DAILY DIRT: Some legendary athletes have had legendary appetites

February 12, 2025 | By Steve Eighinger, MRN Minister of Culture and Doctor of Love

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Babe Ruth liked steak, eggs, hot dogs and beer. Who doesn't, right?

Daily Dirt for Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025

I’m not sure what is most interesting today, the J.J. Watt food choices, the Crayola crayon news or that Paris Hilton is turning 44 … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,200 of The Daily Dirt.

1. Some of the best-known athletes have had some of the most unusual eating habits.

Here are some medal-worthy scarfing habits of familiar sports names:

Gold medal: Former NFL defensive lineman, a five-time all-pro pick, J.J. Watt has maintained the diet he subscribed to during his playing career that ended three years ago, meaning he still eats 24 eggs, 50 strips of bacon and 20 chicken breasts during an average day. He has also been known to eat an entire turkey — for breakfast.

Silver medal: For breakfast each day, former Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps would eat three fried-egg sandwiches, a five-egg omelet, a bowl of grits, three slices of French toast, three chocolate-chip pancakes and washed it all down with two cups of coffee. He basically did nothing but eat and swim while in training.

Bronze medal: Former MLB great, the late Babe Ruth, regularly ate a porterhouse steak and six eggs for breakfast, topping it all off with a quart of whiskey. The Babe was also obsessed with hot dogs.

Honorable mention: Former Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt ate 100 chicken nuggets every day at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. And he won three gold medals.

2. Did you know (Part 275)

That the Righteous Brothers’ hit song “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” has been covered by various artists more than 7,000 times.
That Russia holds the title for the country with the most neighboring nations, sharing borders with 14 other countries.
That Crayola, for the first time in its 122-year history, is bringing back eight retired colors of crayons. A new limited edition eight-pack of crayons will feature such colors as dandelion, orange red, blizzard blue, magic mint, violet blue, lemon yellow, raw umber and mulberry.
That Post Cereal has announced Oreo O’s are being discontinued.
That this week McDonald’s began offering its newest entrée, the Angel Reese quarter pounder with cheese, bacon, onions, pickles and a “new smoky bold barbecue sauce,” accompanied by an order of fries and drink of choice.