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.
- Magnolia Lane, Here I Come
I usually try not to overlap topics from the podcast and this column, but since I’ve mentioned this topic here before, I figured I’d provide an update.
A few months ago, I wrote about one of the great annual traditions for golf fans. No, not the Masters itself, but the ritual of submitting your ticket application, crossing your fingers, and then weeks later receiving the standard rejection email. It is a rite of passage that I have participated in for at least 20 years.
But this year, something unexpected happened and I received a very different email.
“Congratulations. Your ticket application for the 2026 Masters Tournament has been selected, and your tickets are now available for purchase.”
After staring at the screen for a few minutes in bewilderment, I finally clicked on the site and confirmed this was indeed real. The only slightly deflating news was that I realized it wasn’t for one of the main tournament rounds, but instead for the Wednesday practice round.
But honestly, the more I think about it, the happier I am about that date. I have heard from many that the vibe is more relaxed that day, players are more accessible, and the legendary Par 3 Contest takes place then so that will be cool to witness. And unlike the tournament rounds, I get four tickets instead of just two.
I’ve never been to Augusta. Like many of you, I’ve watched every minute of Masters coverage for years and imagined what it would be like to walk those fairways in person. Now, finally, I get to do just that and I can’t wait.
If you’re someone who’s submitted your application year after year with no luck and constant frustration, I get it. But definitely keep trying. I was convinced it would never happen either.
Bring on Amen Corner and the pimento cheese sandwiches. I’m ready.
- Thanks for the Memories, Gentlemen
It was a rough one last week for fans of pop culture. Three familiar names from my childhood – Ozzy Osbourne, Hulk Hogan, and Malcolm-Jamal Warner – all passed away within several days of each other. Big gut punch for most Gen X’ers.
Ozzy was 76 and had lived about six lifetimes’ worth of chaos and creativity. I was never a huge fan of his music or his reality show years, but you can’t deny what he meant to the worlds of heavy metal and rock and roll. He defined an era, and for a lot of people my age, he was more than just a guy who bit the head off a bat. He was a rebel, a pioneer, and an icon.
Hulk Hogan was another name that was always out there, even though I never really got into wrestling. But he was everywhere. Saturday mornings, action figures, T-shirts, cereal boxes. And of course his memorable turn as Thunderlips from Rocky III. Hogan was a larger than life personality, and the way he impacted millions of fans is undeniable. He was the face of an entire genre of entertainment, and he owned it.
And then there was Malcolm-Jamal Warner. This one probably hit me the hardest.
First, he was only 54 , and I grew up watching him every week on The Cosby Show. I loved that show, and a big part of that was because of Warner’s character, Theo Huxtable. Theo was a little clumsy, a little lost, but always trying to figure it out. He was kindhearted, good intentioned, and trying to make his dad proud, which all felt familiar.
What I loved most was the relationship between Theo and his dad, Cliff. It wasn’t sugarcoated. They weren’t best friends. It was a real father-son relationship. Cliff would get frustrated with him, shake his head, roll his eyes. But the love, the guidance, and the belief in Theo was always there.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner brought that to life in a way that stuck with me. There were so many funny and poignant episodes involving Warner, but the funniest has to be Season 1, Episode 8 titled “A Shirt Story”. Theo wants to buy a $90 designer shirt to wear on a date. When his dad refuses his sister says she can make him one just like the original for only $30. Ridiculousness and laughter ensues.
Since The Cosby Show ended, Warner stayed active in the industry, which is no small feat for someone who started as a child actor. But for me, he’ll always be Theo. And I will always be grateful for what that character meant to me.
So rest in peace to Ozzy, Hulk, and Malcolm. You each made your mark. And in your own ways, you helped define an era.
Thanks for the memories. You’ll be missed.
- Wait, Who Is The Coach At Bowling Green?
Most people who read this regularly know I’m a Michigan fan, and I’ve made it clear I’ve got no love for Ohio State. But I’ve always respected Eddie George. He was a beast of a running back, won the Heisman, had a great NFL career with the Titans, and for a while gave pretty solid takes on ESPN radio. Then, like a lot of ex-players, he vanished from my radar.
So I must say I was surprised last week when I was doing some research for the coming season and saw his name listed as the new head coach at Bowling Green. Say what?
