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. Not a Classic, But Still the Super Bowl
Congratulations to the Seattle Seahawks and all of my friends who live out in the Pacific Northwest, namely my two business partners with Sandman Sports, Bill Sanders and Craig Phalen. My Bengals have yet to win one, so I can’t say I know how it feels, but I’m sure it has to be pretty fricking awesome.
The Seahawks won their second Lombardi Trophy and exorcised some serious football demons by beating the Patriots, the same team they lost to back in Super Bowl XLIX when Pete Carroll inexplicably decided to have Russell Wilson throw from the one-yard line instead of handing the ball to Beast Mode Marshawn Lynch. That decision didn’t end well, as Patriots safety Malcolm Butler intercepted the pass and sealed the win for New England.
So I found it pretty ironic that the MVP of this game was Seattle running back Kenneth Walker, who carried the ball 27 times for 135 yards. He became only the fifth offensive player in Super Bowl history to win MVP without accounting for a touchdown, joining Joe Namath, Fred Biletnikoff, Deion Branch, and Julian Edelman.
The game itself was fairly boring for most of it, but frankly that was probably predictable. These were two of the best defenses in the league, and while Drake Maye had a nice regular season, he struggled during the postseason and I just didn’t think we’d see much offense here.
But it was still the Super Bowl, so there were plenty of other reasons to stay engaged, whether it was the betting angle, the commercials, the halftime show, or simply the fact that this is the last meaningful football game we’ll see for more than 200 days.
So while this one won’t rank among the all-time classics, there’s still nothing quite like the buildup and spectacle of Super Bowl Sunday every year. I enjoyed watching it even without the late-game drama. And maybe that old saying is true after all: Defenses really do win championships.
Congrats again and enjoy this one Seattle!
2. Broadway in Dayton
Last week I wrote about my mom’s 90th birthday party in Cleveland. While she’s still doing exceptionally well for her age, she does need some help getting around. My sister lives about a mile away and usually helps, but she needed a week off, so I volunteered to stay with June for a few days.
What a fun, memorable week, even if it involved a lot of shopping. Yes, she loves walking through and browsing in stores, especially when things are on sale, so that meant several trips to Costco, Walmart, Meijer, and Aldi. But at least it was something to do.
Like most parents, she’s very difficult to buy presents for, but I do know she loves Broadway shows. So for Christmas, I bought two tickets for her and me to see Les Misérables in Dayton.
So on Wednesday, I brought her back to our house in Cincinnati for a few days, and we headed to the Schuster Center for the show.
I’ve seen plenty of these types of shows over the years and have loved them all (ok, maybe not so much Stomp and Rent, but close enough). But I had never seen Les Misérables. It doesn’t rank among my all-time favorites, but it was still very enjoyable. Incredible singing and acting, an interesting story, and fantastic music.
What stood out to me most though were the two main children in the production. They were probably nine or ten years old, one boy and one girl, and seeing them perform that confidently in front of such a big crowd was quite impressive.
Two final thoughts.
First, I’m not expecting someone to wear a tux or even a suit and tie, but for the love of God, please dress nicely when you go to a show like this. I saw a younger guy in sweatpants and a T-shirt. Really?
Secondly, I always try to get decent seats and ours were good, right in the middle of the orchestra section. But as I looked around, I realized that one of these days I think I’d like to sit in the loge seats. Sitting up there in your own private section just looks cool.
So Sandman Nation, if you’ve ever had loge seats at a show like this, let me know how they are and whether they’re actually worth it.
3. Cheers to the 16th
Like most golf fans, I love the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Outside of the majors, it’s probably my favorite event of the year, although I always look forward to The Memorial too, since it’s close and I attend every few years.
The event has been around since 1932 and has been played at TPC Scottsdale since 1987, which is when things really started to change. It’s now consistently the best-attended tournament in golf, drawing crowds that often approach or exceed half a million people during the week. In 2016 it set a single-day attendance record of more than 200,000. And yes, it’s known for its party atmosphere. Last year alone, more than one million 12-ounce beers were sold during tournament week, which tells you everything you need to know about the vibe.
Of course, most people talk about this event because of the par-3 16th hole, now fully enclosed by stadium seating and roughly 294 skyboxes. Today it holds around 17,000 to 20,000 fans, but it didn’t always look like that. When the tournament first moved to TPC Scottsdale, the hole had only a handful of skyboxes and a natural hillside that created more of an amphitheater feel.
The turning point was Tiger Woods’ hole-in-one in 1997. The crowd was already loud, but when the ball dropped, the roar was reportedly heard miles away and helped push the 16th hole into mainstream sports culture.
What I like is that it’s the opposite of the traditional golf environment, but only for one hole. I don’t want every event turning into Happy Gilmore, but having one spot where fans are cheering and booing like they are in a football stadium is a fun change of pace.
I’m attending Augusta for the first time this April, which is a true bucket-list experience. But if I’m ranking my next tournament trip after that, the WM Phoenix Open might be at the top. It may not carry the same historical weight as the majors, but from a fan perspective, watching the 16th hole in person looks pretty darn fun.
2027, here I come?
4. Another Classic on Tobacco Road
Most readers know I’m a huge Michigan fan, and I’ll always claim that Michigan-Ohio State is the best rivalry in all of sports. But if we’re talking strictly about college basketball, it isn’t even close. The 266th meeting between Duke and North Carolina took place Saturday night, and of course it was another classic. With the game tied late, Seth Trimble knocked down a three to give the Tar Heels a 71–68 win.
So in honor of the greatest rivalry in college hoops, here is some history.
The two programs first met in 1920, and they’ve played at least twice every season since, with North Carolina currently holding a 146-120 all-time edge.
