Bierman’s Six Pack: Issue #11
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. 𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬
If you listened to our most recent podcast, you know I recorded my piece from a Häagen-Dazs ice cream shop in Georgetown, Grand Cayman. My wife and I were on a Celebrity cruise with my brother and his wife, and two other friends. We have officially become “cruise people.”
Our first one was a couple years ago on Royal Caribbean with our three kids in tow. Last year we took another RC trip, just the two of us. And this year, we went on Celebrity (also a brand owned by Royal Caribbean). I’m a lazy vacationer, so doing nothing for days but sitting by a pool, staring at the ocean, and drinking alcohol is fine with me.
On this particular ship (the Celebrity Ascent), the food was delicious and the nightly entertainment was very enjoyable. Another thing we liked – the other passengers were super friendly. Whether at dinner, at a bar, at a show, or by the pool, it felt like we struck up conversations with a dozen different couples, and just about everyone was nice and easy to talk to. One couple from Manchester, England even told us they prefer American football to soccer. Mind officially blown.
My only gripe was the Wi-Fi. I paid extra for the premium package and it was still awful. I get that some people want to “unplug” while on vacation, but I still needed to record videos, record a podcast, and write and post articles – and doing that on board was a pain. Lesson learned, and really, it was a small gripe.
We already have two more cruises booked in the next 18 months (one with kids, one just adults). Next time, I think I’ll completely unplug and take the full week off.
𝟐. 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬
While sitting in that Häagen-Dazs shop, I realized something – I don’t think I’ve ever actually eaten their ice cream. And I couldn’t tell you where another Häagen-Dazs store even is. But we are a big ice cream family, and I actually owe it to ice cream for giving me a very cool tradition with my daughter.
She’s 23 now, but when she was 13, she and I started a tradition where every Monday evening we’d go get ice cream. Sometimes we’d sit in the shop and eat it there, other times we’d just grab it and head home, eating it in the car. We called it “Menchie Mondays” because we originally went to a soft serve ice cream shop in Cincinnati called Menchie’s.
Eventually, we branched out and hit all the great ice cream spots in our area – Graeter’s, Cold Stone, UDF (United Dairy Farmers), Dairy Queen, and two awesome family-owned shops called The Cone and The Twist. The ice cream was always good, but what I loved most was the time spent with my daughter – connecting through talk, music, laughs, and of course, ice cream.
Starting in 2018, Mackenzie began taking selfies of us at every ice cream stop. Then every Christmas, she turned all those pictures into photo books and gave them to me as gifts – the kind of gift every parent loves and cherishes.
She’s grown now, and college definitely put a pause on our weekly ice cream runs, but to this day, we still try to keep Menchie Mondays alive. So here’s to Menchie’s, my daughter, and every family tradition that connects and binds us through love.
𝟑. 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲
This past Thursday was Opening Day across the baseball world, and while every fan base takes their opener seriously, there’s no better first day in baseball than in Cincinnati.
The Reds date back to 1869 and were the first Major League Baseball team, so there’s a lot of history here. As a nod to that, for decades Cincinnati always hosted the very first game of the MLB season. That’s no longer the case, but the Reds still always open their season at home and the fans make it an all-day event.
People take off work, call in sick to school, and pretty much party all day, all leading up to the first pitch. Even though I missed it this year, it remains one of my favorite sporting events of the year and it’s always a blast.
There’s just so much hope in the air. The weather’s starting to turn, America’s pastime begins another season, and every fan base is tied in the standings, holding on to the dream that this could be their year.
Cincinnati also throws the famous Findlay Market Opening Day Parade, which sees fans lined up for miles, building the energy and excitement leading up to the game. There are also a ton of restaurants and bars right around Great American Ballpark, and they fill up fast – packed with Reds gear, drinks flowing, and optimism high.
And then there’s the game itself. Tickets aren’t cheap, and it’s always a sellout. But it’s so much fun – even if the hometown Reds lose, like they did this year.
I have no idea how the Reds will finish this season (though I do like the offseason improvements), but I know one thing for sure: Opening Day in Cincinnati is one of the coolest things to experience in American sports, and I’m grateful to live in this city and be a part of it.
𝟒. 𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞. 𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞….𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐒𝐨 𝐌𝐮𝐜𝐡
I love watching the Reds live, and I honestly think Great American Ball Park is one of the better stadiums in baseball. But there are so many other beautiful and/or historic parks I still want to visit – and a few I already have some thoughts about.
