DAILY DIRT: Barkley nails it: ‘It ain’t that bad, it ain’t that bad at all’

Warning: The Wade Boggs note in today’s second thought is either mildly alarming or mildly disgusting. You decide … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 923 of The Daily Dirt.

1. I think we all may need to pay closer attention to the words of Charles Barkley.

Barkley is often made fun of during his role as an NBA analyst for various media outlets, and … well, sometimes it is deserved. But every so often Big Chuck drops some real words of wisdom.

Such as these:

“There are only five real jobs in the world — teacher, fireman, policeman, doctor and someone who is in the armed services,” he said. “Everyone else should just shut the hell up and enjoy life.”

And there’s more …

“Don’t take yourself so seriously,” Barkley said. “You know, people talk about all of these jocks, and I said, ‘Jocks don’t have bad days. You’re making $25 million a year, and you might be in last place, but  … it ain’t that bad. It ain’t that bad at all.”

The man has a point.

2. I came across the following three notes about pro athletes I felt were medal worthy, in terms of their overall significance:

Gold medal: Did you notice last weekend that 72,610 fans were on hand at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City? They were there to see men’s soccer legend Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami team defeat Sporting Kansas City 3-2. The attendance was the largest for Sporting Kansas City in its 28-year history and also a record for any soccer match in the state of Missouri. It was the fourth-highest attendance for a single match in MLS history. SKC normally plays its home matches at the 18,500-capacity Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas.

Silver medal: Draymond Green, the aging and often temperamental star of the Golden State Warriors, recently recorded the first double-double of rebounds and assists without attempting a field goal or free throw — in NBA history. Green finished the game with 12 rebounds, 11 assists and zero points in a 114-109 win over New Orleans. “I don’t care if Draymond shoots or doesn’t shoot,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters. “He does everything else.” That point is hard to argue.

Bronze medal: Wade Boggs, whose off-the-field “character” while in MLB was sketchy — at best — further cemented that reputation with a recent admission. Boggs said he once downed 107 beers “in 1988 or 1989” during a cross-country flight from Boston to Los Angeles, followed by a trip to an L.A. watering hole. About the time the plane was over Nebraska, Boggs said a teammate asked if he realized he had already consumed 51 beers (while playing cards). To which Boggs said, “Really? Well, let’s see how many we can get.” The final (on-plane) tally was 73, and once off the plane he had another 36 at the players’ bar of choice.

3. This week’s celebrity birthdays include

• Veteran late-night talk-show host Conan O’Brien turns 61 today. Give him credit. For not being funny (at all), the man has been employed for decades.
• Former IndyCar racer Al Unser Jr. reaches 62 Friday. Remember when he was the special guest of the Grand Prix of Karting in Quincy in 2021?
• Actor Shemar Moore will be 54 on Saturday. He rose to stardom on “Criminal Minds” and then earned superstar status for his role of Hondo Harrelson on “S.W.A.T.,” which is completing its seventh season on CBS. The program was recently renewed for season No. 8.
• Former MLB standout first baseman Don Mattingly turns 63 on Sunday. Donnie Ballgame had one sweet swing.
• If William Shakespeare were alive today, the playwright would be 460 years old on Tuesday. Jus’ sayin’.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — You know, before Santa Claus once forgot to give Chuck Norris a gift, he was real.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Sir Charles and Shakespeare in same column. Only in Daily Dirt.