Daily Dirt: Pepsi about to fire latest shot in cola wars with new ‘Nitro’ 

We enter some new territory today by offering advice of women’s classic hairdos … Welcome to today’s three thoughts and Vol. 222 of The Daily Dirt.

1. And the cola wars continue.

Earlier this month, Coca-Cola announced the coming of Starlight, which by the time you are reading this may be available in local supermarkets. Coca-Cola officials would not disclose exactly what Starlight would taste like. Initial reports indicated it would have a red hue. That’s about all we knew leading up to its release.

And now? Earlier this week, arch rival Pepsi-Cola announced the launching of “Nitro Pepsi,” described in media reports as the “first-ever nitrogen-infused cola to hit the market.

“Nitro will be reportedly be available nationwide beginning March 28 and is further described as “softer than a soft drink.” Pepsi officials refer to Nitro as “creamy and smooth, with a mesmerizing cascade of tiny bubbles topped off by a frothy foam head.”

Pepsi spokesmen say Nitro is not meant to be consumed like traditional sodas. “It’s best served cold, hand-poured into a tall glass (ideally, without ice) and sipped directly from the glass, rather than through a straw,” the Pepsi hierarchy said.

Nitro will initially come in two flavors: Draft Cola and Vanilla Draft Cola. Both will be for sale in single-serve and four-pack varieties. I’ll certainly give Nitro a try, but I prefer ice — and lots of it — with my cola drinks, foam or no foam.

2. If and when we ever get baseball season going, here’s a look at the all-time MLB strikeout leaders:

• 1. Reggie Jackson: 2,597 (retired after 1987 season).
• 2. Jim Thome: 2,548 (retired after 2012 season).
• 3. Adam Dunn: 2,379 (retired after 2014 season).
• 4. Sammy Sosa: 2,306 (retired after 2007 season).
• 5. Alex Rodriguez: 2,287 (retired after 2016 season).

Notice a trend there? Yep, four of the top five are all modern-era players. I mean the really modern era. Nos. 2-5 all retired in 2012 or later, which further illustrates the loss of contact hitters in today’s game, Today’s analytically driven MLB basically boils down to swing for the fences and hope for the best. Strategies like moving a baserunner along, sacrifice bunts and stolen bases have all but disappeared.

Incredibly, only three players among the top 40 in all-time whiffs retired before 1980:

• No. 35 Lou Brock (1979)
• No. 37 Mickey Mantle (1968)
• No. 38 Harmon Killebrew (1975)

3. My top 10 favorite celebrity hair-dos:

• 1. Jennifer Aniston: The “Rachel Cut,” popularized by her success on “Friends” was, is and will always be a classic look.
• 2. Demi Moore: Her short cut in “Ghost” remains haunting to this day.
• 3. Farrah Fawcett: Her feathered look from the ’70s inspired an entire generation.
• 4. Halle Berry: She’s one of the few actresses whose hair sizzles whether it is short or long, but the Pixie cut she has often showcased is arguably her best look.
• 5. Alicia Silverstone: Those blond locks in “Clueless” are in the iconic hall of fame.
• 6. Julia Roberts: She wowed audiences first in “Mystic Pizza” and then moved to superstardom in “Prettty Woman,” due in part to her much-talked about long, curly locks.
• 7. Ali MacGraw: She was America’s sweetheart in 1970, thanks to “Love Story” and that long, straight hair. McGraw’s ‘do was the most fashionable of the decade — until Farrah Fawcett came along.
• 8. Pam Grier: There were a lot of great-looking Afros in the ’70s, but Pam Grier’s was No. 1.
• 9. Cher: Just about any hair-do Cher has shown us through the years has been gold-medal worthy.
• 10. Uma Thurman: She earns a spot in the top 10 simply for those black bangs in “Pulp Fiction”.

Honorable mentions: U.S. skater Dorothy Hamill and her wedge cut in the 1976 Winter Olympics, plus Meg Ryan for the shag look she had early in her acting career.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — Though obviously qualified, Steve has never considered a career as a beautician.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River news. His cut was made famous during WWII.