DAILY DIRT: Just be grateful to be part of Taylor Swift’s world

How big has she become? Gannett has a reporter dedicated solely to anything and everything that is Taylor Swift … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 813 of The Daily Dirt.

1. Taylor Swift turned 34 a few days ago.

At this time of the year when I was 34, I was most concerned with being able to pay the mortgage and wondering if the Cleveland Indians could bounce back from a 100-loss season.

Let’s look back at Swift’s year, a 12-month period that was highlighted by her being named Time magazine’s Person of the Year and her “Eras Tour” becoming the first such event of its kind to gross $1 billion.

Oh, and speaking of a billion dollars, Swift officially became just that — a billionaire.

And then there is Travis Kelce, the Kansa City Chiefs tight end who is her newest boyfriend, making the couple the most popular such twosome in the world.

But all of that was only served as the collective crown jewel of 2023 for the talented Ms. Swift. Consider:

• She won a 12th Grammy Award.
• The record-tying 12 MTV Video Music Awards she earned upped her career total to 23.
• The 10 Billboard honors she collected gives her 39, the most ever.
• Swift won the iHeartRadio’s Innovator Award, plus five others, pushing her total to a most-ever 19.
• That Time Person of the Year put her in the same conversation with presidents, innovators and activists.

In addition, check out these points:

• Gannett hired a reporter just to cover the singer, and anything that is connected to her.
• The number of universities teaching courses about Swift has grown to include such famous institutions as Harvard, Stanford and Texas.

It truly is Taylor Swift’s world. We should all be grateful simply to stroll through it.

2. The first team MLB rankings Since Shohei Ohtani signed that $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers have been released by CBS Sports.

Are you thinking the Dodgers are No. 1 and the runaway pick to win the 2024 World Series?

Not so fast, my friends.

For starters, remember that Los Angeles has a long way to go in (re)building its pitching staff. That said, here’s how CBS Sports has the leaders ranked:

• 1. Atlanta: The Braves are coming off a 104-win season, but exited the 2023 postseason rather prematurely. Don’t look for that happening two years in a row.
• 2. Houston: If the Astros improve on that extremely uncharacteristic 39-42 home record, watch out.
• 3. Los Angeles Dodgers: Actually, I think this ranking is kind, considering all the holes the Dodgers have in that staff. But hey, it’s a long way between now and spring training, and we all know money is no object for the boys in blue.
• 4. New York Yankees: Granted, the Yankees went out and got Juan Soto, but there is still work to be done with what was a pitiful offense and lack of true depth behind ace Gerrit Cole.
• 5. Philadelphia: Having Bryce Harper for a full season will certainly help.
• 6. Baltimore: Here they come … for the next decade. The Orioles are back, bay-bee.
• 7. Tampa Bay: The Rays will trade ace Tyler Glasnow — and still win.
• 8. Texas: Money seems to be no object for the Rangers either.
• 9. Toronto: The Jays missed out on Shohei, but can they land Cody Bellinger?
• 10. Arizona: That Eduardo Rodriguez signing could be huge. He’ll fit nicely behind Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly.

Other teams of interest

• 15. Chicago Cubs
• 18. St. Louis
• 26. Kansas City
• 28. Chicago White Sox

3. You can’t make this up.

One of the all-time best Japanese volleyball players is named Yoshie Takeshita.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — Am I the only person in the free world who can’t name a Taylor Swift song?

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. C’mon, Steve. Just shake it off.