Both teams are in the top five in terms of most national titles, combining for eleven in total. UNC has six (1957, 1982, 1993, 2005, 2009, and 2017), while Duke has five (1991, 1992, 2001, 2010, and 2015). Additionally, UNC has appeared in a record 21 Final Fours, and Duke isn’t far behind with 16.
And then there is the conference domination. Since the ACC was founded in 1953, Duke and UNC have combined to win or share 49 regular-season titles and 38 conference tournament championships. Said another way, nearly four out of every five ACC regular-season titles have gone through one of these two programs.
The incredible moments and great games are too many to list here, but I do love that just four years ago, in the 2022 Final Four, the rivals met in the NCAA Tournament for the first time and UNC fittingly ended Mike Krzyzewski’s career by beating Duke and advancing to the finals.
Speaking of coaches, we can’t talk about this rivalry without mentioning two of the best ever in Dean Smith and Krzyzewski. Smith retired as the winningest coach in Division I history at the time, only to have Krzyzewski eventually surpass him, finishing his career with over 1,200 wins, five national titles, and a 50-48 record against UNC. Few rivalries can say two of the greatest coaches in the sport went head-to-head for decades.
So kudos to both programs for bringing us a little slice of hoops heaven twice every season. I’m not sure either will finish the season by cutting down the nets, but college basketball fans like me are certainly grateful for this rivalry. Even if Michigan-Ohio State is still a little better.
5. Cozy Nights & Homemade Blankets
I smiled yesterday during the Super Bowl, and it had nothing to do with the game. I looked around and saw all three of my kids tucked under their homemade blankets, all sports themed. Mac is a big Xavier basketball fan, Brady loves the NBA in general, and Coop loves the NFL.
The reason it made me smile is that I made those blankets for them several years ago. At the time, I was tired of giving Christmas presents that seemed to go to waste or were just a gift for the sake of opening something. I wanted to give at least one present that meant a little more.
My brothers are both talented DIY guys who can fix or build just about anything. That is most definitely not me. So deciding to make something, anything, was going to be an adventure. But honestly, it wasn’t all that bad.
I started by going to Joann Fabrics (I hope those stores are still around!), picked out the specific fabric I wanted, had it measured and cut, and brought it home. Then it was more measuring, some basic stitching and sewing, and I even added a foot pocket for each one, which I’ve since been told was a very smart decision. Yes, they took some time to make but it wasn’t overly difficult and ended up actually being fun.
That was six years ago, and they still use those blankets almost every day.
So yes, the game was great, the food and beer were even better, but the best moment of the night for me might have been realizing I made something my kids still use and genuinely enjoy.
Safe to say, I finally got a Christmas present right.
6. Small Cities Worth The Trip
A friend of mine was just in Madison, Indiana, a small city not far from Cincinnati, and he couldn’t stop raving about it. I haven’t been there in probably twenty years, but I remember it as a great little hidden gem.
Madison sits along the Ohio River about 45 miles southwest of Cincinnati and is known for its historic downtown, which is one of the largest contiguous National Historic Landmark districts in the country. It’s a very walkable town with shops, restaurants, river views, and nearby outdoor options like Clifty Falls State Park. It’s also known for its hydroplane racing, which was featured in the 2001 movie Madison.
Hearing about it again got me thinking about how much I enjoy visiting small cities in general. They all have their own personality, and it’s nice to spend time somewhere that feels a little slower and less hectic than a major metro area. With that in mind, here are a few of my favorite small cities in America. And as always, Sandman Nation, I’d love to hear any good ones I’m missing.
Solvang, California
Solvang sits about 120 miles north of Los Angeles in California’s Santa Ynez Valley. Founded in 1911 by Danish immigrants, it’s known for its Danish-style architecture, windmills, bakeries, and museums dedicated to Danish history and Hans Christian Andersen. It’s also surrounded by wineries, so bonus points for that.
Frankenmuth, Michigan
Frankenmuth is located in eastern Michigan, about 90 miles north of Detroit. Founded in 1845 by German immigrants, it’s known for its strong Bavarian theme, with German-style architecture, traditional shops, and festivals like Oktoberfest. It’s also well known for its year-round Christmas focus, especially Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland and the Bavarian Inn. It’s definitely touristy, but intentionally so, and very family-friendly.
New Braunfels, Texas
Another town with German roots, New Braunfels was founded in 1845 and sits in central Texas, about 30 miles northeast of San Antonio and 45 miles southwest of Austin. It’s known for the Comal and Guadalupe Rivers, which are popular for tubing and summer recreation, and it hosts Wurstfest each year, one of the largest German festivals in the country. It’s also home to Schlitterbahn, one of the most popular water parks in the country, and you know I love me some water parks.
Bar Harbor, Maine
Bar Harbor is located on Mount Desert Island along the coast of Maine, about 50 miles southeast of Bangor. It serves as the main gateway to Acadia National Park, making it a popular destination for hiking, biking, and coastal views. The town itself has a quaint and fun downtown with shops, restaurants, and easy harbor access. This is definitely a seasonal destination, and it gets packed in the summer and early fall.
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs is in central Arkansas, about 55 miles southwest of Little Rock. It’s built around Hot Springs National Park, which protects the natural thermal springs that gave the town its name. The area became a resort destination in the late 1800s, with historic bathhouses still lining Bathhouse Row (and yes, I’ve gotten a massage there, which was one of the best I’ve ever had). There are also lakes, hiking trails, and some very nice golf courses nearby.
Again, I’d love your help on this one Sandman Nation. What are your favorite small cities in America? Asheville is already on my list and I can’t believe I’ve never been there, but I know there are many others I’m also missing. Please send me some ideas as I’m always looking for the next place to visit.
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. And don't forget to subscribe to The Sandman Ticket, our free, weekly newsletter with picks, insights, and a little bit of everything we love about sports.
