DAILY DIRT: Steve has at least one thing in common with Jim Morrison, Kim Basinger and Nicki Minaj

Next to Christmas, I think Memorial Day weekend is my favorite holiday period of the year. Along with honoring those who fought and died for our country, it serves as the gateway to summer, and summer, I think we would agree is a wonderful, wonderful thing … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 296 of The Daily Dirt.

1. One of my old buddies, who is a writer back in Ohio, recently posted a column about who he shared his birth date with — a list that was rather impressive:

Keith Richards, Brad Pitt, Steven Spielberg and Ray Liotta headed were some of the biggest names.My friend’s effort inspired me to see who shares my Dec. 8 birthday.

Here are my 10 favorites, in no particular order:

• Jim Morrison: Yep, THAT Jim Morrison. The former lead singer of the Doors has been gone since 1971, yet the group’s music remains as popular today as it did more than 50 years ago.
• Flip Wilson: One of the top 10 all-time comedians.
• Phillip Rivers: Not too shabby of a career as an NFL quarterback.
• Ryan Newman: Now retired, Newman enjoyed a solid — although not spectacular — career in NASCAR.
• Greg Allman: He and brother Duane founded the Allman Brothers Band. He was also married — for a shot while — to Cher.
• Kim Basinger: The actress was always one of my favorites — and then came the plastic surgery.
• Sam Kinison: The late comedian was rather loud and crude, but he brought me to tears — many times — in laughter.
• Josh Donaldson: One of the best MLB third basemen over the past decade.
• Sammy Davis Jr.: The singer/comedian may be best remembered not as part of Frank Sinatra’s Rat Pack, but for his guest appearance on “All in the Family” when he planted that kiss on Archie Bunker.
• Nicki Minaj: Remember when she was a judge on “American Idol”? Yeah, that was a rough stretch for the show.

2. Speaking of Ray Liotta…

I always enjoyed his films, especially “Field of Dreams,” in which he portrayed Shoeless Joe Jackson. In remembrance of Liotta, who died in his sleep a few days ago at age 67, here are my three favorite films he had starring or key roles:

Gold medal: “Field of Dreams” (1989): “If you build it, he will come.”

Silver medal: “Goodfellas” (1990): Famed director praised Liotta’s work in this film: “Playing Henry Hill in Goodfellas was a tall order, because the character had so many different facets, so many complicated layers, and Ray was in almost every scene of a long, tough shoot. He absolutely amazed me, and I’ll always be proud of the work we did together on that picture.”

Bronze medal: “Rat Pack” (1998): A great cast, headed by Liotta as Frank Sinatra, Joe Mantegna as Dean Martin and Don Cheadle as Sammy Davis Jr.

3. In my mind, first of June officially christens the start summer.

The first of June is in just a few days. Here are some summer-related thoughts to get you ready:

“Some of the best memories are made in flip-flops.” — Kellie Elmore, American writer.

“I wonder what it would be like to live in a world where it was always June.” — L.M. Montgomery, Canadian novelist.

“Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August.” — Jenny Han, American author.

“June is the gateway to summer.” – Jean Hersey, American writer and journalist.

“Even the illusion of June is enough to send a stabbing pain through my chest.” – Marie Lu, Chinese-American young adult author.

“No glass by the pool. That’s why beer comes in cans and you can bring your vodka/lemonade in a red Solo cup.” — J. Robert Gough, bon vivant.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — Steve’s favorite foods to grill, in order, are hot dogs, burgers and pork chops.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. He grills breakfast at 1 p.m.