It seems that the impending birth of the Seattle Seahawks’ 26-year-old super-star defensive back, Richard Sherman’s, first child has become a hot topic, even with the lame-stream media. No, the liberals that dominate both the sports media and the lame-stream media haven’t suddenly discovered a special affinity for the unborn. They’re enamored with the possible dilemma that Sherman could face if the mother of his son goes into labor on Super Bowl Sunday.

If the child decides to enter the world on the day of the biggest sporting event in America, should Sherman be there for the birth of his first child, or should he play in the Super Bowl? Sherman isn’t saying what he would do, and thus the media becomes even more enamored, and the story goes on.

The Washington Post concludes, “For many readers, this will probably seem like a no-brainer: You go and be by the new mother’s side. In Sherman’s case, he already played in, and won, a Super Bowl just last year, so shouldn’t the birth of his first child take precedence?” The Post even provides a poll and asks their readers to weigh in. In other words, the media is implying and even encouraging the notion that Sherman should “be there for his wife girlfriend and son.”

What is virtually ignored by the media is the fact that Sherman and the mother of his child, Ashley Moss, are not married. And why shouldn’t it be ignored? As has been pointed out ad-nauseam, children born out of wedlock in this country are now, tragically, quite the norm. Moss is described as Sherman’s “girlfriend” in every article on the matter, with no mention (that I could find) of this being any problem at all.

Of course, with its pervasive support of the “right” to kill children in the womb at virtually any stage of pregnancy, the perverse redefinition of marriage, sexual immorality of every sort imaginable, and a massive welfare state, it is little surprise that the liberal-dominated media would not spill one drop of ink lamenting the relationship status of Sherman and Moss.

Remember how much ink was spilled last year over the Ray Rice fiasco? Even in that terrible situation, where there were calls for Roger Goodell to resign as commissioner, and there was widespread talk of a domestic violence problem in the NFL (which was completely debunked, but nevertheless has spawned a Super Bowl ad on the matter), the liberal media could not bring itself to discuss the virtues of marriage. And, for the most part, they totally ignored the fact that after their terrible scene at a New Jersey casino, Rice and his then fiancée, Janay Palmer, married and became born-again Christians.

During one of the media days leading up to the Super Bowl, Sherman discussed how the impending birth of his son is giving him extra motivation to do well on the field. “It's someone that actually depends on you for everyday living,” Sherman said. “Everything they do is dependent on you and how you provide and how successful you are. As a parent, you want to set a great example for them, so I guess, to a degree, a lot of things are riding on it.”

At least Sherman’s Stanford education has allowed him to conclude clearly and state the obvious. Yes, your children are dependent on you in nearly every way (which is especially the case in the womb -- a fact that, despite their intellectual claims, has escaped most liberals). And yes, we need to work hard to provide for them (how “capitalist” of Sherman!). But that is far from all that is necessary for proper child rearing.

The absolute best thing Sherman and Moss can do for their child is to marry, be a loving and committed couple, and remain such throughout their lives. No amount of money can ever buy or replace the effect of such a relationship. Again, after our relationship with our Creator, the most important relationship in the universe is that between husband and wife.

Sherman need look no further than his teammate Marshawn Lynch for evidence of this. Lynch, the surly Seattle running back, grew up on the mean and dangerous streets of Oakland, California, raised only by his single mother, Delisa. As Larry Elder recently noted, when asked why he finds it difficult to “trust” people, Lynch recalls his absent father. Lynch said that, his mother would take him to his dad’s house, “And when I get there, my dad like, ‘Oh, OK, I be right back,’ and then you don't see this guy for like, two days or something. And then after a while you, like, sh--, you build up numb feelings to that. So you start to expect the worst out of people.”

In spite of the deliberate ignorance, or downright deceit, of those on the left, there is nothing more important for the health and well-being of a child than the health and the well-being of the relationship that exists with the child’s mom and dad. So, to Mr. Sherman I say, if you want to “be there for your son,” marry, love, and remain married and faithful “until death do you part” to your son’s mother.

Trevor Grant Thomas, At the Intersection of Politics, Science, Faith, and Reason. www.trevorgrantthomas.com; Trevor and his wife Michelle are the authors of: Debt Free Living in a Debt Filled World; tthomas@trevorgrantthomas.com