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.
1. Oktober in September
My family has strong German roots, and while I have never been to Germany, one of my older brothers has. He loved Oktoberfest so much that a few years ago he started hosting his own party every fall at his house in suburban Cleveland. It is now a tradition. Guests, though not me, often wear traditional German garb, there are brats and kraut everywhere, and of course plenty of beer. This past Saturday brought another great turnout, perfect weather, and a memorable day with friends and family.
Living in Cincinnati, I do not have to look far to feel that same German spirit. Our city is home to Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, which began in 1976 and has grown into the largest Oktoberfest celebration in the United States and the second largest in the world. More than 800,000 people pack downtown each year for bratwurst, beer, and some wonderfully quirky traditions like the World Brat Eating Championship and the famous Running of the Wieners where dachshunds in hot dog costumes race through the streets.
I’ve been several times and it’s always a lot of fun. I had to miss this year since it was held this past weekend, but they always put on a great event.
I love celebrations of all kinds, but there is something special about honoring your own heritage, even if it is many generations removed. So whether you are German or not, raise a stein and toast to tradition, family, and community.
But seriously, can someone please explain why so many Oktoberfests actually take place in September?
2. The Sundance Kid Rides On
Robert Redford, one of my all-time favorite actors, passed away last week at the age of 89. Fittingly, he died in the mountains of Utah, a place he loved and where he founded the Sundance Film Festival.
I’ve enjoyed his films since I was a kid, but when I looked back, I was surprised by how few he actually made. During the entire 1980s, for instance, he only appeared in four. So in honor of an American acting icon, here are my top five Robert Redford films:
5) Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
The film that launched him into stardom. An entertaining story about two charming outlaws outrunning the end of the frontier, blending humor, tragedy, and friendship. The chemistry between Paul Newman and Redford carries the movie, turning doomed legends into one of the most charismatic buddy films ever made.
4) Sneakers (1992)
Not the obvious pick for many I’m sure, but this is an underrated one I really enjoy. Redford seems to be having fun throughout, and with Sidney Poitier and River Phoenix in the cast, it’s even more memorable. This breezy flick about computer hackers is definitely dated in places, but I just watched it again recently and it still hits the mark as a light, fun way to spend a couple hours.
3) Three Days of the Condor (1975)
I only discovered this a couple of years ago, but it immediately has become a favorite. Redford plays a CIA researcher who stumbles onto a deadly conspiracy and must determine who he can trust. That means he evades a lot of bad guys, runs quite a bit, and tries to unravel the mystery. It is taut, paranoid, and filled with interesting twists.
Side note: A television series based on this movie came out a few years ago simply called Condor, and I would highly recommend checking out that two season series as well.
2) The Sting (1973)
As a teenager, my parents told me I had to watch this with them. I was skeptical and resistant, but I have to admit sometimes parents know what they are talking about. This is simply a fantastic movie. Redford and Newman reunite in a stylish caper about two con men orchestrating an elaborate scheme in Depression-era Chicago. The plot, the music, and the performances are all great and make this a genuine cinematic masterpiece. The film won Best Picture, and it gave Redford his only Best Actor nomination.
1) The Natural (1984)
This is my favorite Redford film, and one I have probably watched more than 50 times. His portrayal of Roy Hobbs feels almost mythical. It is a classic tale of good overcoming evil, with a nostalgic 1930s baseball backdrop that makes you kinda wish you lived in that era. Glenn Close, Kim Basinger, and Wilford Brimley add great supporting performances, but Redford owns this story from start to finish. And the ending remains one of the best in all of sports movie history.
3. Who Needs Tickets?
I go to a lot of sporting events, and most of the time I end up buying tickets online through reseller sites. I know many of you are doing the same this fall with college and pro football games, so I thought I’d share a few tips from my own experience.
Over the years, I’ve tried almost every major site, and while StubHub would be my second choice, I strongly prefer TickPick and use it almost exclusively. In nearly every case, their prices have been cheaper than the competition, sometimes by a wide margin. They may not always have as much inventory as bigger players like StubHub or SeatGeek, but they have always provided me with enough options to my satisfaction. With the exception of one small hiccup, I’ve used TickPick dozens of times and have never been disappointed.
The site is easy to navigate, tickets are delivered quickly, and their customer service has been excellent. What I really like about them though is that the price you see is the price you pay. Some other sites let you set that up as a preference, but TickPick builds it in automatically. No frustrating moment at checkout where a $149 ticket suddenly balloons to $239 once fees and taxes appear. If TickPick says $149, that is what you are paying out the door.
Everyone has their favorite ticket source, but for me TickPick has earned my loyalty.
One small note, though: If you are buying parking passes, I still recommend StubHub, since TickPick does not handle those as well.
4. Is Cignetti the New Saban?
Watching Illinois get steamrolled by Indiana on Saturday night gave me two big revelations. First, I was way off on the Illini. I thought they would win outright and definitely cover the spread, but instead they were blown out 63–10. Second, we may be watching one of the five best coaches in America working the Indiana sideline. I realize that is a bold statement, but I absolutely love Curt Cignetti. If you listened to our podcast last fall, you already know why.
