bierman’s six pack: Issue #10
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 (and warning – today is mostly basketball themed in honor of one of the greatest sports events of the year)!
𝟏. 𝐍𝐨 𝐔𝐩𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐬, 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐲 𝐒𝐨𝐧
Like most sports fans, I absolutely love March Madness. Believe it or not, I’ve never done Vegas for opening weekend – though it’s high on my bucket list and something I might finally prioritize next year. What I have done, though, is attend several live NCAA Tournament games – opening rounds, regionals, even a Final Four. And there’s just something special about watching March Madness in person. It’s a completely different energy than watching at home or at a bar.
I first took my oldest son Brady to the tournament back in 2015 in Columbus. He was ten at the time, and while it was fun, it felt different – he was still young, and that arena didn’t serve beer, so… you know. Fast forward to this year, and we made another trip – this time to Lexington for a full day of hoops. And it was an absolute blast.
We didn’t have a team we were emotionally tied to, but we rooted for our bracket picks and got caught up in the energy, especially with the Louisville fans around us everywhere. None of the games were nail-biters, but honestly, it didn’t matter. Hanging out with my son, catching up, laughing, watching game after game – it was awesome.
Sports are incredible for a lot of reasons, but at the top of the list is how they bring people together. Thursday was one of those days I’ll always remember.
So thank you, March Madness. And I love you, Brady.
𝟐. 𝐀 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐑𝐮𝐩𝐩
While I had a wonderful time with my son and truly enjoyed our day in Lexington, I have to say that I’m just not a big fan of Rupp Arena. I feel some perceive it as one of those “must-visit” venues in college basketball, likely because it’s home to one of the sport’s most storied and polarizing programs: the Kentucky Wildcats. And yes, the history is undeniable. Seeing the eight national championship banners and the long list of retired numbers was definitely a cool moment.
But as far as the actual arena experience? It left a lot to be desired. For starters, there’s very little charm or character to the place. It’s part of a larger convention-style complex and connected to a Hyatt hotel – you have to take elevators just to get into the arena, which makes for an odd and underwhelming entrance. Once inside, everything feels tight and crowded. There weren’t nearly enough concession stands, the bathroom lines were absurd, and the cramped seating made for an uncomfortable experience overall.
That said, there were some positives. Parking was surprisingly easy, and the area around the arena had plenty of bars and restaurants, which made the day much more enjoyable. Lexington itself was great.
But as far as Rupp goes? It didn’t give me the “bucket list” vibe you might expect from a storied arena like this. I haven’t been to Cameron Indoor or Phog Allen Fieldhouse, but I have to believe those offer a better arena atmosphere and game day experience. Kentucky’s trophy case is elite, but their arena? Not so much.
𝟑. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 #𝟓 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞
On the drive home, Brady mentioned a stat I hadn’t heard before, and I thought it was pretty interesting. Every seed line from No. 1 through No. 8 has produced at least one national champion – except the No. 5 seed. Despite all the madness over the years, 5-seeds have made it to the championship game four times… and lost all four:
• 1984: Georgetown Hoyas lost to the Houston Cougars
• 2000: Florida Gators fell to Michigan State
• 2010: Butler came up just short against Duke
• 2023: San Diego State was overpowered by UConn
It’s one of those quirky stats that probably doesn’t mean much, but is still fun to throw around during tournament season.
This year, if the curse is going to be broken, it’ll have to be by Michigan – the only #5 seed left and an underdog in the Sweet 16. Could it finally happen? I wouldn’t bet on it… but hey, its March so stay tuned.
𝟒. 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐧’𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐬?
I love sports movies and there are a ton of great ones out there. But when it comes to basketball, the list gets surprisingly short. Outside of 𝙃𝙤𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙚𝙧𝙨, which is an undeniable classic, there aren’t many that I truly love. 𝙒𝙝𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙈𝙚𝙣 𝘾𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙅𝙪𝙢𝙥 is entertaining, but I’m not convinced it’s an all-time great. And as for 𝙃𝙤𝙤𝙥 𝘿𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙨, 𝙃𝙚 𝙂𝙤𝙩 𝙂𝙖𝙢𝙚, 𝘾𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙧? Honestly, they never quite hit for me.
Then I started thinking specifically about college basketball movies, and I could only come up with two: 𝘽𝙡𝙪𝙚 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙥𝙨 (which is not good) and 𝙂𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙍𝙤𝙖𝙙, which is actually great and probably sits right behind 𝙃𝙤𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙚𝙧𝙨 on the basketball movie rankings.
But that’s it? Really?
It’s shocking that there aren’t more films focused on college basketball, especially March Madness. You have one of the most compelling sporting events of the year, filled with drama, emotion, and gritty underdog stories – just ask George Mason, Loyola Chicago, or Florida Atlantic. If that doesn’t say “movie-worthy,” I don’t know what does.
Where’s the epic tale of a Cinderella run to the Final Four? Or a fictional team’s magical championship push? Hollywood, we’re waiting.
𝟓. 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐝
I was in a discussion with some friends the other day, and the name Tom Izzo came up. And of course a debate ensued, specifically around whether or not he’s overrated, especially given that he’s “only” won one national championship.
Now, I’ve written before about my admiration for Izzo. The 8 Final Fours, the 27 consecutive tournament bids – I’m a fan. So this isn’t a defense of Izzo (he doesn’t need one). But the conversation got me thinking: how many coaches actually have multiple national titles?
Short answer: not as many as you might think.
Ten coaches in men’s college basketball history have exactly 𝙩𝙬𝙤 championships. That’s it. And when you look at those with 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚? The list is even shorter with just six names:
• John Wooden – 10
• Mike Krzyzewski – 5
• Adolph Rupp – 4
• Jim Calhoun – 3
• Bob Knight – 3
• Roy Williams – 3
That’s the whole list. Six coaches in the history of the sport.
So yeah – winning even one national championship is hard. Really hard. Everything has to go right – talent, chemistry, health, matchups, a bounce here or there. Doing it twice puts you in rare company. Three or more? You’re a unicorn.
So hats off to any coach who’s ever cut down the nets. And to the ones who’ve done it more than once – you’re in a club so exclusive, it barely has room for a table.
Tip of the cap to you, sirs.
𝟔. 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐁𝐞𝐝𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐟
I’m pretty excited (and honestly, a little proud) to share that I recently became a published children’s book author. When my kids were younger, I used to make up bedtime stories for them – complete with recurring characters, plot twists, and adventures they always wanted more of. Over time, I probably told them 30 different stories from the same “world”, but they all lived in my head.
This past Christmas, I decided to write down the very first story I ever told them (to the best of my recollection) and surprise the family with a printed version. I hired an illustrator, worked with a small publisher, and just planned to get a few copies made. But the editor really liked it, helped expand it with activities and maps, and now – somehow – I’ve got a real book out in the world.
It’s called 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙖 & 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙮𝙠𝙚𝙧’𝙨 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝘼𝙙𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 and it just went live on Amazon. (Like publishing often goes, it was supposed to be ready by Christmas… and finally went live two weeks ago.)
If you’re into that sort of thing – or know someone with kids who might be – I’d love for you to check it out. And yes, book two is officially in the works.
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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