Playoff beard
Aplayoff beardis thesuperstitiouspractice of male athletes not shaving theirbeardsduringplayoffs.Playoff beards were introduced byice hockeyplayers participating in theStanley Cup playoffs,and are now a tradition in many sports leagues. Many fans ofprofessional sportsteams also grow playoff beards. The player stops shaving when his team enters the playoffs and does not shave until his team is eliminated or wins the Stanley Cup (or equivalent championship).
The tradition was started in the early 1980s. Sometime in the early 1980's theNew York Islandersdecided to do so;[1]and according to IslanderMike Bossy,was likely started by teammateButch Goring.The 1984–85 Detroit Red Wings were the first team documented to wear them. Wings forwardsIvan BoldirevandDanny Garebegan the practice in Jan. 1985, trying to inspire the team to win four straight games. DefensemanBrad Parkcalled it his "playoff beard" - thus coining the phrase.[2]The tradition is also practiced by nearly all North American hockey leagues, including high school leagues and theNCAAhockey teams, as well as minor league affiliates.[3]According to some observers, one may trim the beard after a loss in an effort to change the team's luck;Jim DowdandRoberto Luongoare examples of players who did this.[4][5][6]
History[edit]
The 1980 Islanders were the first team documented to wear them. This included two Swedish players (Stefan PerssonandAnders Kallur), so it is possible that tennis championBjörn Borg's custom of not shaving his beard duringWimbledon,which he had been doing for several years by that time, was an influence on the start of the practice in hockey.[7]Some players have said the beard is both a reminder of team unity and a way to get a player thinking about the playoffs from the moment he looks in the mirror in the morning.[8]The 1984–85 Detroit Red Wings also did it. Wings forwards Ivan Boldirev and Danny Gare began the practice in Jan. 1985, trying to inspire the team to win four straight games. DefensemanBrad Parkcalled it his "playoff beard" - thus coining the phrase. (from the Detroit Free Press, Feb. 3, 1985 - article by Bernie Czarniecki). Hall of FamerDenis Potvinsays that the Islanders of the 1980s would "play four games in five nights in the first round and it was just something that kind of happened."[8]The 2009 Red Wings used the slogan "The beard is back" for the final series of their2009 Stanley Cup playoffsrun. They played thePittsburgh Penguinsin the Stanley Cup Finals that year (won by Pittsburgh) in which most of the players of both teams (and the owner of the Penguins,Mario Lemieux) grew beards.
In 2009, the Beard-a-thon[9]campaign was launched to encourage fans to grow their own playoff beards for charity. In its first four years, more than 22,000 NHL fans participated in the "Beard-a-thon" and raised over two million dollars for charities.[10]
In June 2015, Mark Lazarus, chairman ofNBC Sports(who is the U.S.rightsholderof the league), told theChicago Tribunethat he had been lobbying the NHL to discourage the practice, arguing that it hinders the ability for viewers to recognize players.[11]
Other sports[edit]
The playoff beard has expanded intoMajor League Baseball(MLB), theCanadian Football League(CFL), theNational Football League(NFL) and, to a lesser extent, theNational Basketball Association(NBA).[12]The practice generally resembles that of ice hockey, in that players do not shave until they either win a championship or are eliminated.
American football[edit]
- National Football League(NFL) players who have grown playoff beards includeChicago Bearsquarterback(QB)Mitchell Trubisky,[13]Seattle Seahawksquarterback(QB)Russell Wilson,[14]Pittsburgh SteelersQBBen Roethlisbergeranddefensive end(DE)Brett Keisel,New England Patriotswide receiver(WR)Julian Edelman[15]and formerDenver BroncosQBJake Plummer.[16]In fact, after Roethlisberger and his beard led the Steelers to theirSuper Bowl XLvictory, he was shaved byDavid Lettermanduring an appearance on theLate Show with David Letterman.
