102 yards, a touchdown and the conversion.

This being Larry Fitzgerald, he was very apologetic, in the most Larry Fitzgerald way, about the spike.

“I was a little frustrated and had a heavy heart today,” Fitzgerald told reporters, possibly a bit drolly. “My feelings were a little hurt, so I was carrying that around all day. So, when I got in there, I kind of let it out. To all the kids that are watching, I’m sorry. I set a bad example today.”

The Cardinals are 2-6 after the win and Fitzgerald said his son “didn’t want to come support us,” adding that he was “a little disturbed” by the decision. Ultimately, though, he concluded that “I have to be a better father.”

Fitzgerald’s brother, Marcus, loved it. “It’s about time you show that real emotion,” he tweeted.

In fairness to Devin, it was the last day of the fair. Two words: funnel cake.