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. From Spa Days to Sportsbooks: Vegas At THE Palazzo
The last two years Jamie and I have gone to Marco Island in Florida for a little “Back to School/Fall is starting” trip over Labor Day weekend. This year with Brady’s 21st birthday falling on Labor Day, we didn’t want to miss that so we skipped the trip. Instead we decided to head out to Vegas one week later, which was this past weekend. We got an incredible deal from the Palazzo and even though I’m not a big casino gambling guy and hadn’t been there in years, we do love the pools, the shows, the dining, the nightlife, and of course the sportsbooks and people watching.
I had stayed at the Venetian before but it had been years and I didn’t really remember much. This time we stayed at the Palazzo, the sister property right next door, and I really liked it. The rooms are all suites and very big. While it has a casino and plenty of restaurants and bars, it felt more spa-like and luxurious than the Venetian. And judging by our final bill, Jamie definitely enjoyed the spa.
We also loved the pools. They actually have seven just at the Palazzo, but we stuck mainly to the main pool and hit it all four days we were there. On Saturday I spent the entire day at the sportsbook, and it was so awesome to sit in a comfortable chair with a million games going on in front of me. I wasn’t even phased by the $200 food and beverage minimum, which honestly felt pretty reasonable considering I sat there from 9 am to 8 pm.
Jamie and I were also very impressed with the service during our stay. Every single person we talked to on the property was kind, friendly, and helpful.
In a nutshell, we are not big casino gambling people, but we really enjoyed our trip to Vegas for all the other reasons. When we come back, the Palazzo will be our spot, and we would highly recommend it.
2. Good Breakfast, Bad Downtown
If you go to Vegas and want a greasy spoon type diner for breakfast, I would highly recommend Ellis Island. It is a block or two off the strip, the casino and hotel are nothing special, but the breakfast food is great and much more affordable than what you get at the big resorts. On our very first day we landed in Vegas around 8 am local time, checked in at the Palazzo, and then walked over to Ellis Island for a solid breakfast to start the trip.
After that we grabbed an Uber to downtown Vegas to see how it has changed. I had not been there in years and had heard people say it was much better now.
We did not have that experience.
There were a lot of homeless people, and outside of Circa (which is fantastic), none of the other hotels or casinos seemed very nice. We walked through several of them and it was underwhelming. The Fremont Street Experience was fine for a few minutes but got boring pretty quickly, and there were far too many people soliciting and handing out things I did not want.
The strip has its challenges, but at least it delivers energy and spectacle. Downtown, based on what I had been told, had improved but I was expecting much more and came away disappointed.
One quick note: just for fun I asked how much it would cost to reserve a seat at Circa’s sportsbook on Saturday, and the answer astounded me. Six hundred dollars per seat for the day session ($900 if you want the 4:30 games too). Yes, it comes with food and drink, and yes it is billed as the largest sportsbook in the country with luxury movie-style seating, but still. Six hundred dollars seemed crazy for a typical football Saturday.
3. Foul Ball!
I have been to a countless number of baseball games in my life and I have never come away with a foul ball as a souvenir, although both of my sons have. It is always a cool memory, but I have never understood the way people lose their minds trying to secure one. Case in point: Friday night in Miami.
Harrison Bader of the Phillies hit a home run and a father, there with his family and all of them clearly Phillies fans, snagged the ball off the ground or from a seat near other fans. He proudly handed it to his son, who happened to be celebrating his birthday, and gave him a big hug. A perfect little ballpark moment.
Seconds later, though, a woman nudged the man, startling him, and started yelling. From the looks of it, she was upset that he had the audacity to move over to where the ball landed and grab it before she could. They went back and forth for a while, and eventually the man conceded and gave the ball to her. She took it and stormed off.
Thankfully, the whole thing was caught on camera, and after the game Harrison Bader gave the kid a signed bat. That part makes me smile.
But by first glance, it also looks like this woman became unhinged simply because she thought she was entitled to the ball, and then actually felt good about literally snatching it from a young boy’s baseball glove. That part makes me sad and leaves me questioning where common decency has gone.
You can check out the viral video here.
4. NoT Sold On Texas
I am just not sold on Texas, the preseason number one team in the nation, or on their highly touted quarterback Arch Manning. This is the second weekend in a row that I have watched their entire game from start to finish. I gave Arch and this Texas squad some slack last week when they opened on the road against the defending national champions and faced one of the best defenses in the country in a hostile environment. That was a tough ask. But this past Saturday against an 0-1 San Jose State team that had just lost at home to Central Michigan, Texas still failed to impress.
Yes, the Longhorns won by more than four touchdowns, but Arch looked uncomfortable for much of the game and missed several throws and opportunities that a Heisman-hyped guy like him should never miss. He finished with a 57 percent completion rate, four touchdown passes, and a nifty touchdown run that showed his athleticism so maybe I am being too hard on him.
