bierman’s six pack: issue #8
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. 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧’ 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐓𝐕
I admit it – I kinda miss MTV.
MTV launched in 1981, and while I was only 8 years old, it wasn’t long before it became a daily thing for me. By the time I was 13 or 14, it was my version of what YouTube is for kids today. But back then, there was no scrolling – it was me, a 25-inch TV, and hours of music videos.
MTV wasn’t just about the music; it was the whole vibe. Kurt Loder, Adam Curry, Martha Quinn, Alan Hunter, JJ Jackson, Mark Goodman, Nina Blackwood – I miss those voices and personalities. And let’s be real, as a teenage boy in the late ‘80s, I was also there for certain music videos (Whitesnake, anyone?). Oh, and fun fact – Angelina Jolie got her acting start in a Meat Loaf video.
But nothing – nothing – compared to Headbangers Ball.
Premiering in 1987 and hosted by Riki Rachtman, it was my hard rock and metal lover’s dream. Getting my fix of Ozzy, Motley Crüe, Skid Row, Metallica, Winger, and even Dangerous Toys (yes Dangerous Toys) was a weekly event. The show surprisingly ran until 1995 and it was a nice run.
Yeah, the channel still exists, and there is even MTV Classic I believe, but it’s not the same. To quote the legendary campaign from back in the day: I Want My MTV!
𝟐. 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬? 𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭
Since we’re on a nostalgia kick, let’s talk about another classic from back in the day – Battle of the Network Stars.
If you don’t remember, this was basically the ultimate celebrity sports showdown, where stars from ABC, NBC, and CBS competed in everything from swimming and cycling to 3-on-3 football and bowling (yes, outdoor bowling). And, of course, it all ended with the legendary Tug O’ War.
The original series ran from 1976 to 1988, which honestly lasted longer than I would have guessed. Having Howard Cosell on the call gave it some credibility, and I can still picture guys like Gabe Kaplan, Dick Van Patten, and William Shatner taking it way too seriously. But let’s be real – the draw for me was watching beauties like Heather Locklear, Heather Thomas, and Catherine Bach compete.
They tried bringing it back in 2017, but it flopped. Maybe the concept just doesn’t hold up in the streaming era, or maybe we’ve just moved past watching TV actors struggle through obstacle courses. Either way, some things are best left in the ‘70s and ‘80s.
𝟑. 𝐖𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐔 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐓𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐮𝐬
If you know me at all, you know my biggest sports passion is Michigan football. I didn’t go there, but I was born into a family of rabid Wolverines fans, and it’s in my blood for life. That makes it a little ironic that I went to college in Ohio (Miami University in Oxford) and have lived in the Cincinnati area for over 30 years.
For a long time, being a Michigan fan around here wasn’t easy. The last four years have made it a little more tolerable, but I’ve always appreciated the rivalry. It’s what makes college football great. I love the passion, as long as it stays on the right side of the line.
That said, I have to give credit where it’s due, because I just saw a ridiculous fact:
• Garrett Wilson is the #1 WR for the New York Jets
• Terry McLaurin is the #1 WR for the Washington Commanders
• Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the #1 WR for the Seattle Seahawks
• Chris Olave is the #1 WR for the New Orleans Saints
• Marvin Harrison Jr. is the #1 WR for the Arizona Cardinals
That’s just the current NFL landscape. If you start adding in legends like Cris Carter, Terry Glenn, Joey Galloway, Michael Thomas, and David Boston, (and the list could go on and on) it’s really not debatable – Ohio State is Wide Receiver U.
Impressive work, Buckeyes. Very impressive indeed.
𝟒. 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠
I don’t talk much about college baseball, but I actually enjoy it. I’ve been to the College World Series in Omaha twice, and I’d recommend it to any baseball fan. It’s an incredible experience, whether your team is in it or not.
But I have to give a shoutout to some wild happenings in college baseball over the past few weeks:
• A 7-inning game between Rhode Island and William & Mary saw 58 total runs, ending 36-22.
• The Oregon Ducks put up 35 runs in a single game.
• And this one might be the craziest – George Mason set an NCAA record on March 4th, scoring 23 runs in a single inning during a 26-6 win over Holy Cross. That broke a Division I record that had stood for 42 years.
As if scoring 23 runs in one inning isn’t ridiculous enough, here’s the wildest part – not a single home run.
With March Madness taking center stage, a lot of people have their eyes on the hardwood, and rightfully so. But don’t sleep on the action happening on the diamond, because college baseball is putting up some video game numbers right now.
𝟓. 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐬
I paid homage to Tom Izzo a few weeks ago for everything he’s done for the game and the impact he’s made. I won’t rehash all the stats, but Michigan State is about to extend its streak to 27 straight seasons in the NCAA Tournament. That might not be shocking, but guess who’s right behind them?
The Gonzaga Bulldogs.
They’ve made it 25 straight years and should also extend that streak this season. While Dan Monson helped lay the foundation, Mark Few has been the head coach since 1999 and has turned Gonzaga from a little-known program in Spokane, Washington, into a powerhouse.
No, he hasn’t won a national title yet, but he’s made multiple championship games, coached one of the best teams to never win in 2021, secured 22 West Coast Conference titles, and earned two Naismith Coach of the Year awards. The guy is an all-time great, and at just 62, he still has time to get that elusive title. Maybe not this year, but hopefully at some point.
𝟔. 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝
I don’t know all the logic behind daylight savings time, and I know there’s debate about getting rid of it altogether. I don’t really have a strong opinion there, but I do wish all states followed the same rules. Some, like Arizona, don’t observe it, which means half the year they’re on Mountain Time and half the year they’re on Pacific. That would drive me nuts.
When I was in college, Indiana was the same way, and since it was only five miles from campus, it messed us up a few times – especially when scheduling golf tee times.
Regardless, I’m just happy the days are getting longer, the weather is turning, and soon we’ll be taking longer evening walks and lighting up the firepit.
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. Have a great week and take care!
And if you missed the past few week’s and want to catch up, you can access them here:
1 Comment
Comments are closed.