Daily Dirt: ‘They Died With Their Boots On’ should be required viewing for all

It’s hard to say what I dislike more — gravy, salad dressing or mayonnaise … welcome to Vol. 142 of the Daily Dirt and today’s three thoughts.

1. If I had my way on this Monday in November …

• McDonald’s would reopen to inside dining immediately. I am so tired of eating those big breakfasts in the car. I have gotten way too much strawberry jelly on way too many shirts.
• No basketball play-by-play man or analyst would be permitted to use the term “diaper dandy” once Dick Vitale retires.
• ESPN would broadcast a prime-time basketball doubleheader from a specific power conference each weeknight. For example, two games from the Big Ten on Mondays, a pair from the Atlantic Coast Conference in Tuesdays, etc.
• A national music holiday honoring the 1960s would be created by an act of Congress.
• “They Died With Their Boots On,” the 1941 Hollywood version of the story of Gen. George Armstrong Custer, would be required viewing for everyone at least once in their lives. Errol Flynn portrayed Custer in this marvelous film that has a tremendous ending. This year is the 70th anniversary of tis release and is well worth the effort to see it. Even the musical score is great.

2. Six food offerings I will — in all probability — never eat:

• Anything connected with sweet potatoes.
• Any form of salad dressing, which also kind of eliminates any of the traditional salads.
• Any form of gravy.
• Salmon. (Give this one a double ugh.)
• Mayonnaise.
• Reuben sandwiches.

3. My five favorite songs from the Box Tops, one of the most underrated groups of the late 1960s, anchored by lead singer Alex Chilton, who died at age 59 in 2010:

• “Cry Like A Baby” (1968): I almost wore a hole in this .45 RPM because I played it so much. Just ask my mom.
• “The Letter” (1967): One of the most covered songs in pop music history.
• “Soul Deep” (1969): Chilton showed off his vocal range in this release.
• “I Met Her In Church” (1968): Complete with a great piano background and hallelujah chorus.
• “Choo Choo Train” (1967): A gravelly voiced Chilton was spotlighted in this effort.

Steve Fact O’ The Day: Steve knows the words to all Box Tops songs. 

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. His palate is rather…rigid.