Bierman's 6 Pack
Bierman’s Six Pack: Issue #23
Welcome to this week’s Six Pack. Each week, I’ll share a mix of thoughts (some sports-related, some not) and I’d love for you to jump in with your reactions, ideas, or recommendations in the comments. Here’s what’s on my mind this week.
- Cheers to Coffee
I was talking to someone the other day who told me they don’t drink coffee because they don’t like the taste. Fair enough. It’s definitely an acquired one. But I remember having my first sip in my teens, and I haven’t looked back since.
I don’t think I’ve gone a single day in the past 30 years without at least one cup. It’s the first thing I look forward to when I wake up. Not just the caffeine, either, although that often helps. I just genuinely love the taste.
My coffee habits have evolved over the years. I used to be fine with instant stuff. Sanka, Folgers, whatever. Microwave and go. Then it was onto better beans, and for the last five years or so, we’ve been grinding our own before brewing. My wife’s a big coffee person too, so we had to hunt down a 14-cup coffee maker to keep up. We also have a Keurig, mostly for afternoons when I want a quick one without brewing a full pot.
I’ll drink decaf sometimes. I’ll drink it black. Sometimes I’ll throw in a little vanilla syrup when I’m feeling fancy. And yes, I’ve had my fair share of Starbucks, especially on the road. It’s good, but for me, not really worth the extra price. I don’t need a caramel swirl foam explosion. Just give me coffee, hot and simple.
So if you’re one of the people who doesn’t like coffee, no judgment. But if you’re like me and you love it, whether it’s a fancy pour-over or straight from the gas station, raise your mug, thank the coffee bean, and let’s get into this week’s Six Pack.
- No Chainsaws, Please
When I was a kid, we were at my grandpa’s cottage in Northern Michigan, and several of my cousins and I huddled around a 19-inch black-and-white TV watching a movie called Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? It wasn’t a horror movie in the traditional sense, but it freaked me out for days.
A few years later, I was at a sleepover and someone suggested Friday the 13th. Big mistake. I didn’t sleep much that night. Or the next few.
Fast forward to my early 20’s when I was on a date, trying to impress a girl. She wanted to watch Candyman on VHS. Huge mistake. That one lived rent-free in my head for a long time. And not in a good way.
Horror movies just aren’t for me. They scare me, and worse than that, they stick with me. I carry the images and the dread for too long afterward.
I’m not talking about psychological thrillers or the occasional jump scare. I love The Sixth Sense, The Ring didn’t bother me, and I can even make it through the first Scream (although that is right on the borderline). But the real slasher stuff? The blood, the guts, and the gore is just not how I want to spend two hours of my life.
No disrespect to the horror fans out there. We have a friend who travels to Horrorfest conferences around the country, and studios keep churning these things out every year, so clearly there’s an audience. But you can keep your Freddys, Jasons, and Hellraisers.
I’ll be over here watching Forrest Gump, and I’ll be just fine with that.
- Sparty, Here We Come
If you’ve read a few of these Six Packs, or just know me personally, you know my family and I are big Michigan football fans. We used to have season tickets but eventually gave them up. Living in Cincinnati and trying to make the trip to Ann Arbor six or seven times a year just got to be too much.
That said, we still make it to at least one Michigan game every year as a family. While we love getting back to the Big House when we can, a few years ago we started a new tradition: picking one road game each year to experience a different stadium, city, and fanbase. It’s been one of the best decisions we’ve made.
Here’s where we’ve been so far:
1. Iowa (2022) – The Gold Standard
Still the best road trip we’ve done. The fans were incredibly friendly and welcoming. The tailgating scene was legit, the stadium was fun, and Iowa City is an underrated college town. And the tradition of waving to the kids in the children’s hospital at the end of the first quarter was truly special.
2. Penn State (2023) – Big, Loud, and a Little Overwhelming
Another great experience overall. The fans were welcoming, the tailgating was solid, and the stadium was massive. That said, the place felt a little outdated and cavernous. Not the easiest place to get around. And getting a hotel in State College was nearly impossible so we ended up staying about an hour away. Still, a great trip and worth doing at least once.
3. Indiana (2024) – Small Stadium, Big Energy
Last year we made the trip to Bloomington to see Michigan take on the Hoosiers. Indiana ended up having a magical season and made the College Football Playoff, so the fans were fired up. They were also super friendly. The stadium was small, the bathrooms were cramped, and the infrastructure just was not built for a crowd of this magnitude. Unfortunately for us, Michigan lost. Still a fun trip, even if the result stung a little.
This Year’s Trip: Michigan State
Originally, we had hoped to go to Norman for the big nonconference game against Oklahoma, but the timing isn’t going to work out. So this year, for the first time ever, I’ll be setting foot in Spartan Stadium.
