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.
- Four Days, Countless Beers, and a Whole Lot of Country
We live near West Chester, Ohio, and three years ago local organizers launched a new country music festival called the VOA Country Music Fest .
We didn’t go the first year, despite it being less than two miles from our house, but after hearing great reviews from friends we bought 4-day passes last year and had an incredible time. We came back again this year, along with more than 100,000 others, and we definitely weren’t disappointed. The location is obviously convenient, and it’s always fun seeing and hanging out with so many friends. But I’ve gotta say, the musical acts themselves are seriously impressive.
This year’s lineup featured Darius Rucker, Hardy, Bailey Zimmerman, Carrie Underwood, Shaboozey, Mitchell Tenpenny, Billy Currington, Carly Pearce, and many more. In years past, they’ve brought in Keith Urban, Jason Aldean, Dan + Shay, Sam Hunt, Old Dominion… the list goes on.
It’s four long but very fun days of drinking, laughing, and listening to great music, so I’m tired today but happy. I’m proud of our community for pulling off an event that just keeps getting bigger and better every year. I may never go full cowboy hat and boots like many I saw there, but I’ll be back as long as they keep putting on this awesome event
2. Don’t Mess With Texas
College football kicks off in less than two weeks, and I am getting very excited. One sign that we’re getting close is the release of the first preseason polls. I get that these polls mean nothing when it comes to determining a champion on the field months from now, but they’re still fun for fans to read, argue over, and dream about.
This year’s preseason top five in the Coaches Poll :
- Texas (28 first-place votes)
- Ohio State (20)
- Penn State (14)
- Georgia (3)
- Notre Dame
I was shocked to learn this is the first time ever that Texas has been ranked preseason No. 1 in the coaches poll, which has been around since the early 1950s. That’s crazy for a program with their tradition and history. They’ve got a pro-ready roster coming back, led by quarterback royalty Arch Manning, and they open on August 30 in Columbus against the defending national champion and No. 2 ranked Ohio State.
It’s also the first time in history that the preseason No. 1 and No. 2 teams will face each other in their first game of the season. The atmosphere at the Shoe will be absolutely electric. And yes, with today’s expanded playoff system, both teams will still be playoff favorites regardless of the outcome, but it will still be fun to watch.
Looking at the full top 25 by conference, the SEC leads the way with nine teams, the Big 10 has six, the Big 12 has five, the ACC has three. The other two teams are Notre Dame, an independent ranked fifth, and Boise State, ranked No. 25, who represents the only Group of 5 team in the poll.
At first glance, my biggest surprise was seeing Illinois at No. 12. But Bret Bielema is a very good coach with 19 returning starters from a 10-3 team, including an excellent QB in Luke Altmeyer, and probably the easiest schedule in the Big Ten. Their away games are all manageable and while they host Ohio State, they avoid Michigan, Penn State, and Oregon (all top-15 teams). Watch out for the Illini to be a darkhorse contender in the loaded Big 10 and they could easily sneak into the 12-team Playoff.
Sandman Nation, football is in the air. Whether or not these preseason polls end up meaning much, they’ve got me talking about college football and getting excited, and that’s more than enough to tide me over for two more weeks.
3. Little League, Big Dreams
Maybe it is because we are in the dog days of summer, sports to watch are thin, and football still is not here yet. But whatever the reason, I always enjoy watching the Little League World Series.
The LLWS began in 1947 and is played in Williamsport, Pennsylvania every August. U.S. teams compete on one side of the bracket, international teams on the other, and the championship game matches the two winners. The U.S. has won 40 times, international teams 37, with Taiwan leading the way with 17 titles, dominating much of the event in the 1970s and 80s.
I live just a few miles from Hamilton, Ohio, where the West Side Little League program is legendary. They have won 22 state championships, which qualifies them for the Great Lakes Bracket and a potential trip to Williamsport. They have made the LLWS five times in their history. This year they lost a heartbreaker to Illinois in the final, missing out on a sixth trip, but it is still a great program and those kids and coaches should be proud.
More than 60 players in history who appeared in the LLWS later played in MLB, with several even winning a World Series. Some of the kids on the field this week could have professional baseball futures ahead as well, but for now, they are simply creating memories that will last a lifetime. And that’s pretty cool.
