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.
- Thank You, Chicago
In recent years, my wife and I have tried to shift away from giving our kids “stuff” for Christmas and focus more on giving them experiences. Trips, concerts, sporting events, things we can all share together and remember.
This past Christmas, we gifted them a weekend trip to Chicago to see our Cincinnati Reds take on the Cubs at Wrigley Field. I had seen four games at Wrigley before, but never actually stepped foot inside the stadium. How is that possible? All four were from the rooftops across the street. And while those were always fun and unique in their own way, there is nothing quite like finally walking through the gates of Wrigley itself.
Spending an afternoon in that iconic, historic ballpark, especially with my family by my side, was something I will not forget. It was a little more cramped than most modern stadiums, the concourses were tight, and it was way too cold for a June 1st game. And our Reds lost 7 to 3. But none of that really mattered. We were together, watching a baseball game as a family, and soaking it all in.
The weekend overall was fantastic. Chicago is such a great city to visit. There is always something to do, and plenty of great food to eat. My 11-year-old thought the El was the coolest thing ever. Traveler tip: if you are planning something similar, I highly recommend Hotel Zachary, right across the street from Wrigley. Not cheap, but worth every penny. The location is unbeatable, and there is no shortage of restaurants and bars in every direction.
All in all, I am just really grateful for a great weekend with the people I love. So thank you, Chicago, and thank you, Cubs, for making it memorable. But next time, can you maybe let the Reds grab the win?
2. The Great Pizza Debate
One of the first dates Jamie and I ever went on was at Gino’s East in Chicago years ago. So when we were back in the city with the family on Saturday night, we made our way there for a proper pizza night.
I fully expected to get the deep dish that Gino’s and Chicago are known for. But Jamie and I both did a double take when we saw “tavern style” on the menu. The waitress said it was thin crust and really good, and something a lot of people order there.
Since we weren’t starving and deep dish can be a lot, we decided to give the tavern style a shot. My son and his girlfriend stuck with the deep dish. And while the tavern style was fine, I’ll be honest, I had pizza envy watching them devour those deep, cheesy slices. It looked amazing.
To be fair, I’m not always a deep dish guy. Most of the time I actually prefer New York style. I even like Detroit style better than deep dish most days. But still, when you’re at Gino’s in Chicago, sometimes you just need to, well as they say “When in Rome..”
But I didn’t and now I have pizza regret.
For what it’s worth, I’m not alone in leaning New York style. According to the 2025 Pizza Industry Trends Report, the eight most popular styles in America are:
- New York
- Traditional American
- Deep Dish
- Sicilian
- Chicago Thin
- Neapolitan
- Detroit
- California or American Artisan
So yeah, I’ll be fine once I get home and will probably grab a New Yorker tonight from our local spot, Fratelli’s. But next time I’m in Chicago, I’m definitely getting the deep dish. Maybe even with pineapple. But that’s a topic for another Six Pack.
3. Canada, It’s Been Long Enough
My podcast co-host, the one and only Sandman, Mr. Bill Sanders, pointed out a few episodes ago that a Canadian team has not won the Stanley Cup since 1993. Let that sink in for a second. Canada has not won a Stanley Cup in more than 30 years.
Seriously, what?!?!
Back in 1993, the Montreal Canadiens beat Wayne Gretzky and the LA Kings. Since then, sixteen different NHL franchises have hoisted the Cup, and every single one of them has been American. That blows my mind. We’re talking about Canada. They didn’t technically invent hockey, but they absolutely popularized it. And yet we have had teams from Florida, Tampa Bay, Carolina, Anaheim, and Las Vegas claiming the Cup before any team from the great white North has managed to do it again. It just doesn’t feel right.
Now they’ve got another chance. The Edmonton Oilers are in the Finals this year, taking on the defending champion Florida Panthers. And the Oilers are actually slight favorites to win it.
I’m not from Canada and have never played hockey. But in today’s weird world where the U.S. and Canada feel more like frenemies than besties, I say let’s give our northern pals something to smile about this summer.
Come on, Oilers. This Cincy guy is rooting hard for you. For the love of God, do not let a team from Florida go back to back while your country hasn’t won a Cup since Boyz II Men was topping the charts.
4. Cardboard and Memories
As a kid growing up in the 80s, I absolutely loved collecting baseball cards. And I wasn’t alone. Pretty much every boy I knew was into it. We would go to card shows, scrounge together money to buy packs, then spend hours trading, arguing, and showing off our collections.
There were at least five card shops within ten miles of my house. I subscribed to Beckett Baseball Card Monthly so I could constantly check the value of my collection. One Christmas, I got the full 1975 Topps set, which included Eddie Murray’s rookie card, the most valuable card from that year.
