We're all familiar with the overzealous father who believes he's discovered a hidden talent in his son, and then goes overboard in his attempts to cultivate—some might say, exploit—that talent.

One thinks of Earl Woods, the golf dad who paraded his son Tiger before television cameras at the tender age of 2; or the pathetic, pageant-crazed mothers on TLC's shameless "Toddlers & Tiaras."

Now,...