Bierman’s Six pack: Issue #12
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. 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐝𝐨 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐬!
The Yankees (and a few other teams) have started using these so-called torpedo bats – and some people are losing their minds. I don’t get all the fuss to be honest. They’re 100% legal, within MLB’s rules, and honestly it’s a smart move by any baseball team.
In fact, can I please suggest that my Reds should be first in line to place their order, considering last week they became the first team since 1960 to lose three straight games 1–0. Seriously – three straight 1–0 losses. That’s not just bad, it’s historically bad. I don’t care what shape the bat is – just get some hits please.
So kudos to the Yankees. They’re not breaking rules. They’re reading them carefully and then going to work. The rest of the league should probably catch up – especially the Reds.
𝟐. 𝐈𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧, 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧… 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝
Val Kilmer passed away this week, and another legend leaves us way too soon.
He had a complicated career and, I’m sure, some complicated relationships behind the scenes. But when he was on, he was pretty damn good. His Iceman in Top Gun was the epitome of cool, even though you rooted for Maverick. Playing Jim Morrison is nearly impossible for any actor, but somehow Kilmer pulled it off – and then some. And of course, he was Batman, which is enough said.
But you can’t do any tribute to Val Kilmer properly without mentioning his incredible performance as Doc Holliday in 𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙗𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙚. It’s quite possibly one of my top 10 favorite acting performances ever. Other great actors made that movie good but Kilmer stole the show. Hands down.
Seeing him in a small role in 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐆𝐮𝐧: 𝐌𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤 a few years ago was equal parts wonderful and heartbreaking. The real-life Iceman, fighting real-life battles. You could feel the weight of it as you watched him on screen.
Val Kilmer was a true presence – complicated, intense, unforgettable. You will be missed, sir. And you can be our wingman anytime.
𝟑. 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐄𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚
The Masters is here and it is certainly one of the best sporting events of the entire year. From the music to the azaleas to the green jacket, it’s simply sports magic.
I’ve never been to Augusta, and with ticket prices what they are, that may not change anytime soon. The cheapest practice round ticket I saw on TickPick was $1,600. For a practice round. Wow.
Still, I’d love to one day walk those hallowed grounds and soak it all in. From Jack’s epic ’86 win to Tiger’s comeback in 2019 and countless other iconic golf memories, the history is just ridiculous. It’s the only major that’s played on the same course every year. The tradition is real, and it delivers every single time.
Until then, I’ll be right where I always am – glued to the TV, beer in hand, and openly rooting for anyone not wearing a LIV polo.
Jim Nantz, take it away my friend.
𝟒. 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡, 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐢𝐭
If you missed this one – Liberty University’s baseball team lost a game after throwing exactly one pitch last week. Why? Because the pitcher they started wasn’t listed among the 27 players submitted on their official lineup card.
The opposing manager waited until after the first pitch, then went straight to the ump, pointed it out, and after a quick huddle… that was it. Forfeit. Game over. One pitch.
Now, I get it – rules are rules. Just like the torpedo bat situation, the other team followed the rulebook to the letter and took advantage of the situation.
But something about this one just doesn’t sit right with me.
The other team clearly knew before the game. And yeah, they had every right to call it out – but could they have said something before the first pitch? Given a heads-up?
It’s not wrong. But I’m not sure it’s right either. And when you look at it through a sportsmanship lens, it just feels a little off.
What do you think, 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧? Gamesmanship? Fair play? Total bush league? Curious where you land on this one.
𝟓. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐲𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬
My 11-year-old son had some friends over the other day, and it made me happy that they were outside most of the day – playing football, hide and seek, and running around the neighborhood park. But it got me thinking about the games I used to play as a kid and wondering: do kids still play these today?
I’m talking about some of my all-time favorites and pure classics: 𝙏𝙑 𝙏𝙖𝙜, 𝙋𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙚, 𝙆𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙡, 𝙁𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙎𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙚, 𝘾𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙡𝙖𝙜, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙃𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙙.
These were absolute staples for me growing up. Some of my favorite memories involve a summer night, a half-flat ball, and a gang of neighborhood kids who all came running when someone yelled “game on.” We played until it was dark, until someone cried, or until we got called home by Mom – whichever came first.
TV Tag was just silly but fun. Pickle turned you into a base-running ninja. Kickball was great because it was basically baseball but required a lot less athletic ability. 500 turned catching a ball into full-out combat. Capture the Flag required strategy and athleticism. And Four Square? Brutal politics.
Those were super fun games as a kid, and I can’t imagine they’d be any less fun for kids these days. But I just don’t see or hear anyone talking about them.
Yeah, I’m sure I sound old. But I hope somewhere, there’s still a cul-de-sac where kids are nudging each other out of the way and jostling for position as someone yells, “Jackpot!”
𝟔. 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐲?
Back in the mid-80s, I had a school assignment to write something “out of the box creative.” My dad – always full of ideas – suggested I take a well-known story and tell it from a completely different perspective. He said, “For example, what if you told The Wizard of Oz… from the Wicked Witch’s point of view?”
This was 1986. So yeah – my dad may have accidentally invented the entire Wicked franchise before it was cool. Missed opportunity for some serious family royalties. Oh well.
Inspired by that idea, I wrote a story from the perspective of a baseball player – not a star, just a guy grinding it out, chasing the dream, facing setbacks, and finally getting his shot. And at the very end, it’s revealed that he’s the pitcher who struck out the mighty Casey at the Bat.
My teacher absolutely loved it. And honestly, so did I. It was one of the first times I remember feeling truly proud of something I wrote.
I wish I still had a copy. But maybe it’s time I bring it back. Rewritten, updated… maybe even pitched to Hollywood? With the stuff they greenlight these days, why not?!
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!
If you want to check out other recent Six-Pack articles, here you go!
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