We’ll be making the trip to East Lansing in late October for the rivalry game with Michigan State. I am excited to check it off the list and make more family memories, but I am not expecting quite the same hospitality we’ve gotten in other places. Then again, as long as we leave with a win, I’ll be just fine.
- A Catcher’s Season for the Ages
My business partner and podcast co-host, Bill Sanders, is from Seattle and a huge Mariners fan. When I previewed all 30 MLB teams before the season, I confidently predicted the Mariners would go under their projected 84.5 win total. It was one of only two picks that I slapped with a 5-out-of-5 confidence rating on my baseball gut-check meter.
They’ve had an up-and-down season so far, and we’ll see how that prediction holds, but I have to stop for a second and give some well-earned love to their catcher, Cal Raleigh. Because what he is doing this year is nothing short of historic.
Raleigh has smashed 31 home runs before the All Star break (which is still three weeks out by the way), setting the MLB record for most homers by a primary catcher in that timeframe.
He is not just smashing home runs. He is putting together one of the most historic power seasons ever by a catcher. At his current pace, he is projected to hit 66 home runs by season’s end, which would tie Sammy Sosa for the third most in a single season. And even if he falls short of that mythic number, it seems certain that he will crush Salvador Perez’s single season catcher record of 48, set back in 2021.
Beyond the power stats, Raleigh is slashing roughly .272/.380/.655 with an OPS over 1.000. Those numbers put him right there with Aaron Judge in terms of league leading production. And yes, he is also a Gold Glove caliber defender. He won the Platinum and Gold Glove awards in 2024.
So let’s give it up for Cal Raleigh. This is shaping up to be one of the best seasons ever by a catcher, and it might just rewrite the record books. Will he crack the magical 60 home run mark? We will find out. Either way, he is proving just how dominant a catcher can be in today’s game.
Also, his nickname is Big Dumper. Enough said.
- A Long Distance Dedication to Casey
I love music and listen to it all the time. Driving, working, exercising, sitting by the firepit. It soothes me, focuses me, and makes me happy.
I’m 52, so my go-to choices are from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. I mentioned on last week’s pod that my wife often says, “You’re the coolest nerd I know,” and what I’m about to admit is definitely not going to help improve my dork status.
A couple years ago, I stumbled onto iHeartRadio’s Casey Kasem channel. They literally play old American Top 40 countdowns on a loop. No commercials, just nonstop songs from the 70s and 80s, along with Casey’s legendary voice, fun facts about the artists or tracks, and of course, those iconic long-distance dedications.
I’ve listened to it so much now that I’ve definitely heard some repeats, but I still love it. The music is right up my alley, and hearing Casey say something like, “This newcomer has her first Top 40 hit and is hoping for more,” and then introducing Madonna just cracks me up.
So call me dorky. Laugh at me. Tell me I’m living in the past and way too nostalgic. But give me my iHeart and Casey, and I’ll be just fine.
Now, has anyone seen my Walkman?
- Let the Thunder Roll
A few weeks ago, I wrote about the magic of Game 7s in the NBA and NHL. Those rare, all or nothing games carry a level of intensity that few sporting events can match. On Sunday night, we got another one as the Oklahoma City Thunder hosted the Indiana Pacers in the 20th Game 7 in NBA Finals history. It was the first Finals Game 7 in nine years, and just the fifth since 1994.
While some of those past matchups were classics, like the Cavaliers and Warriors in 2016, this one did not quite rise to that level. The first half showed promise, but Indiana lost star Tyrese Haliburton to injury in the opening quarter, and despite some heroic efforts from TJ McConnell and Benedict Mathurin, the Pacers could not keep up in the fourth. Oklahoma City pulled away for a 103-91 win, the largest margin of victory in a Game 7 in more than 50 years.
Even if the game itself was a little underwhelming, this was still a fun and memorable series. Two small market teams, plenty of momentum shifts, and a Thunder team that had the feel of a champion all season long. OKC finished the year with 84 total wins, tied for the third most ever, and were led by league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He delivered a brilliant Game 7 performance with 29 points, 12 assists, and 5 rebounds, becoming the first player to post that amount of points, assists, and rebounds in a Finals Game 7 since Walt Frazier in 1970.
This Game 7 may not go down as an all time thriller, but it will absolutely be remembered in Oklahoma City. It was the franchise’s first NBA championship since relocating from Seattle and the city’s first major pro sports title. Hats off to the Thunder, they earned it.
Thanks for checking out this week’s Six Pack, Sandman Nation! I’d love to hear your thoughts: what resonated with you, what you disagree with, or your own takes on these topics. Drop your comments and let’s keep the conversation going.
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