Daily Dirt: ‘Yay’ for Batman, McDonald’s breakfast items, Adam Silver, Ja Morant, Taylor Sheridan and the Phoenix Suns

Daily Dirt for Tuesday, March 8, 2022
What kind of day would it be if he didn’t take another shot at poor Rob Manfred? Welcome to today’s three thoughts and Vol. 229 of The Daily Dirt.

1. I’m calling this new feature “Yay or Nay”. I think you’ll get the idea:

Yay: Batman. The Dark Knight still rules. Nay: All other superheroes. Batman would kick all of their cartoon derrières.

Yay: McDonald’s breakfast items. Except for the ones trying to incorporate syrup into the main course, the Golden Arches have always ruled the breakfast wars among the fast-food chains. Now, if McDonald’s would only open its front doors again. I prefer eating my McDonald’s breakfast platters INDOORS, not in my front seat where I too often encounter spillage. Nay: Pop Tarts. Except for the frosted cinnamon flavor, these might be the worst choice ever for a breakfast. At best, a Pop Tart is like a slab of cardboard with a swipe of canned frosting spread across the top.

Yay: Adam Silver, the NBA commissioner who not only understands his sport, but the players and the world we live in. Not only has Silver proved an exemplary leader, but is helping grow the NBA’s presence on a worldwide level. Did you know the NBA is guiding force behind a new 12-team circuit in Africa? Nay: Rob Manfred, pro sports’ resident village idiot. “Baseball may not be able to withstand Manfred’s mistakes … he is losing his grip on the sport with fans and players,” writes John Healy on radio.com. If MLB does not begin games until, say, May because of this ridiculous lockout we may look back 10 years from now as 2022 being the beginning of the end for a sport a lot of us once loved like no other.Yay: Ja Morant. If he played in Chicago instead of Memphis we would be hearing talking of “Jordan II”. Nay: Russell Westbrook. What in the world happened to this guy? Maybe playing alongside LeBron James?

Yay: Taylor Sheridan. He’s the hottest ticket in TV today, creating monster hits like “Yellowstone,” “Mayor of Kingstown” and “1883”. He’s got more coming, too. Nay: Any zombiefest with ‘Dead” in the title, other than “The Walking Dead.” While I have religiously watched “Fear the Walking Dead” and “The Walking Dead: World Beyond,” they pale in comparison to the original, “The Walking Dead,” which sadly ends its decade-plus run later this year.

Yay: Phoenix Suns. They’re a young, exciting team that was built the right way and should be an NBA title contender for years to come. Nay: Los Angeles Lakers. Even if this once-proud franchise does make the NBA playoffs, it will be a short ride. I have absolutely no sympathy for carpetbagging LeBron James, who after eventually exiting the Lakers will leave another franchise in shambles.

2. Sign of the times.

Saw this social-media post the other day — a classic: “So excited! Our loan was approved. We’re closing on a full tank of gas this weekend!”

3. The latest Muddy River Great Plate rankings, a.k.a. my favorite license plates spotted across West-Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri:

1. (1.) YADI LUV: Yadi has stolen 69 bases in his MLB career. Not bad for a catcher.

2. (2.) GOLD D LOX: Fans of TNA pro wrestling might remember a female combatant who went by the name of Goldy Locks. 

3. (-) MEANCAT: This plate can be found on a mean green car.

4. (-) QUINCY: This might be the most elegant plate in Adams County. It simply looks great.

5. (3.) HOWDYDO: Howdy Holmes was a former IndyCar driver.

6. (4.) PINK:  Pink Anderson was an American blues singer and guitarist.

7. (6.) CAL GAL: I read where some of the most popular baby names right now for a girl in California are Calypso, Shasta, Poppy, Angeles, Sage and Chloe.

8. (-) BE MOM 5: I can’t imagine having five kids. Two in the house at one time was always a challenge.

9. (9.) OH DEER 4: I’m guessing this guy/gal is from Pike County.

10. (-) 3 AXSHIN: I’m not normally a fan of soundalikes, but this one’s pretty sweet.

This week’s honorable mentions: SOONER 2, BOW 1, 21 HUMP, 9 WOODZ, DOC 1.

No. 1 Rankings: YADI LUV (4 weeks), GOL D LOX (2 weeks).

Steve Thought O’ The Day — If Steve were ever cast in a zombie-related TV program, he would demand the theme song be “Once Bitten, Twice Shy” by Great White.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Please don’t call the police if you see him staring at your license plate.