Fun fact: I’ve seen four games at Wrigley Field… but I’ve never actually stepped foot inside the stadium. How? All four times were from the rooftop bars across the street. Great views, great vibes – but this June, that finally changes. My family and I are heading to Chicago for a weekend when the Reds are in town, and I’ll finally get to experience Wrigley the way it was meant to be seen.
Fenway Park is also high on my list. I haven’t been yet, but I did get to the old Yankee Stadium before they tore it down – and honestly, it was kind of underwhelming. Was probably a good idea to replace it when they did.
Another one near the top of the list is PNC Park in Pittsburgh. I’ve heard from many that it’s the best stadium in baseball. Might have to line up a weekend trip there with the family sometime soon.
And there is one of the worst stadiums ever. Poor New Comiskey Park (or, officially, Guaranteed Rate Field). It opened in the early ’90s, just before Oriole Park at Camden Yards changed everything about how baseball stadiums should look and feel. I haven’t been back in years, but the last time I was there, it just felt… dull. Not much charm, not much comfort. Cavernous and boring. Definitely not built for the fan experience you get in today’s ballparks.
And then there’s the place I grew up going – old Tiger Stadium in Detroit. Built the same year as Fenway (1912), it was gritty, steeped in history, and had a weird charm to it – assuming you didn’t get stuck behind one of those big blue pillars. Comerica Park is a big upgrade, no doubt, but I still miss the old vibe of Tiger Stadium.
All in all, there’s just nothing like going to a baseball game in person – the smells, the sounds, the food, the action, the smiles. And the stadium itself plays a huge role in all of it. Whether it’s an old classic or a shiny new spot with craft beer and sushi, the ballpark can make or break the whole experience.
𝟓. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐈 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐎𝐥𝐝 & 𝐆𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐲?
Old Grumpy Man alert time.
When I went to buy Reds tickets recently, I noticed something new (and irritating): they now upcharge you $4 per ticket if you want the two seats closest to an aisle. Ugh. That just feels like a blatant money grab. I get the whole concept of supply and demand – teams are businesses, trying to squeeze every last dollar like any Fortune 50 company – but still… it bugs me. It’s four bucks, but it still bugs me.
Then, last week I was in Lexington for the first round of March Madness, and the grumpiness continued. I was at Rupp Arena, standing in line at one of the kiosks where you grab your own beer and snacks, then self-checkout. I usually like those because there is no waiting on someone and no repeating your order three times. Its just grab, pay, and go.
But to even enter the kiosk area, they made you swipe your credit card… and it cost $1 just to walk through. I asked the guy why, and he said it was basically an “entry fee.” Seriously, WTF?! A dollar just for the privilege of spending more money on overpriced beer and snacks? Come on. If you want to squeeze an extra buck out of me, just tack it onto the food prices so I don’t feel like I’m being charged a cover to buy a Miller Lite and some Twizzlers.
So yeah, I bailed and went to a regular concession stand. Got my beer, my candy, and saved a buck. Take that, Rupp Arena.
𝟔. 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬
By most accounts, this year’s March Madness has lacked the chaos we’ve all come to expect. Very few upsets. Minimal buzzer beaters. The only double-digit seed to make the Sweet 16 was Arkansas – and I think we can all agree an SEC school isn’t exactly a Cinderella. They lost in their next game anyway.
It’s been chalk all tournament long. In fact, this is only the second time ever, and the first since 2008, that all four No. 1 seeds have made the Final Four. That stat alone speaks volumes.
Now, don’t get me wrong – I still love March Madness. It’s always exciting to have this many meaningful games jammed into a short time period. Part of me even appreciates that we’re about to see the four best teams go head-to-head, and that whoever cuts down the nets will have earned it by going through the gauntlet.
But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little bummed by the lack of surprises. And honestly, I’m starting to worry this isn’t just a one-year thing. It could be a trend.
Why? NIL and the shifting landscape of college sports.
Now this isn’t another grumpy old man rant – I’m all for players getting paid. College sports bring in a ton of money, and the athletes doing the work deserve a cut. No argument there. But this is more of a nostalgic fan rant. Because part of what made March Madness so magical was that anything could happen. And this year, it just… hasn’t.
I miss the days of George Mason, Loyola-Chicago, VCU – teams that came out of nowhere and captured the country. I miss seeing a #6 seed NC State led by Jimmy V win it all. Or Rollie Massimino’s #8 seed Villanova shock the world in ’85. That was the magic.
And yeah, I get it – I’ll still watch, I’ll still be into it. But it’s okay to miss the madness when the cream always rises to the top. Every once in a while, I just want to see a true underdog story. I want to believe that Hoosiers can still happen.
Have a Great Week!
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.
If you want to see more of our recent Six-Pack articles, check these out:
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