2. On Debate, Consensus, and Facial Hair
And a photo of me slipped in. Always exciting when a famous author shows face.
PSA: Everything that is underlined is a link! Click through for a more fulfilling experience but also do whatever floats your boat.
THE ENTRÉE: Pineapple on pizza. Let’s debate!
Ah, the debate. The very crux of sports interest and conversation. Watch any sports TV show or spend a day in a sports group chat. Debate is what fuels us. I genuinely believe it has helped me form and defend arguments, an invaluable skill that many don’t have. Not all of us can be Cole Bond.
Interjection: Imagine if I just left the reference there. Only 4 people would know what that meant. My buddy Cole was a star debater in high school.
Back to where I was: I think I can safely say most sports obsessed fellas were not populating their high school debate teams. But we are formed by the flames of “Jordan vs LeBron”, the leathery claws of “can you win with Lamar Jackson?”, the sharpened iron of “is Cleveland a better sports town than Philly?”
Everyone has their own style of stating their case. Stephen A yells. Arlo and Sean create memes. I often opt for twitter links or “death by essay” that people get tired of reading. Or you could be like my friend Gavin and just say “no” when people state differing opinions. This is the worst. We tolerate Gavin because it is backed by passion and I care for him deeply. But please don’t adopt this style. I only have room for one Gavin and that spot has been taken since 2003.
So embrace debate. Welcome it. And don’t do it for the sake of winning. Because you almost certainly won’t convince someone of your side. Do it to learn, or to stir up your pal, or just to spice up your day and get the juices flowing (this is a Gavin classic).
Debate is everywhere in the sports world, it won’t be hard to find. Far harder is finding something everyone can agree on. But we got one of those last week…
THE SIDE: Everyone loves Mac & Cheese… and the Four Nations.
Raise your hand if you loved the Four Nations? Everyone’s hand should be up.
Interjection: I used to get so stressed in class when the teacher would ask a question and be like “everyone’s hand should be up, people” as if to say that this was a gimme. You have to raise for posterity at least. But what if you get called on and you don’t know? Oh my goodness. Nightmare.
Back to where I was: The Four Nations was the NHL’s replacement to their all-star game. In its first year it immediately became the most resoundingly successful league decision in recent memory. While the NBA All Star game was flailing embarrassingly, the NHL created an international tournament out of thin air that resulted in the most watched NHL game in 30+ years.
Canada beat the U.S. in an overtime final, 3-2. The favorites won but the intrigue was deep. And the formula was simple! Create something that THE PLAYERS will care about. Everyone loves high stakes international play. Nationalism is a powerful drug. Plus, these guys are hard nosed hockey players. Caring is second nature once you step on the ice. Added bonus of smashing someone against the boards in the name of your country? Enticing. If you need any further evidence just check out the first 9 seconds of the group stage game of US vs Canada.
Big win for Canada, big win for the NHL, big win for the fans. 10/10.
Even Trudeau got in on the action. Ah, the intersection of politics and sports - like the middle bite of a good cheeseburger. I’m licking my chops.
This got me thinking about recent changes/decisions from the other big leagues. Picked a few out below:
MLB instituting the Pitch Clock: One of these days we will cover more baseball but the long and short of it is that games were too long and too boring, especially in the 162 game regular season. Enter: the pitch clock. The point was to shorten games and induce action. Success! Purists are upset because baseball fans are the oldest of the old school so all change is met with disdain. Overall: it’s not without controversy but a good decision. PUAS Official Score: 7.5/10.
NFL: You get a couple quick ones here because the NFL really doesn’t have to change its product. Changes are always marginal because the NFL is king. If you have a problem with that, take it up with the ratings.
This is in a year with the election and olympics. In a typical year, NFL would own 90+ spots. Just check out 2023. Also, shoutout Caitlin Clark for getting Women’s College Hoops in there. More on her when the WNBA comes back.
Challengeable Pass Interference: Only lasted one year, didn’t solve the issue, slowed the game down. Bad bad bad. PUAS Official Score: 2/10.
Kickoff Return Revamp: More returns, more big plays, more strategy, and I would imagine fewer injuries. A win! This rule should remain but isn’t too significant. PUAS Official Score: 7/10.
NBA In Season Tournament: The NBA garners little to no attention in November and December. Its football season and the basketball games are mostly meaningless. Thus, the IST. A tournament that is integrated into the regular season that features special court designs, a trophy, and a cash reward for winning players. No, this isn’t yanking viewers from the NFL, but it gives the league more to talk about and it's better than not having it. PUAS Official Score: 5/10.
DESSERT: Apple Pie and The Yankees. All American Pair.
The Yanks are in the news but it's not for their play.
For those that didn’t know, the New York Yankees have not allowed hair beneath the collars or any facial hair other than mustaches since 1976. Until last week.
The rule was fairly archaic and it was probably time for a change, but remember those old school baseball fans I mentioned? Well this is right in their sweet spot. “The Yankees are an institution built on tradition!” “Derek Jeter never complained!” “Even Damon cut his hair!”
It’s all pretty funny. Funny that the rule even existed. Funny that a press release has to specify “well-groomed beards”. Funny old stories from George Steinbrenner.
If you are mad about it, direct your attention to new Yankees acquisition, Devin Williams. Because, as my friend Max so eloquently put it, “Devin Williams looked so ugly without a beard that the Yankees had to change a 50 year old policy”. He might be right.
Or you could do what I’m doing: honoring the fallen law by sporting a classic Yankee mustache of my own.
Pictured here writing this very installment of Pull Up A Seat. Photography by Jacqueline Kirk.
GRAB A MINT ON THE WAY OUT: Some things I liked this week
Twitter is full of misinformation. The sports king of this is NBA Centel. Many of us have been fooled by Centel before. A rite of passage, if you will.
This week, Centel was shut down. Droves of supporters came out. And not just other Twitter trolls. Real, genuine accounts! Well, it worked. Centel was restored. Good things happen when we all come together.
Timothée Chalamet wove sports greatness into his SAG acceptance speech. Timmy is on a heater right now with the sports crowd in particular. I’d like to think he’d enjoy this Substack. Good lad. Best of luck to him at the Oscars.
Also - notice how he said Jordan and not LeBron…I knew I liked this guy ;)
Debate me about it, suckers!! I bring it full circle. Dinner dismissed!
Long live Centel!!
That’s a great looking stache