Daily Dirt: ‘The best is yet to come’ might be best way to approach 2022

January 1, 2022 | By Steve Eighinger, Muddy River News Minister of Culture and Doctor of Love

A young Frank Sinatra (left) does an interview for one of the many programs produced by the Armed Forces Radio Service for broadcast to the troops overseas during World War II with Alida Valli, an Italian actress. | Wikimedia Commons

Daily Dirt for Jan. 1, 2022

Happy New Year’s, loyal and faithful readers. Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 175 of the Daily Dirt.

1. New Year’s Day is always a time when life seems to start anew. Here are some sentiments that underline that thinking:

Ellen Goodman, American journalist: “We spend Jan. 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched.” (Well, not all of us.)
D.S. Mixell, author: “Many years ago, I made a New Year’s resolution to never make New Year’s resolutions. Hell, it’s been the only resolution I’ve ever kept.” (I know the feeling, D.S.)
Carl Sandburg, American writer: “Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.” (All kidding aside, I really like this thought.)
Steve Harvey, entertainer: “You are never too old to reinvent yourself.” (I may argue that point.)
Frank Sinatra, entertainer: “The best is yet to come.” (If so, I hope it arrives relatively soon.)

2. Some famous New Year’s Day birthdays:

J. Edgar Hoover: The man who served as the first director of the FBI. He was 77 when he died in 1972.
Don Novello: He was Father Guido Sarducci on the old “Saturday Night Live” sketches, back when the show was actually funny. Novello is 79 today.
Verne Troyer: Remember “Mini-Me” in those hilarious Austin Powers films? He was portrayed by Troyer, who died in 2018 at age 49.
Paul Revere: This is the Revolutionary War guy, not the front man for the 1960s rock group that gave us songs like “Kicks,” “Good Thing,” “Just Like Me” and “Hungry.”
Ellen Nordregen: Tiger Woods fans will recognize this name. She’s his ex-wife, and also a former model. She is 42 today.

3. My three favorite uniforms outside the traditional (MLB, NFL, NBA) world of sports:

Gold medal: The NYCFC’s powder blue jerseys are a thing of beauty. NYCFC (New York City Football Club) won the recent MLS Cup when it defeated the Portland Timbers.
Silver medal: The Montreal Canadiens’ red jerseys and blue pants. Les Canadiens!
Bronze medal: WNBA Charlotte Sting’s teal unis are sharp.

Steve Fact O’ The Day
Steve’s first favorite football player was Gale Sayers.