DAILY DIRT: ‘The beginning of the holiday shopping season for men is Christmas Eve’

The next-to-last week of the year. Where did the time go, my friends? … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 481 of The Daily Dirt.

1. The stretch run is here.

The nerves are frazzling, the hours are dwindling and the store shelves are emptying.

It’s almost the end of the Christmas shopping season.

I think the following reflections probably sum up the coming week best:

Gold medal: “Halloween is the beginning of the holiday shopping season for women. The beginning of the holiday shopping season for men is Christmas Eve.” — comedian David Letterman.

Silver medal: “Shopping is a woman thing. It’s a contact sport like football. Women enjoy the scrimmage, the noisy crowds, the danger of being trampled to death, and the ecstasy of the purchase.” — writer Erma Bombeck.

Bronze medal: “Before it became a major shopping holiday, Christmas is believed to have had a ‘religious’ meaning.” — historian and author Andy Horowitz.

2. Here are some birthdays we’ll be celebrating between now and New Year’s. Hint: Dec. 30 will be a big day!

• TV personality Ryan Seacrest turns 48 on Christmas Eve. No matter whatever he does or accomplishes, Seacrest will always be tied to “American Idol” first and foremost.
• Comedian Ray Romano will turn 65 on Wednesday. Isn’t it about time for a return to sitcomland?
• Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax will be 87 on Dec. 30. What kind of salary would the legendary lefty have commanded in today’s market?
• Golfer Tiger Woods will celebrate birthday No. 47, also on Dec. 30. When all is said and done, will he be regarded as the best ever … or not?
• NBA legend LeBron James will blow out 38 candles on — you guessed it — Dec. 30. Does it seem like LeBron is close to 60, or is it just me?

3. Now that the World Cup is history, here are my closing thoughts on what actually provided a full month’s worth of quality TV entertainment:

1. The World Cup lived up to every bit of its hype, which for any kind of major event is hard to deliver.

2. The tournament’s two best uniforms — France and Argentina — reached the finals, which was pleasing from an aesthetic sense. I give France a very slight overall edge with its dark blue jerseys, gold numbers, white shorts and red socks. France’s all-blue look is quality, too. But those iconic blue Argentinian stripes are also the stuff of legends.

3. My favorite player from this World Cup was Kylian Mbappe of France, or simply “Mbappe,” who is the consensus No. 1 player in the world (with apologies to Argentina’s Lionel Messi). “(Mbappe is) firmly established as the most unstoppable attacking force in world football,” according to thescore.com.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — For the record, this is likely the last you will read about soccer in The Daily Dirt until 2026.

Steve Eighiner writes daily for Muddy River News. He sings “MMMBop” ever time he watches Mbappe.