Bierman’s six-Pack: Issue #9
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. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐧
With March Madness, we get unforgettable moments of triumph – but also inevitable heartbreak. That’s the bittersweet reality of being a passionate sports fan. I recently felt that firsthand with my alma mater, the Miami University RedHawks. While my biggest loyalty lies with the Michigan Wolverines, I still root for my RedHawks, and for fans of smaller schools, these gut-wrenching losses sting even more because the opportunities are so rare.
On Saturday night, #2 seed Miami had an 18-point lead in the MAC Championship against #1 seed Akron, only to let it slip away in the final seconds, erasing their chance to punch a ticket to the Big Dance. That one hurt, but it still doesn’t compare to an all-time crusher from 2009.
Miami has never won a national championship in any sport, and in 2009, their hockey team made it to the NCAA Frozen Four title game. They were leading 3-1 with less than a minute left, seemingly on the verge of history. But in an impossible turn of events, Boston University scored two goals in the final seconds, forcing overtime – where they completed the comeback and stole the championship. That loss still hurts to think about.
So while I can’t wait for the madness of March and all the joy it brings, only one team will be cutting down the nets at the end. For everyone else, disappointment is inevitable. But I guess that’s what makes sports so compelling – the highest highs, the lowest lows, and the moments that stick with us forever.
𝟐. 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬
I love music and wrote about MTV in my article last week. I also love movies and bring them up a lot too. So that got me thinking about my favorite songs made specifically for movies – the ones that just make a scene better and without them, the film wouldn’t feel quite the same.
Two jump out for me. First, 𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙚𝙨𝙩 by Joe Esposito in The Karate Kid during the final tournament montage. It gets me pumped up every time and I find myself rooting even harder for Daniel-San. It’s just perfectly placed.
But my favorite? 𝙉𝙤 𝙀𝙖𝙨𝙮 𝙒𝙖𝙮 𝙊𝙪𝙩 by Robert Tepper in Rocky IV. After Rocky tells Adrian he is going to fight Drago, they argue, and he drives away. What follows is a glorious, peak ‘80s montage – Rocky reflecting on key moments from the first three movies, all while the song blares. And those lyrics?
“We’re not indestructible.
Baby, better get that straight.
I think it’s unbelievable
How you give into the hands of fate.”
I mean, c’mon, that is pure cinematic musical gold.
Best movie song of all time.
𝟑. 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧 𝐍𝐁𝐀 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩
Last week, I had the opportunity to meet former NBA player Channing Frye, who hosted a wine tasting at our club with members of his company, Chosen Family Wines. He started the company several years ago, and after experiencing it firsthand, I can say the wine itself was excellent. I highly recommend checking it out.
But what really stood out to me was how impressive Frye was as a speaker. He introduced each wine with ease, shared funny and insightful stories – blending basketball and wine effortlessly – and kept us all engaged throughout the event. He’s also a natural at socializing, expertly working his way around the room, making genuine connections, and holding great conversations with everyone he met.
The experience also made me go back and look at his career stats, and wow, what an impressive run he had. After starring at Arizona from 2001-2005, Frye was drafted 8th overall by the New York Knicks and went on to play 15 NBA seasons for six different teams. He won an NBA Championship in 2016 as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
It was a pleasure to meet him, and I always love seeing athletes find success beyond their playing days and thrive in new ventures. Kudos Mr. Frye – well done!
𝟒. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐆𝐨?
In our most recent podcast, I paid tribute to former Loyola Marymount basketball star Hank Gathers, who tragically passed away in 1990 just before the tournament. I also touched on the magical run of that LMU team, but one thing I didn’t dive into much was just how high-scoring they were in the late ’80s and early ’90s.
Coached by Paul Westhead, Loyola Marymount played at an unreal tempo, pushing the pace like no other team. They led the NCAA in points per game in 1988, 1989, and 1990, with a relentless run-and-gun, shoot-at-will philosophy and very little defense. So when I recently saw a graphic listing the top 10 highest-scoring games in NCAA Tournament history, it wasn’t shocking that LMU appeared in five of them.
But here’s what did surprise me – of the top 10 highest-scoring tournament games, only one has happened this century. That was number 10 on the list – West Virginia’s 111-105 win over Wake Forest back in 2005.
That got me thinking: why aren’t we seeing more high-scoring games in the tourney today? The shot clock has been shortened, teams rely more on the three-pointer, and pace has increased in modern basketball. Yet, four of the top 10 happened in the 1970s – before the three-point line even existed. It just doesn’t add up.
So what do you think, Sandman Nation? Will we see a game crack the top 10 in this year’s tournament? Why do you think high-scoring tournament games have become so rare? Chime in and let me know!
𝟓. 𝐃𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝
𝟐𝟒 is one of my all-time favorite shows, and Jack Bauer, played by the great Kiefer Sutherland, might just be the biggest badass to ever grace the small screen. The guy saved the world a million times, took out thousands of bad guys, and barked “Dammit, Chloe” more times than I can count. He was always the smartest guy in the room, always one step ahead, and no enemy could match his mix of wit, strategy, and sheer willpower.
But Mr. Bauer may have finally met his match.
My daughter and I recently started watching 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫, and I absolutely love it. Alan Ritchson is perfectly cast as the behemoth wanderer, rolling into town, solving cases, and helping those in need. He’s got the gruff, no-nonsense exterior, but underneath it all, a heart of gold. Like Bauer, he racks up an impressive body count, but also all in the name of saving countless lives along the way.
For my money, these are the two biggest badasses in TV history. But here’s the real question – if Bauer and Reacher had to go head-to-head, who’s walking away?
𝟔. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡!
My wife recently started making homemade bread, and I just have to say – holy crap! I have always loved bread, especially sourdough, and this is some of the best I’ve ever had. A couple of months ago, she took a class, got a starter, and after a few early misfires, she has absolutely perfected it. Now, we’ve got fresh sourdough every few days, and somehow, each loaf is even better than the last. Even though I probably should cut down on the carbs, I can’t help myself.
I’ve never been much of a baker myself – though I do like making cookies around Christmas – but this bread has been next-level. Just wanted to give my amazing wife a well-deserved shoutout for some damn delicious food. Thanks, baby!
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!
Wanna see other recent Bierman’s Six-Pack Articles?
1 Comment
Comments are closed.