Daily Dirt: The Cardinals, mini-skirts and ‘To Sir, With Love’ — another great  year for baby boomers

I think most of you will agree with my comment about Tom Brady … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 287 of The Daily Dirt.

1. Today provides another musical salute to one of those great baby boomer years that saw the Cardinals win the World Series, mini-skirts make a monstrous fashion statement and bell bottom pants begin to get a foothold on the fashion world.

Yes, welcome to 1967. These were the top 10 tunes, according to Billboard magazine:

• 1. “To Sir, With Love,” by Lulu: Lulu also appeared in the movie of the same name, which starred Sidney Poitier. The song was No. 1 for five weeks in the fall of ’67.
• 2. “The Letter,” by the Box Tops: This was the first hit for the Box Tops, another of those underrated groups from the mid-to-late 1960s.
• 3. “Ode to Billie Joe,” by Bobbie Gentry: There has never been a more boring song in the history of pop music.
• 4. “Windy,” by the Association: I preferred the Association’s slower material.
• 5. “I’m A Believer,” by the Monkees: This should have been No. 1. And the Monkees should also be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
• 6. “Light My Fire,” by the Doors: A great, great song, but my favorite Doors offering will always be “Love Her Madly”.
• 7. “Something Stupid,” by Frank and Nancy Sinatra: The only song I would rather listen to less is No. 3.
• 8. “Happy Together,” by the Turtles: These guys were great to watch on TV, and this was their biggest hit.
• 9. “Groovin’,” by the Young Rascals: Eventually, they would evolve into simple The Rascals.
• 10. “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You,” by Franki Valli: To this day, I consider this a rather odd “pop” song. It’s “adult contemporary” all the way.

Song that should have been in the final top 10: No. 11 “Little Bit O’ Soul,” by the Music Explosion.

2. This week’s Great Plate report features more responses from our legion of readers. Keep it up, folks! I appreciate your help in tracking down the best license plates in West-Central Illinois and Northwest Missouri.

2022 Medal-Winners To DateGold medal: LUV YADI. It’s the 12th straight week atop the rankings.

Silver Medal: GOL D LOX.

Bronze medal: TAXED.

This Week’s Top 5

• 1. NGL QY 1: I think it means “Not Gonna Lie Quincy is No. 1”. (I’m referring this selection to our control panel to see if it is medal worthy? Check back next week.)
• 2. TRUBLN 2: Good name for a band.
• 3. SHURLY: Surely, you jest.
• 4. GNKAMPN 2: I’m told this translates to “Gone Campin'”
• 5. GO RACE 2: This contributor must know I’m a race fan.

3. In case you need a loan, here are the 10 highest-paid professional athletes this year (Figures include both salaries and off-field money):

• 1. Lionel Messi, soccer, $130 million: He kicks a ball.
• 2. LeBron James, NBA, $121.2 million. He shoots, he whines.
• 3. Cristiano Ronaldo, soccer, $115 million: He kicks a ball, too.
• 4. Neymar, soccer, $95 million: You just have to love those Brazilian soccer stars with one name.
• 5. Steph Curry, NBA, $92 million: His commercials are getting better and better. The kid has a future.
• 6. Kevin Durant, NBA, $92.1 million: Pardon me if I never take the Brooklyn Nets serious again.
• 7. Roger Federer, tennis, $90.7 million: Who said you couldn’t get rich playing tennis?
• 8. Canelo Alvarez, boxing, $90 million: Remember when boxing was important?
• 9. Tom Brady, NFL, $83.9 million: Why do I think Tom is making a mistake by playing one more year? He’s got more money than he’ll ever need, has won something like 73 Super Bowls and has a great family. Why risk some nasty injury as he approaches middle age?
• 10. Giannis Antetokounmpo, NBA, $80.9 million: He’s tall.

Salaries are from Forbes magazine.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — The more Steve thinks about that NGL QY 1 license plate, the more he likes it.