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.
- Grateful For Good Friends And Calm Waters
I’ve never been a boat person. My parents didn’t own one, we never lived on a lake, I never learned to water ski, and fishing was never really my thing. But in recent years, we’ve been fortunate to have good friends who truly know how to do lake life right. They have a beautiful house on Norris Lake in Tennessee and we have had a standing summer invite the past few years.
This past weekend, we made our annual visit, and I am starting to see how easy it is for people to enjoy that lifestyle.
The days start slow, coffee in hand, chatting and soaking in those stunning lake views. Then it’s off to the boat, where our kids spend the morning wakeboarding, tubing, and having a great time. Afternoons are for more of the same and may even include a stop at “Party Cove” with other boats and friends, or just kicking back on the deck or pier, enjoying the peaceful rhythm of the water. And yes, drinks are usually involved.
I don’t think we’ll ever own a boat, or a lakehouse, but for one perfect weekend each year, we get to borrow the beauty, the calm, and the memories. And that was exactly what the Bierman family needed as back to school season fast approaches.
So thank you, Bryan and Angie. As always, we had a great time and cheers to you both!
2. Who Wants A Hall Pass?
The Pro Football Hall of Fame added four new legends this weekend: Jared Allen, Sterling Sharpe, Antonio Gates, and Eric Allen. Pretty impressive group.
Allen was one of the fiercest pass rushers of his era, with a motor that never stopped and bringing pure menace off the edge. Sharpe’s career may have been cut short by injury, but during his prime there was not a better or more complete wide receiver in the league. Gates changed the tight end position, a true mismatch nightmare and touchdown machine. Eric Allen was a technician at cornerback for over a decade, locking down receivers long before it became a social media buzzword.
I have always loved halls of fame, not just in football but in any sport. There is something cool about these places that honor greatness and preserve the history of the game. I took Brady to the Pro Football Hall of Fame ten years ago when he was 10, and it was such a cool experience to walk through football’s past with my son. We also visited the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta together a few years ago and I would highly recommend that to anyone who loves the sport. My youngest son Cooper is now 11 and it dawned on me this weekend that I am long overdue to take him to Canton as well. I have never been to Cooperstown, but that should probably be a priority as well.
There is something grounding, nostalgic, and just plain fun about those visits. They are reminders of great players, incredible games, and many of the reasons why we became fans. Whether it is Canton, Atlanta, Springfield, Cooperstown, or any place where greatness is recognized, those visits remind us why sports matter and why the legends still inspire.
3. Bowling May Not Be Cool, But I Still Like It
Do the names EJ Tackett, Andrew Anderson, Jason Belmonte, or Graham Fach mean anything to you? I’m guessing not and I’m not surprised. These guys are among the top bowlers on the PBA Tour, but unless you’re a die-hard fan (and who is?), you aren’t going to know these names. Honestly, I have no idea how the PBA still exists. Who’s watching this on TV? Who’s showing up to these tournaments?
My disdain for professional bowling is not to say I don’t like bowling as a social activity though. In fact, I love to bowl.
Before COVID, Jamie and I were in a league with a few friends. I’m not great, but I’m not terrible either. And I might earn nerd status for this, but I even have my own ball, bag, and shoes. Jamie didn’t enjoy it quite as much as I did, so we stopped playing in the league after the pandemic. But lately, I’ve been getting the itch again.
Bowling is one of those activities that’s just easy. It’s social, it’s casual, it’s slightly competitive, and it absolutely pairs well with a couple pitchers of beer. I know at least six other couples currently in leagues, and honestly, it feels like bowling is quietly making a comeback.
That surprises me, because the long-term trend says otherwise. Bowling peaked in the 1980s with nearly 8 million league participants. Today, that number hovers around 1 million. And classic bowling alleys seem to be disappearing at a rapid pace.
So, is bowling dead or making a comeback?
I can’t speak for pro bowling because I honestly have no idea. But I think recreational bowling still has legs. It’s fun. It’s affordable. And anyone can do it.