Turns out Eddie has actually been coaching the past few years at Tennessee State. I vaguely remember that, but it never really clicked. Maybe that’s because it was at the FCS level and he went 23-21 there. Not terrible, but far from impressive. And now he’s making the leap to the MAC with a Bowling Green program that hasn’t been relevant in a long time.
Let’s be honest. A 23-21 record at the FCS level doesn’t usually get you a MAC job. That hire doesn’t happen unless your name carries weight. And Eddie George’s does.
So yeah, I’m a little skeptical of George’s chances of success in FBS. There just aren’t many examples of great college or pro football players who later became good college head coaches. Jim Harbaugh was a solid college quarterback and a long-time pro who went on to win a national title as head coach at Michigan in 2023.
But Steve Spurrier is the only Heisman winner to later win a national championship as a head coach. And while some other serviceable players had decent coaching careers, no great players other than Spurrier have been able to make that jump.
I’m not sure Eddie George will have much luck either, but at least he’s in the FBS now and will have a chance to prove himself. And believe it or not, and it pains me to say it, I’m actually rooting for the guy.
So Go B…….lue. But good luck Eddie!
- History Made In Houston
We are deep in the dog days of summer and there’s not much on the sports radar. And then, on a random sleepy Friday night in late July, a 22-year-old rookie for the Oakland A’s went out and delivered one of the greatest single-game performances in baseball history.
Nick Kurtz hit four home runs. He went 6-for-6. He tied an MLB record with 19 total bases. He drove in eight, scored six times, and made many of us do a triple take at the box score.
He is the first rookie ever to hit four home runs in a game. The guy didn’t make an out all night.
It is only the 20th four-homer game in major league history. And while there are other legendary one-game performances, this one was different. This was a rookie and the #4 overall pick last year. Barely 60 games into his big league career, his bat is headed to the Hall of Fame.
I don’t know what Kurtz will become in the long run, but for one night, he gave us that pure sports moment where we are all shaking our heads thinking “Can you believe this?”
And that’s just another of a million reasons why I love sports. Even on a quiet Friday in July, magic can happen.
- A Little Fishy
My mom is 89 and lives alone in Cleveland. She’s thriving in a way that still amazes me as she is still with it physically and mentally. But she is almost 90, so yes, she occasionally needs help, and of course she gets lonely. My older brother and sister live nearby and check in often, and I try to visit when I can, but probably not as often as I should.
This past weekend, both of my siblings were going to be out of town, so I thought it would be the perfect chance to go spend some time with her and keep her company. My daughter Mackenzie came along too, and we ended up having a great weekend. Mostly just catching up, chatting, laughing, and perhaps even gossiping a little bit.
But one of the more surprising highlights was when we decided to take a trip to the Greater Cleveland Aquarium on Saturday afternoon.
I couldn’t tell you the last time I set foot in an aquarium but it has to be at least 15 years. And while I wasn’t exactly pumped about it, it actually ended up being a surprisingly fun way to spend an afternoon. What really caught me off guard, though, was how packed the place was. At a lot of the exhibits, we had to wait just to get close to the glass. Who knew aquariums were still this popular?
But the best line of the weekend came about 20 minutes in, when my mom turned to me with a deadpan look and said, “This place isn’t doing much for me yet. It’s all fish.”
I laughed out loud. But by the time we got to the shark tunnel, she had changed her tune and I think we were all happy we made the trip.
More than anything, I’m just glad I made the trip north. Whether it was helping her through the aquarium, sitting outside at a local patio for dinner and drinks, or just talking in her kitchen for hours, it was one of those weekends I’ll remember for a long time.
Love you, Mom. And should we start planning the zoo next?
- Why So Serious?
Call me old, jaded, or outdated, but I’ll never understand people who don’t smile in photos.
I’ve always thought of pictures as moments we’ll look back on someday. That could be me, my family, my friends, maybe even my grandkids. Don’t most people want to be remembered as happy, present, and enjoying life? Not looking bored, irritated, or like they just lost their cat.
I get that not everyone loves the camera. Maybe it feels cooler to stay stoic. Maybe they’re going for mysterious. Or maybe they’ve just had a long day and don’t feel like faking it. Fair enough. But still, wouldn’t a photo feel more worth keeping if the person looked even a little bit happy to be there?
If you’re anti-smile, I’m genuinely curious. Is there a reason I’m missing? Sandman Nation, if you’ve got answers or guilty admissions, I’m all ears. Until then, I’ll keep cheesing it up in every pic.
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.
:
:
:
: