DAILY DIRT: Olympics will not be lacking for viewers

For the record, it’s always a good day when I can mention the name of Debra Winger … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,017 of The Daily Dirt.

1. The Paris Olympics are now fully underway, and most of us will be spending quite a bit of time in front of our televisions over the next two weeks?

How much, you ask?

“The allure of the Olympics unites us all, and for those unable to travel, the living room will become a stadium filled with cheers, hopes and the thrill of competition,” according to the hostingadvice.com website. 

Thousands of sports fans were surveyed in all 50 states. Here are the top 10 states where the average person is expected to watch the most:

• 1. Hawaii, 98 hours, 40 minutes.
• 2. Utah, 48 hours, 0 minutes.
• 3. South Carolina, 45 hours, 20 minutes.
• 4. Virginia, 45 hours, 4 minutes.
• 5. New York, 44 hours, 32 minutes.
• 6. Nebraska, 42 hours, 40 minutes.
• 7. Louisiana, 42 hours, 24 minutes.
• 8. New Jersey, 39 hours, 44 minutes.
• 9-tie. Alabama, 39 hours, 28 minutes.
• 9-tie. Arizona, 39 hours, 28 minutes.

Others of note

• Missouri, 37 hours, 36 minutes.
• Illinois, 31 hours, 28 minutes.
• Iowa, 22 hours, 40 minutes.

“The results reveal an overwhelming eagerness to stay connected to the events, as the average Olympics fan plans to watch for a staggering 35 hours and 44 minutes (that’s 2 hours and 14 minutes per day),” the website said.

2. Did you know (Part 76)

• That women blink 1.9 times as much as men.
• That it takes seven seconds for food to pass from the mouth to the stomach. 
• That the first movie to show a toilet flushing was “Psycho”.
• That one of the people doing the sound effects for “E.T.” in the movie of the same name was actress Debra Winger.
• That the zombie screams in the movie “I Am Legend” were recorded by Mike Patton of the group Faith No More.

3. This week’s celebrity happy birthday list includes:

• Former MLB All-Star Alex Rodriguez is 49 today.
• Former “Saturday Night Live” star Maya Rudolph also celebrates today. She is 52.
• Actress Sally Struthers, who portrayed “Gloria” on “All in the Family,” turns 76 on Sunday.
• Country singer Martina McBride will be 58 on Monday.
• Actress Lisa Kudrow, who played “Phoebe” on “Friends, will be 61 on Tuesday.

Steve Thought O’ The Day – Speaking of movies (which we were in thought No. 2, in case you already forgot), one of the extras in the football-themed film “Friday Night Lights” was former NFL defensive back Ty Law.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Ratings may dip a bit after that opening ceremony display.