4. Three Gyms & Plenty of Sweat
A few weeks ago, I wrote that I was getting back into working out, and I am still enjoying it. I mix up cardio and weightlifting, and while I have belonged to LA Fitness for a long time, I thought it might be fun to shake things up and see if I wanted to switch to a different gym. So I signed up for some free passes, did a little “investigative reporting,” and here is my take on three well-known fitness chains in case you are looking to join or make a change yourself.
LA Fitness
I have been a member here for years and, for the most part, have liked it. It was getting a little dated, but they recently made some nice upgrades. By far the biggest gym of the three I tried, with tons of space and equipment. I rarely have to wait for weights or machines, and there are plenty of treadmills. They have a pool, which I never use, and cramped locker rooms, but I am barely in there so it is no big deal. The crowd tends to be more on the serious side, and many members are already pretty fit. It is definitely the most expensive of the three at $40-50/month.
Planet Fitness
This is the biggest chain in the United States with over 2,500 locations, so they are everywhere. The one I visited was smaller than LA Fitness and clearly geared toward beginners. There are signs everywhere offering encouragement, judgment-free zones, and reminders to avoid grunting or taking weightlifting too seriously. And lots of purple. It was fine, but I got scolded for supposedly setting down a weight too loudly, which I question, so maybe not my vibe. On the plus side, the locker rooms were nice, the staff was pleasant, the price is affordable at about $30/month, and I like how welcoming it is to people who might feel uncomfortable in other gyms.
Crunch
This is the one I have decided to sign up for next. It sits somewhere in between LA Fitness and Planet Fitness in terms of members, with a mix of beginners and more serious gym goers. It was smaller than LA Fitness with fewer machines, but a full slew of treadmills. Most of the equipment seemed new, and it was not busy, so I could get on what I wanted. The locker rooms were average, but that is fine with me. The downside is the closest one is a 15 minute drive from my house. The upside is the cost is only $9.99/month if you are fine with just one location access and no extras like workout classes, which I am.
Honestly, while I have been a little tired of LA Fitness, it is probably still the best fit for me overall and my first preference. But at the lower price, I will give Crunch a few months and see how it goes. Maybe I’ll switch back eventually or maybe I’ll love it and stay. Either way, hopefully I’ll continue to show up, break a sweat, and keep it fun.
5. Bad Pizza, Weird Games, And A Mouse That Won’t Go Away
Someone recently told me about their three-year-old’s birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese, and I was honestly astounded that place is still around. Yes, we had a couple of parties there for my kids and their friends when they were younger, but I mostly remember going in the 80s as a kid when it was packed wall-to-wall with actual video games. Space Invaders, Jungle Hunt, Galaga… I miss those days.
Somewhere along the way it shifted into this mix of odd and poor quality games, tickets you trade for cheap, worthless prizes, and really awful pizza. And yet, this place is still around.
Now I have heard recently they may be struggling financially and there have been some bankruptcies in the past. So perhaps the inevitable end is coming for Chuck and his crumbling empire. But for now, parents keep booking parties, kids keep running wild, and bad pizza keeps getting eaten. And I just don’t get it.
6. From Zero to 52: Our First Year in the Books
While I’ve now reached my 30th edition of Bierman’s Six Pack, the bigger milestone is that this week we record our 52nd episode of the Enter Sandman Sports podcast. When my Sandman Sports business partner Bill and I decided it would be fun to start a pod, we asked longtime Sandman Nation member Pat Klett to join us, and he thankfully said yes. For three guys who had no idea what we were doing, those first few episodes were a little rough, but we found our rhythm and now it feels like second nature.
It’s been a wonderful mix of sports, betting, pop culture, and nonstop laughs with great friends. It takes a lot of work and prep each week, so I am incredibly grateful to Bill and Pat for showing up big every single time. Honestly, it has been one of the most fun things I have ever done. Despite the long hours and all the behind-the-scenes work, we truly enjoy it and look forward to Year #2.
I also want to thank Brooke Inkrot, one of our Sandman Sports team members, who does all of our podcast editing and social media marketing. Brooke, we couldn’t do this without you.
And of course, thank you to our listeners and supporters for tuning in each week, giving us feedback, and encouraging us along the way. The podcast has been a fun side project, but Sandman Sports is a real business, and there are some exciting things happening behind the scenes that we can’t wait to share in the coming months. For now, I hope you’ll check out this week’s episode as we celebrate our one-year anniversary with a few surprises, some funny looks back, and another great show full of humor and sports talk. You can listen at Sandman Sports or wherever you get your podcasts.
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