The scoring throws, though, were fairly routine, and he also had one poor interception that never should have been thrown. Based on what I have seen through two weeks, I think Arch will be a fine quarterback this season, but I’m not sure he’s going to lead this team to the promised land.
And that is partly because the rest of the team did not inspire much confidence either. Texas forced four turnovers and still never looked like they were pulling away. This team does not look like a national title contender to me. Maybe this will turn out to be one of those early season overreactions that does not age well, but right now I do not see Texas finishing better than 9-3, and I do not see them in the College Football Playoff.
5. NFL Takeaways from Week 1
Please don’t ask me if I like college football Saturdays or NFL Sundays better because that is an impossible question. They are both incredible for different reasons and I love them both. But I usually have less going on during Sundays, which allows me to sit on my couch and watch football all day long. That is exactly what I did this past Sunday after returning on the red eye from Vegas, and it was pretty awesome.
With NFL Sunday Ticket and Red Zone, I saw every game. Here are my five takeaways from the first weekend of NFL action.
Being an NFL kicker is brutal
It is a thankless job. Make the clutch kick and you are expected to. Miss it, and you are shamed and could be out of a job. Rookie Andre Szmyt of the Browns missed both an extra point and a 36-yarder that would have given Cleveland the lead with two minutes left. I am a Bengals fan, so I was not upset at the outcome, but I did feel bad for this kid. He may not be cut yet, but the pressure will be on him for weeks, and he will need to be mentally tough to overcome this start.
Could Daniel Jones be this year’s Sam Darnold?
Danny Dimes had a brilliant debut in Indianapolis. The Colts crushed the Dolphins 33–8, and Jones did something no quarterback has done since at least 1991 (per NFL Red Zone). He led scoring drives on all seven of Indy’s possessions. Never once did he leave the field before his team notched points on the scoreboard. He also became only the fourth QB ever to throw for 250 yards and run for two touchdowns in an opener. Impressive stuff all around. Is he primed for a bounceback year? Too early to tell, but it sure would be a fun storyline to follow.
What is up with the spitting thing?
First, Jalen Carter of the Eagles was ejected before Thursday’s game against Dallas for spitting on Dak Prescott. Then Florida’s Brendan Bett was flagged for spitting on a USF player late in a game that ultimately cost his team the win. Who in their right mind thinks it is ok to spit in someone else’s face? And why did it happen twice in the same weekend? This whole thing is weird, unsettling, and something the sport does not need.
The Tampa Bay vs Atlanta finish was fun
One of many reasons I love the NFL Red Zone is that you get to see every ending. In the early window, the Bucs-Falcons game was must-watch. Atlanta, down four with under two minutes left, dealt with multiple fourth downs and finally took a three-point lead. Baker Mayfield brought Tampa right back, hitting a quick touchdown. Then kicker Chase McLaughlin missed the extra point, keeping it a three-point game. Atlanta drove into field goal range, but Younghoe Koo missed a 46-yarder, and that was it. Compelling finish, though a little disappointing since I had Atlanta +2.5 as one of my best bets. But I still think Atlanta is primed for a strong season and I love what I saw from their second-year QB Michael Penix Jr.
Sunday Night Football delivered a classic
But that game only served as an appetizer to the Sunday night thriller we were treated to a few hours later. Ravens vs Bills featured the last two NFL MVPs and certainly did not disappoint. Baltimore looked like the better team most of the night and led by 15 with four minutes left. But Josh Allen brought Buffalo back. The Bills scored quickly, then Derrick Henry fumbled and Buffalo pounced with another touchdown. The two-point try failed, leaving them down two, but with three timeouts left. The defense held, Allen drove his team downfield, and Matt Prater nailed the 32-yarder as time expired. In a fun twist, the final was 41–40, which means it was a scorigami, i.e. the first time that score had ever happened in NFL history. These two are the class of the AFC, and it feels inevitable we will see them again in January. For now, thank you Buffalo and Baltimore for a memorable opener.
6. Closing With A Couple Complaints
I’ll finish today’s Six Pack with two gripes/observations from my Vegas trip.
First, we went to a very nice Italian restaurant one night and when I went to the bathroom, there was an attendant in there. Honestly, I thought those were extinct. I have not seen one in years and was surprised, and frankly a little irritated. I do not need help grabbing a paper towel, don’t need a splash of cologne, and I already have my own gum. I realize it is a job for someone, but I always feel obligated to tip, and it is something I never ask for and do not want. It just bugs me.
The following night at a different restaurant I saw another thing that irks me. And I apologize in advance if this strikes a nerve with any of you, but I have never understood the whole two people sitting on the same side of the table thing. I get it if you are watching a game together or enjoying an incredible view, but this was in the middle of a back room with none of that. Isn’t it easier and more comfortable to converse with the person you are with when they are right across from you? Maybe I am missing something, Sandman Nation, and if I am, please chime in and let me know. Until then, I will be sitting on the opposite side of the table from my wife, and I will be just fine.
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.