Cignetti’s resume is staggering. He was part of Nick Saban’s first Alabama staff in 2007, serving as wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator while helping land Julio Jones, Mark Ingram, and Dont’a Hightower. He is a five-time conference coach of the year, the 2024 national coach of the year, and the only coach in college football history to start 10–0 with two different programs: James Madison in 2023 and Indiana in 2024.
At his first head coaching stop he revived a 4–10 program at Indiana of Pennsylvania (IUP), went 53–17, and won multiple D2 titles. At Elon he took a 4–20 program and turned it into a playoff team in year one. At James Madison he went 14–2 his first year and had them contending nationally before leading the Dukes into the FBS. And at Indiana, he has already authored the best season in program history.
Let’s pause and take that in for a moment. Indiana football has long been one of the least successful programs in the Power 5, with only 33 winning seasons in 119 years, 700 all-time defeats, just three bowl wins, and no 10-win campaigns until Cignetti arrived. Before reaching the CFP in 2024, their last major bowl appearance was the 1967 Rose Bowl. Now, in just year two of the Cignetti era, they are 4–0, ranked No. 11, and have a very real chance to return to the CFP for the second straight season.
Cignetti is no frills, no nonsense, and no smiles. All he cares about is football and winning. And so far, that is exactly what he has delivered. The big question is whether Indiana can keep him. If an Alabama, Auburn, Florida, or even Wisconsin opens, will he bolt? Or will he plant his flag in Bloomington and keep building? I have no ties to IU, but for the sake of every Hoosier fan, I hope they can hold onto him. In an era of constant upheaval, Indiana’s climb under Curt Cignetti is a reminder that some changes are absolutely worth celebrating.
5. Special Teams, Special Sunday
Watching Sunday’s NFL action, I came away with a few big revelations, and these are the ones that jumped out the most:
The Bengals are bad and might be lucky to win three more games this season. Jake Browning is actually an above average backup QB so I am not throwing shade at him, but their offensive line is atrocious, the defense is a sieve, and the league’s worst running game is nonexistent. When you are forced to sit back and throw all the time, defenses can just tee off. Another year, another Burrow injury, and another very frustrated Bengals fan base.
Special teams and defenses deserve some love because they basically stole the show on Sunday. In Minnesota, Vikings CB Isaiah Rodgers had a day for the ages with two touchdowns, one on an interception, one on a fumble recovery, and he forced another fumble for good measure. In Philadelphia, the Eagles came back from a 26–7 deficit, fueled by not one but two blocked field goals. The second came as the Rams lined up to win the game in the final seconds, only to see it blocked and returned by Jordan Davis. Side note: This was a brutal bad beat for those who had the Rams +3.5 (including yours truly).
Cleveland also stunned Green Bay (and wrecked plenty of Survivor pools) by blocking a potential game-winning field goal with 27 seconds left, then watched Andre Szmyt drill a 55-yard walk-off winner. And while the Jets ultimately lost, Will McDonald IV pulled off a highlight-reel play with a blocked fourth-quarter field goal that he returned for a touchdown. It nearly sparked an epic comeback against Tampa Bay if it wasn’t for Baker Mayfield’s heroics (more on that in a moment).
For reference, this was the first NFL weekend in history with at least two blocked field goal returns, two punt return touchdowns, and two pick-sixes all in a single slate.
Two quick QB notes to close. First, Baker Mayfield deserves real credit. Not long ago written off as a bust, he has completely rejuvenated his career in Tampa Bay. He is a legitimate top-10 quarterback and has the Bucs at 3–0 for the first time in 20 years.
Second, a little history in Minnesota: Carson Wentz may not have had a spectacular stat line, but he led his team to a win and became the first QB to start for six different teams in six consecutive seasons.
2020: Eagles
2021: Colts
2022: Commanders
2023: Chiefs
2024: Rams
2025: Vikings
6. The Song Game
On our trip to Cleveland this weekend, it got me thinking about car games and all the different ones we have played as a family through the years: the license plate game, the billboard alphabet game, 20 questions, scavenger hunt bingo, and others. Those are all fun, but they still require a decent amount of energy and focus. Years ago my wife and I brilliantly devised something simpler, which we proudly named the “Song Game.”
The rules are easy. Everyone picks one song to play, then we all vote on the favorite and you can’t vote for your own. That’s the winner. Usually we run through it several times on a trip. I love it because I get to listen to music (most of which I actually like), I don’t have to think too hard, and there is a fair amount of peace and quiet since the rule is no one can talk while a song is playing. The kids love it too, and it gets surprisingly competitive.
Of course, not every round has gone smoothly. I still laugh about one semi-embarrassing moment from several years ago when the kids were much younger. We were on a long road trip, and when my turn came up I decided to break away from my usual 70s and 80s classics. I had recently heard a somewhat “new” song and thought I would be cool and hip and play it for the family. The song was Whistle by Flo Rida.
Now, I am a fairly naive person when it comes to lyrics. I had heard the song a few times but never really paid attention to what it was about. Let’s just say it is not exactly family friendly. My wife nearly got whiplash when it came on, but we let it play. Thankfully it seemed to go over the kids’ heads at the time. We still laugh about it, and I guess that’s the beauty of these car games. They create long-lasting family memories, even when Dad pulls a classic faux-pas.
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.
Want more Sandman? Come connect with us here at sandmansports.com/onestopshop
Author
