Bierman's 6 Pack
Bierman’s Six Pack: Issue #27
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. Note for the astute readers: You may notice this is the second “Issue #27.” My bad as I got ahead of myself by one last week. And my mom always said I was good at math… 🙂
- I Hate the Espy’s
I have never liked the ESPYs and I couldn’t tell you the last time I watched them live. The entire production has always felt forced, and self-important, and just seems like ESPN trying to remind us how great ESPN thinks it is.
So I must say I was pretty happy when I saw that viewership for this year’s edition was the lowest since 2011, outside of the pandemic years. Less than 2.2 million people watched. That is still too many.
This year’s version will probably be remembered more for Shane Gillis’ monologue than anything else. I watched some of it afterward online and frankly I did not mind the jokes. People get too worked up about comedians doing what comedians are supposed to do at these types of events, which is to make fun of people and see who laughs. Some of his stuff landed, some didn’t, and a couple of lines were clearly meant to push buttons. That is his thing.
My issue is that I just do not care about the ESPYs as a concept. Best Comeback? Best Breakthrough? Icon Award? I feel like they just brainstorm every fake award they can dream up and throw it on a teleprompter. And I’m sorry, but the crowd always looks unenthused and almost like they were guilted into attending.
There are hundreds of amazing moments in sports every year. We do not need a made-for-TV, self-congratulatory spectacle to tell us what mattered most.
So congrats ESPYs, you made it through another show. And hats off to America for mostly tuning out. Maybe next year, we can all spend that night watching anything else.
- Gym Life, Rebooted
I have been back on the workout train for about a month now, and I have to say that I feel really good. I have always enjoyed lifting weights, but can’t say the same about cardio. However, I am making myself run or walk every day and it is definitely getting easier.
I tend to go through phases with working out. I will have a 6-9 month stretch where I am all in, feeling strong, eating healthy, everything trending the right way. Then I hit a wall. I stop going and I start eating poorly again. And the cycle resets. Thankfully, I have always been able to get back on track fairly quickly once I decide to do it.
Right now, I am in that good place. I refuse to step on a scale, so I have no idea how much weight I have lost. But I know how my clothes fit and I can use my original belt, so that’s good stuff.
The hardest part of working out is not the soreness, the early mornings or the sweat. It is the people at the gym who do not understand basic etiquette. I am not even talking about the ones who do not wipe down equipment, although, yes, that should always be done.
I am talking about the ones who sit on a machine for five minutes doing absolutely nothing. They are on their phone, scrolling, surfing and sometimes even talking to others. Meanwhile, I am standing nearby waiting to use that machine. And waiting. And waiting. The rudeness just drives me insane.
So if you are thinking about working out again, definitely do it. You will feel better, sleep better, and even if the results take a little time, they will come. And please, for the love of God, do not camp out on the leg press while you check Instagram.
- 5 College Football Venues I Still Need to Experience
I have written before about how much my family and I love going to college football games, especially Michigan games. We love the tradition of it, and even more than that, we love the experience of new stadiums, new campuses, different fans, different food, different feel.
I personally have checked off a pretty good number already, including: Cincinnati, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kent State, Kentucky, Miami OH, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio, Ohio State, Penn State, SMU, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, UCLA, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
There are plenty left though, and here are my top five game day experiences I still hope to cross off the list someday.
5. Oregon (Eugene, OR)
I know this might get me disowned by Sandman Sports co-founder and proud Washington alum Bill, but I really want to see a game at Autzen. It’s not huge with a capacity of 54,000, but I’ve heard it gets incredibly loud, rowdy, and is an absolute must-see. The good news: with Michigan now regularly playing Oregon as Big Ten foes, a trip to Eugene is definitely on the table in the next few years.
4. LSU (Baton Rouge, LA)
I know Clemson uses the moniker for their stadium too, but this is the Death Valley I think of first. I have never been to Baton Rouge, but the legend of a Saturday night game at Tiger Stadium is hard to ignore. There’s only one real thing to know about this choice: Back in 1988 when LSU hosted Auburn and won 7-6, the crowd reaction was so loud it literally registered on a seismograph. That is college football at its most unhinged and passionate. Sign me up.
