DAILY DIRT: The mullet, big hair, side ponytails and leg warmers — what a glorious time

The biggest head scratcher among today’s musings is probably No. 3 … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 305 of The Daily Dirt.

1. The 1980s did not have a whole lot going for it — except fashion.

On the whole, the TV was rather ho-hum (ESPN was just getting started), it was a down decade for the James Bond films and there were three work stoppages in Major League Baseball. (PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Mark Twain High School and MIZZOU made up my 80’s. Graduated from the oldest and finest J-School in the world, met the woman who would become my wife and the Cardinals were in three World Series, winning it in 1982. The 80’s were great! JRG)

But … what a decade for fashion. Here’s one man’s opinion concerning the most memorable such statements of the 1980s:

Gold medal: The mullet for guys. “Business in the front, party in the back, baby. The 80s were the only time when mullets were cool. Maybe they weren’t ever cool, but the 80s were definitely a time of mullets,” says author Christian Roemer. (For the record, when I was younger — much, much younger — I always wanted a mullet. But, alas, it never came to be … )

Silver medal: Big hair for girls. Whether it was a big boof or big bangs, ’80s’ hair was the absolute best.

Bronze medal: Side ponytails for girls. For some reason, ponytails migrated to the side of heads much of the ’80s. This trend was a — no pun intended — a head scratcher, right up there with the mullet. There have been hints here and there the mullet may be making a comeback. I wonder of the side ponytail will follow suit?

Special mention: Leg warmers for girls. Essentially, these were pants for the calves. But they were cool.

2. The Great Plate debate marches forward. The top three in our year-long pursuit of the best license plates in West-Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri remains unchanged, but we have five more weekly winners:

2022 Medal-Winners To Date

Gold medal: LUV YADI. It’s the 15th straight week atop the rankings.

Silver Medal: GOL D LOX.

Bronze medal: TAXED.

This Week’s Top 5

• 1. MOMMM: Simply a magnificent looking plate. Is it worthy of that bronze medal?
• 2. BOOYAH: A tribute to the late, great Stuart Scott of ESPN fame?
• 3. KAE KAE 4: I have no idea, but it certainly is a great looking plate.
• 4. DANNO 68: Book ’em. (You have to be a fan of the old “Hawaii Five-0” TV show to appreciate that.)
• 5. CEEJ: I assume this translates into C.J.

3. Have you ever wondered if you have purchased milk from the same cow twice?

Steve Thought O’ The Day — Granted, we have just arrived at the beginning of summer, but Steve would like to remind everyone football season is just 2 1/2 months away.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. The best thing about his Cleveland Guardians/Indians over the last 50 years also happened in the 1980’s: the movie “Major League”.