A few months later, the Orioles came to Texas to play the Rangers. I went to a game with a friend and waited outside the stadium after, hoping to get autographs. Sure enough, Eddie Murray came out. I waited patiently in line, card and pen ready. When I finally got to him, instead of using my pen, he signed with one he already had. Only it didn’t work. The ink had run dry. My prized card now had a permanent scribble through the middle. I was crushed.
But at least I still had a story.
Looking back, collecting cards was such a cool part of being a young boy in that time period. Ripping open a new pack. Hoping for your favorite player. Laying them out on the carpet or sorting them by team or position. It was simple, everyday joy.
Back then, collecting cards was something boys did for fun. Very few kids seem to do it today, and I know my own 11-year-old has no interest in it.
But that is not to say nobody is interested in baseball cards anymore. It is just that the interest is often driven by money. Just look at the legendary T206 Honus Wagner, the holy grail of sports cards, with fewer than 60 known to exist today. One currently up for auction is graded a 1 on a scale of 1 to 10, yet it is still expected to sell for more than 6 million dollars. According to the auction house, a Wagner card in that condition increased in value by 1000 percent between 2010 and 2022. That is two and a half times the growth of the major U.S. stock indexes over the same period. So this is not just nostalgia or grown men trying to relive their childhoods. This card, in its various conditions, is one of the best-performing investments of the last 30 years.
So yes, the hobby has changed. The stakes are higher. The audience is older.
But for those of us who grew up in the golden era of collecting, it was never really about money. It was about connection. About chasing your heroes, protecting your cardboard gems, and telling stories that stayed with you long after the corners wore out.
Even if one of them ends in a ruined Eddie Murray rookie card.
5. Is It Time For SANDM4N?
I’ve never had a vanity license plate. My brother has one, my sister has one, and a few of my friends do too. But for whatever reason, I’ve always hesitated. Something about it just felt a little too self-promotional for me.
That said, I’ll admit I’ve always appreciated a clever one. And of course, the ASSMAN plate from Seinfeld is an all-time classic.
But for the first time ever, I’m seriously considering getting one myself. And it probably won’t surprise anyone what I have in mind: SANDM4N.
As we keep building Sandman Sports, I figure it could be a fun and smart branding move. Maybe someone sees it, asks what Sandman means, and suddenly I’m talking about our site, our content, our vision, and all the cool stuff we’re doing. Instant conversation starter and sales opportunity.
It’s fifty bucks a year, which feels like a reasonable little investment if it sparks even one good interaction. I think I’m close to pulling the trigger.
But before I do, I want to hear from you, Sandman Nation. What do you think about vanity plates? Do you have one? What does it say? And what are some of the best or funniest ones you’ve ever seen?
Let me know as I may crowdsource this decision.
6. Mac vs Dad: The Tech Edition
My daughter Mackenzie and I are really close. She’s appeared on our podcast, is a huge supporter of the site and the articles, loves all sports, and is just a wonderful person all around. We have a great father-daughter bond and genuinely enjoy hanging out together.
That said, she recently let me know about a few things I do that drive her a little crazy. So I figured I’d share them here and let you all weigh in.
First, she hates how many apps I have on my phone. The current count? 226. Now, she’s not wrong and I only use about 30 to 40 of them regularly. But I’ve got the storage, and I like knowing that if I ever need one of those apps, it’s already there. Her argument is if I don’t use them, why keep them. Fair point.
Second, she cannot stand that I never delete emails. I have over 80,000 emails in my Yahoo inbox, going back years. Again, I’ve got the space, and every once in a while, I actually do go back and search for something. But I will admit, I probably could delete a few.
And finally, she doesn’t get why I use Google Maps over Waze. She swears Google Maps takes us on weird routes, and she prefers the Waze layout. This one I actually feel the strongest about. I’ve tried Waze. I just don’t like it. I don’t like the visuals, the layout, the directions, or the whole vibe. And I’m not convinced it’s any more accurate than Google Maps.
So what do you think, Sandman Nation?
Too many apps?
Is my email hoarding ridiculous?
And is Waze really that much better than Google Maps?
Let me know. I may or may not be taking notes for my next father-daughter debate.
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 liked this one, here are some other recent Six Packs to check out:
Follow us for more!
📸 Instagram: @EnterSandmanSports
📘 Facebook: @EnterSandmanSports
🐦 X (Twitter): @EnterSandmanSports
📺 YouTube: @EnterSandmanSports
🎵 TikTok: @EnterSandmanSports
📨 Join our newsletter for weekly updates and picks!