3. Georgia (Athens, GA)
Athens is widely considered one of the best college towns in America, and Georgia’s recent rise to the top of the SEC only adds to the appeal. I am not a fan of Alabama, so seeing the Dawgs dethrone them has been fun. I’ve always wanted to see a game “between the hedges,” to take in the setting, the traditions, the energy, and finally soak in one of the best game day scenes in college football.
2. Nebraska (Lincoln, NE)
This is probably the most underrated choice on my list, but I am fascinated by Nebraska’s fan base. I wrote recently about how much I loved Iowa fans, as they were passionate and welcoming, and I have heard Nebraska fans are similar. The Huskers have sold out every home game since 1962, and I want to see that level of loyalty and pride for myself.
1. Ole Miss (Oxford, MS)
Sure, I would love to see a game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, but the real draw here is The Grove, the most iconic tailgating spot in college football. This isn’t just burgers and beers. We’re talking chandeliers in tents, lace tablecloths, shrimp dishes, fine china, and fans dressed like they are headed to church or a wedding. The food, the drinks, the southern hospitality is just all legendary. I have read about it, watched videos, and know people who have been. I need to see it for myself. Because like they say at Ole Miss, “We may not win every game, but we have never lost a party.” That sounds like my kinda place.
- Waking Up with the Open
Congratulations to Scottie Scheffler for winning this year’s British Open in simply commanding fashion. It marks his tenth straight win when leading after 54 holes, the most since Tiger Woods, whose record streak was an incredible 37 consecutive times. Oh my.
As much as I love the Masters and the U.S. Open (and would probably rank both just ahead of the Open Championship) there are things about this tournament I absolutely love.
First, I am an early riser. There is something special about waking up at 5 a.m. on Thursday and seeing players already deep into their round. I grab my coffee, settle in, and get to watch it all unfold live. Such a perfect way to start the morning.
Even better, our annual beach trip to the Outer Banks always falls during Open Championship week. So I have nowhere to be but the beach, and all the time in the world to watch.
I also really enjoy links golf. It looks incredible on TV and plays unlike anything we usually see. No water hazards, but plenty of trouble. The bunkers are insane. The weather, the mounds, the creativity required to score well are all such different challenges to what we are accustomed to seeing and I love it.
I have never played golf over there, but hopefully one day I will. Until then, I will keep watching and soaking it in. Because there is nothing quite like Open Championship week, especially with Scottie doing Scottie things.
- The Long Ride Home
I love our annual beach trip, but I do not love the drive. It usually takes about 12 hours, and on the way there we break it up with a stop in Raleigh. But coming home, we just push through. This time, that meant 14 and a half hours. It was a long one.
Things started slow with the usual construction delays, and then turned into a mix of everything that makes highway travel miserable, including a long backup where drivers came to a crawl for no apparent reason other than a tunnel. And then the big one: a semi caught fire up ahead, which brought things to a standstill.
Outside of getting into an accident, my biggest fear on road trips is getting stuck in complete gridlock. Just last week, there was a story near Columbus about drivers stranded for 12 hours overnight with no food, no water, no bathroom. A buddy of mine recently got stuck for six hours just half a mile from his exit. That kind of thing brings me nightmares.
So when I saw a way out and a chance to detour through some West Virginia backroads, I took it. It may have saved us time overall, but it was still a mess. More construction, a closed road, drivers with no idea where they are going, and semis somehow winding their way down narrow routes they definitely should not have been on. Our “shortcut” still took at least 75 minutes and who knows if we actually saved time.
But at least I was moving. And I got to see a side of the state I had not planned on. Let’s just say it was… memorable. And hopefully not a part of the country I need to navigate again anytime soon.
- Coldplayed Hard
I’m not here to pile on. The Coldplay incident has already gotten plenty of online attention, and I’m certainly not going to judge anyone’s personal situation. But I’ll just say two things.
First, it’s always funny how, once a year or so, something random and mostly meaningless ends up captivating the whole country. Last year it was Hawk Tuah. This year it’s two people caught on the jumbotron at a Coldplay show. None of us know them, but here we are.
Second, I get the surprise. No way those two thought they’d be exposed in front of tens of thousands of people, and eventually the entire country. Which brings me to the wise words of Phil Dunphy from Modern Family:
“The kiss cam is only supposed to be for the enjoyment of the people at the game. They never show that on TV. What people do in the privacy of their own sports arena should be their own business.”
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.
Join our newsletter for weekly updates, banter, and more.