I don’t know how long the leagues or lanes will last, but while they’re still around, I say let’s lace up and roll.
4. MLB at Bristol Was Big, Loud, and Full of Misses
The Speedway Classic at Bristol Motor Speedway was undeniably cool. Over 90,000 fans packed into a NASCAR venue for a regular-season MLB game, setting an all-time attendance record. The visuals were striking, the pregame festivities were massive, and as a Reds fan, it was awesome to see my team at the center of such a unique event.
But according to many fans, the experience didn’t live up to the hype. Rain delayed the game for over two hours before it was suspended in the bottom of the first. And worse than the weather was the complete failure in logistics. Fans stood in lines for over an hour for food and drinks, and eventually they ran out of both.
How the hell does MLB allow that to happen on such a grand stage? Months of planning to make a big splash with this event, and they can’t figure out basic logistics? Shame on Rob Manfred and his executive team for not doing better.
When the dust settled and the game resumed on Sunday, some normalcy returned. MLB got the record. They got the headlines. And unfortunately for Cincinnati fans like myself, the Braves got the win. It was a cool idea that I’m sure will be tried again, and hopefully MLB learns from their mistakes and makes the next time much better for fans.
5. Pittsburgh, Do Better
Two struggling teams met in Denver Friday night, and what unfolded was nothing short of insane. The Rockies, owners of the worst record in baseball and one of the worst run differentials in MLB history, trailed the Pirates 9–0 after the top of the first inning. Yes you read that right. But even more surprising, they somehow came all the way back to win 17–16 on a Brenton Doyle walk-off homer.
It was the kind of game you almost never see. Only five other teams in MLB history have come back from a 9+ run first-inning deficit to win. This was just the third time the Rockies have erased a nine-run hole, and only the second time they’ve won while giving up 16 or more runs. A truly wild game for one of baseball’s worst franchises.
But this isn’t just about Colorado’s fight. Fingers of shame must also be pointed to the Pittsburgh Pirates and their massive collapse. The Pirates kept scoring, but couldn’t put the game away. And to let the worst team in baseball claw back and win is embarrassing.
Nobody outside of Denver or Pittsburgh will remember this game, but it’s a perfect example of why I love baseball with just the sheer unpredictability of it all, even when the stakes are low. Sloppy, chaotic, and yet unforgettable. Thanks to the Rockies and Pirates, I guess, for giving us a game to talk about between two awful teams in August.
6. Pass The Buc-ees
On our way home from Lake Norris, we decided to finally see what all the hype was about and made our first-ever stop at the “world famous” Buc-ee’s. This particular one, in Richmond, Kentucky, opened a couple of years ago and since we live just a couple hours north in Cincinnati, I’ve heard a lot about it from a lot of people so we stopped. And my assessment? Big yawn.
Yes, it’s massive. And yes, the bathrooms are spotless, which I know is a huge part of the Buc-ee’s legend. But honestly, it just felt like a regular convenience store and gas station with a whole lot more stuff. And a whole lot more people. Most of the merchandise was Buc-ee’s-branded, which I guess is fun if you’re really into cartoon beavers, but for us it all just felt like overkill. I grabbed a coffee and some beef jerky, Jamie and Cooper browsed a bit, and we all left feeling… underwhelmed.
For context, Buc-ee’s got its start back in 1982 in Texas, and started building its supersized travel centers in the early 2000s. Since then, it’s expanded rapidly across the South and Southeast, building a fanbase obsessed with clean restrooms, endless snacks, brisket sandwiches, and beaver-themed everything. The brand has become a roadside cult icon, with new stores popping up in places like Kentucky, Florida, Tennessee, and soon even Ohio.
And I guess I get it. Sort of. It’s quirky, and it’s definitely big. But in our opinion, it just didn’t live up to the hype. I’m glad we stopped, if only to say we’ve seen it for ourselves, and it was literally right off the highway. But if you’re going out of your way specifically for this place expecting to be wowed, you might walk away disappointed.
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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