BOB BESTLER - ON THE LOOSE

I don't know who to call, but I would love to nominate Gov. Mark Sanford as Father of the Year.

Not only do I think he could win in a landslide, I think he could put most every other father on the planet to shame.

Seriously, do you know any other father who has taken such an extreme measure as joining the Air Force Reserves at age 42 so he could set an example for his sons?

I would have thought being a U.S. congressman and then a governor would have been example enough.

But, no. Sanford insisted on demonstrating to his sons the importance of military service and last year joined the Air Force Reserves.

I think we all have to ask: What ordinary father, whose tutelage is confined mostly to shooting hoops in the driveway with his sons or hitting golf balls at the range, would want to compete against that Father of the Year resume?

Unfortunately, it's not good enough for Edward Sloan, a one-man watchdog who has sued Sanford for his joint role as governor of South Carolina and as a commissioned officer in the Air Force.

Sloan contends that such a dual role violates the state constitution - and never mind that Strom Thurmond also served jointly as governor and in the Army Reserves. What a lawbreaker, that Strom.

In an appearance before the S.C. Supreme Court last week, Sanford eschewed all the legal mumbo jumbo surrounding the case and spoke to justices in personal terms.

As a congressman, he said, he had come to respect the military, and he wanted to teach his sons to share that same respect.

I tell you, the man is a saint. And it just shows what lousy fathers most of us are.

I wanted my sons to do their military duty, too, but did I head down to the nearest Marine recruiter and re-enlist so they would have an example? Did I join the Reserves and toss my tired little body on the fast track to Iraq?

I did not. The most I was willing to do was spend about two minutes in a conversation that went something like this:

"So, uh, what are your plans after high school?"

"Not sure."

"Mmm. Well, if you're not sure, maybe you should check out the Marines. They can always use a few good men."

"You think so?"

"Well, yeah. They've got a good GI Bill. You give them a couple years, and they'll give you a college education."

"Yeah, OK. Maybe I'll check with the Navy."

"The Navy? Really? Well, different strokes ..."

No, not exactly Father of the Year material. But somehow it worked. Twice.