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. Love, Cake, and 80’s Music
This past weekend my niece got married in northern Michigan. It was a small, quaint outdoor wedding with maybe 50 guests, tucked into a beautiful wooded setting on a lake. Like most people, I have been to countless weddings and I always enjoy them. Two people in love with friends and family gathered, music, and laughter everywhere. What is there not to love? But while sitting there a few random questions about weddings popped into my head, so I figured I would ask them here (and feel free to answer in the comments!):
- What is the better gift, registry item or cash?
I’ve wrestled with this one for quite some time and usually we go with cash. And we did again on Saturday. Honestly, it isn’t for any other reason than convenience. I figured it is easy for them to do whatever they want with the cash and it is certainly much easier for me to simply go to an ATM, pick up a card, write a few words, and that is that.
- Speaking of greeting cards, why are they so expensive?
Giving cash meant we needed a greeting card, and wow, it has been a while since I bought one. Some were as much as $8.99, most were $6.99. I found one for $3.99 and decided it was perfect. I mean really, what is the difference? It had a nice enough message, I was still able to write my own heartfelt words, and they will read it once, be grateful for the cash, and never think about the card again. I am not cheap, but that is one area I refuse to splurge on.
- Why is wedding cake so much tastier than any other cake ever?
Seriously, why is it always so good? Every wedding cake I have ever had feels like the best cake I have ever eaten. Nothing I buy at a bakery or even try to make myself comes close. I wish I had a wedding cake guy on standby whenever the cravings hit.
- Is the 80s the best decade for party music?
Few things are as entertaining as watching a crowd of happy, inebriated guests letting loose to a great playlist. And speaking of playlists, is there a better decade for party music than the 1980s? Whether it is a wedding, a party, or even a sporting event, nothing seems to get people on their feet faster than an 80s anthem. Put on ‘Don’t Stop Believin’’ or ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ and suddenly all seems to be right with the world. Smiles break out, bad dance moves take over, and everyone turns into a rock star for three and a half minutes. Gotta love it.
2. From Waterfalls To Whitefish
Kaitlyn’s wedding was in Ishpeming, Michigan, a small town in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan about 20 miles from Marquette. For context, Marquette is the biggest city in the entire Upper Peninsula with a population of just 20,629. That should tell you there is a lot more wildlife than people in these parts.
My grandpa had a small hunting cabin up here when I was a kid, so I’d been in the U.P. a few times, but I had never been to Marquette. What a cool, underrated town. It sits right on the banks of Lake Superior, so almost every view is stunning. If you like the outdoors, there’s plenty to do. There are literally dozens of waterfalls within 90 minutes, and we checked out one called Miner Falls. It was about a 1.2-mile round-trip hike through winding woods that ended with an incredible view. Totally worth it. A few other people we met were doing the whole “waterfall tour” and said it was amazing. Not sure I’ll ever need to do that, but the one we saw was well worth it.
We then drove to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore which brought more jaw-dropping views, cliffs, and scenery that reminded me and my wife a lot of Maine. After that, we wandered downtown Marquette, which is small but super charming with cool restaurants and bars. If you ever go there, definitely stop by the Iron Bay Restaurant & Drinkery for the whitefish and chips. So darn good.
Just outside of downtown is another popular attraction, Presque Isle Park. We didn’t have time to get there, but other family members went and called it a must-see, with stunning views of Lake Superior and plenty of wildlife. So maybe next time.
So yes, we were there for Kaitlyn’s wedding and had a blast celebrating with friends and family, but we were also grateful for some time to explore this hidden gem in northern Michigan. If you’re into scenery, hiking, and wildlife, you may want to consider a trip to the U.P. at some point.
3. Coin Toss Confusion
This year the NFL changed the overtime rules so both teams get at least one possession before the game can end. That is definitely more fair than the old setup and I’m glad they went in that direction. But after watching several overtime games already this year, I keep scratching my head over one thing. Every team that wins the coin toss seems to choose to kick first and take the ball second.
Now, I understand the thinking. If you kick first, you know exactly what you need after the other team’s possession. That has some logic to it and that’s what college teams do in their overtime. However, the main difference between the two is the NFL overtime is time bound.
To me, there is a real advantage to taking the ball first. Overtime is only ten minutes long and possessions go quickly. If the goal is to win, why wouldn’t you want the potential to have more possessions than your opponent? Taking the ball first gives you that chance. Even if both teams trade one possession, the clock is already ticking down, and having the ball again might decide it.
