DAILY DIRT: SUIT N TY, KING OF Q crash Great Plate Debate party, but can’t unseat BE A BETH

Has the Great Plate Debate reached “phenomenon” status yet? … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 686 of The Daily Dirt.

1. Unofficially, the past week has been the most entertaining since we started the Great Plate Debate for West-Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri. 

Not only did I receive the most ever texts and e-mails with nominations (and as always, I doubly appreciate it when they include pics of the plates), but in the almost-two years this crazy thing has been in existence, the past few days have included the highest quality of entrants.

We have both new silver and bronze medalists. Thank you to those who sent them in. Here’s a look at the updated medal stand:

Gold medal: BE A BETH. 

Silver medal: SUIT N TY. 

Bronze medal: KING OF Q.

(Gone but not forgotten: U LIED, STINK. It really hurts to see those two exit.)

Other top entrants in recent days:

• OH MAN 99
• MDOGG 1
• 1 DVINE
• MONKY 11
• LOL FUN 8
• EATER 6
• KUTIP 18
• EWW 2
• RED FIR 2
• LUV PINK

Thanks again, and keep those entries coming!

2. Here are my leading candidates candidates for the most overpaid MLB players:

Gold medal: Anthony Rendon, Angels third baseman: He rarely plays because of assorted injuries, but will make $38.5 million a season through 2026.

Miguel Cabrera, Tigers: Miggy is staggering to the end of what will be a Hall of Fame career, but his last few seasons have been woefully weak. For $32 million, I expect more than a .172 average with no power. His last real productive year was 2017.

Gioncarlo Stanton, Yankees: He’s hitting .197 with 15 home runs and makes $32 million. That just doesn’t play in Gotham City. And the Yankees are stuck with him through 2027. (And, yes, I’m aware he hit a three-run homer Wednesday night.)

3. Fun Fact

There are 2 billion popsicles purchased worldwide each year. Here are the most popular flavors, ranked by mandatory.com:

• 1. Root beer
• 2. Banana
• 3. Blue raspberry
• 4. Cherry
• 5. Grape

Honorable mention: Orange.

These were the seven original flavors more than 100 years ago:

• Banana
• Cherry
• Grape
• Lemon
• Orange
• Root beer
• Lemon

Steve Thought O’ The Day — My personal preferences for popsicles would be: 1. Banana, 2. Blue raspberry, 3. Anything but root beer.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. The root beer float popsicles with the ice cream inside are the best.