I am not saying you should never defer as there are definitely situations where that makes sense. But I hope we start to see some coaches mix it up and take the ball first. Giving your team more opportunities to score feels like a pretty good way to win the game.
4. The Greatest Franchise In Sports
I wrote in last week’s Six Pack about how proud I was of my Cincinnati Reds for fighting all season long, making the summer count, and giving us a playoff berth. They promptly bowed out in two games to the Dodgers, but that is fine. It was still a fun run and a season worth remembering.
As I was looking at the eight teams still alive, one franchise jumped out, and I have to give them props. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, there is simply no greater professional sports franchise than the New York Yankees (although as this is about to be published, the Yankees are down 2-0 to the Blue Jays in the ALDS).
The numbers are simply staggering. The Yankees have made the postseason 60 times, the most in MLB history. For context, the Dodgers are second with 39, followed by the Cardinals with 32.
The Yanks have appeared in the World Series 41 times, another record. The Dodgers are next with 22, yet the Yankees are still nearly 20 clear.
They have won the World Series 27 times, more than double the Cardinals who are second with 11.
It does not stop there. They also have a .570 all-time winning percentage, the best in MLB history. They have had 52 players and 11 managers inducted into the Hall of Fame, names like Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle, Berra, Rivera, and Jeter.
Among North American franchises, only the Montreal Canadiens with 24 Stanley Cups are even in the conversation. And let’s be honest, their pinstripes might be the best uniforms in all of sports too.
I am not a Yankees fan in the least, but I have to give credit where it is due. They have had down periods and even some dark stretches, but they always rebound. Money helps, of course, but just ask the Mets how easy it is to spend big and still win. The Yankees make it work, decade after decade.
So my hat, pinstripes and all, is off to New York. Very impressive indeed.
5. Baffling Decisions In The Big House
Because of the wedding, sightseeing, and spotty reception, I didn’t get to watch much college football on Saturday. I did manage to catch some of my Michigan Wolverines, including the final five minutes, and a couple things really jumped out at me.
First, as I said on last week’s podcast, I have little faith in Luke Fickell and think he is overrated and should probably be fired. Saturday only strengthened that case. I heard on the radio that in the first half, with 20 seconds left and Michigan backed up near its own goal line on second down, Wisconsin still had two timeouts. They could have stopped the clock, forced a punt, and maybe set up a desperation play or long field goal. Instead, nothing. Which just seems odd and careless to me.
But that was nothing compared to the end of the game. With about 2:30 left, Michigan had the ball near midfield and Wisconsin had all three timeouts and were trailing by 14 points. Michigan ran it three straight times and Fickell never called a single timeout. Not one. I honestly cannot remember ever seeing that. It looked like he simply waved the white flag and told his team there was no chance. I understand the odds were slim, but you have the two-minute warning, three timeouts, and Michigan just trying to run clock. You have to at least try to get the ball back and see what happens.
And then came the other bizarre twist. Once Michigan picked up the first down, instead of kneeling, they suddenly went hurry-up and even threw the ball. They raced all the way to the three-yard line with a couple quick snaps before time finally ran out. Thankfully for those holding Wisconsin +16.5 tickets (like yours truly), the clock expired before Michigan could punch it in.
I watch a lot of football and it’s rare that I’m surprised by what I see. Saturday’s Michigan–Wisconsin finish was the exception. Strange clock management from Fickell, almost an admission his team had no chance, followed by Michigan getting oddly aggressive when the game was already decided. Weird and fascinating, for sure.
6. Mile Markers & Musings
After logging 1,384 miles in 60 hours on our trip to the Upper Peninsula, here are a few quick observations from the road:
- The left lane is for passing, not for a meandering, Sunday drive at 55 mph while a dozen cars stack up behind you.
- There is a big difference between a polite “reminder” honk at a light and a full-on “I’m a dick, get your ass moving” blast.
- My go-to gas station is Speedway. The fuel prices are usually good, the bathrooms are clean, the coffee is decent, and the snack selection is excellent.
- Restaurants and gas stations should not be able to put a sign on the highway advertising their establishment if it sits more than 1 mile away from the exit. I want easy on/easy off, not a two and a half mile drive through a town to fill up my tank.
- Thank goodness for SiriusXM radio. Great receptivity everywhere, awesome music and news stations, and so nice when wanting to listen to basically any football game on a Saturday or Sunday.
- I feel like we rarely see kids ask truckers to blow their horns anymore. I saw one on Sunday and it made me smile.
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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