Association football[edit]
- In1993,Sheffield United's veteran strikerAlan Corkdid not shave during the club's four-monthFA Cuprun where they ultimately reached the semi-finals.[17]
- InMajor League Soccer(MLS), players on theHouston Dynamoroster kept a "lucky beard" for the duration of the2006and2007 MLS Cup Playoffs.[18]They renewed the tradition during their run to the2011 MLS Cup.[19]
- TheLA Galaxygrew playoff beards during their run to the2005 MLS Cupand again during the2010 MLS Cup Playoffs.[20]
Baseball[edit]
- TheBoston Red Soxfeatured many players who grew beards during the team's2013 season."The beard-growing movement began in spring training withMike NapoliandJonny Gomes,and as the Red Sox kept winning — despite all predictions to the contrary — most of the team got on board with the beards. "[21]By the beginning of theWorld Seriesagainst theSt. Louis Cardinals,only pitcherKoji Ueharawas without facial hair. However, in the past, he did have a beard.[22]Fans all over joined the team in solidarity as good luck to win the 2013 World Series. On October 23, 2013,Business Insiderposted pictures of the Red Sox players with and without their good luck charms.[23]An additional superstition for the team came during the season and post-season: when a player scores an especially important run, at the end of the game a tug would be given to this player's beard.[24]
Basketball[edit]
- Cleveland CavalierscenterZydrunas Ilgauskaswore a playoff beard in 2006, but did not bring it back for the2007 playoffs,citing spousal disapproval.[25]
- In a variant of the playoff beard, theDallas Mavericksstopped shaving during the2012–13regular season until the team reached a.500 winning percentage (achieved in mid-April).[26]
Tennis[edit]
- Starting in the late 1970s, five-timeWimbledonchampionBjörn Borgused to let his beard grow prior to that particular tournament. Referring to that custom,Sports Illustratedpublished an article about Borg shortly before the 1981 Wimbledon tournament titled, "The beard has begun."[27]
Motorsport[edit]
- An October 2014 skit showsTeam Penskepersonnel growing "Chasebeards ", including female staff.[28]
Fan beards[edit]
Fans often grow beards as a sign of support while their favorite team is in the playoffs.
- In 2006, theNPRshowWeekend Americafeatured a segment aboutSt. Louis Cardinalsfanswho grew beards during the playoffs. Several Cardinals players grew beards as well.[29]
Outside of sports[edit]
- Male students at some universities in the United States, Canada, Sweden and New Zealand have also begun to sport an academic variation on the playoff beard - not shaving between the period when regular classes end and their final exam.[30]
- in 1960, partly to distance themselves from non-contributing teammateAad van Wijngaarden(known for taking credit for the work of others), scientistsEdsger W. DijkstraandJaap Zonneveldagreed to not shave until they completed theElectrologica ALGOL 60compiler.[31]
Other playoff hair[edit]
- During the 2010 playoffs,Patrick Kaneof theChicago Blackhawkschose to style his hair into a "playoffmullet"in addition to growing a playoff beard. He did it because of his struggles to grow a beard the year before.[32][33]He has continued this throughout his career including the Chicago Blackhawks' 2013 and 2015 Championships.
- In the 2008NHL Playoffssome of theCalgary Flames,includingCraig Conroy,David Moss,Dustin BoydandJarome Iginla,got "faux-hawk"haircuts.[34]
References[edit]
- ^Ryan Kennedy (May 2, 2006)."Wooly Bullies".The Hockey News.RetrievedMay 4,2007.[permanent dead link]
- ^Czarniecki, Bernie (February 3, 1985)."Whiskery Wings not a Total Hit".Detroit Free Press.
- ^Doyle Woody (April 28, 2007)."Assessing the Aces playoff beard efforts".Anchorage Daily News.RetrievedMay 4,2007.[dead link]
- ^Rich Chere & Bridget Wentworth (April 29, 2007)."Ottawa watches chance slip by".Star Ledger.RetrievedMay 4,2007.
- ^Chicago Breaking Sports (May 8, 2010)."Assessing the Aces playoff beard efforts".Tribune News Services.RetrievedJuly 12,2010.
- ^Malafronte, Chip (November 18, 2012)."NEW HAVEN 200: New Haven's Don Luzzi a CFL Hall of Famer and possible playoff beard pioneer".New Haven Register.
- ^Podnieks, Andrew.Hockey Superstitions: From Playoff Beards to Crossed Sticks and Lucky Socks,McClelland & Stewart Ltd., 2010,ISBN978-0-7710-7108-9,pp. 8-9.
- ^abIan Walker, Montreal Gazette (April 13, 2011)."The Playoff Beard Mystique".[permanent dead link]
- ^"Beard-A-Thon".April 11, 2009. Archived fromthe originalon April 11, 2009.RetrievedDecember 5,2021.
- ^"BEARD-A-THON is back: Fans called to grow beard".NHL.com.April 29, 2013.
- ^Ed Sherman (June 9, 2015)."NBC Sports boss: Shave the hockey playoff beards".Chicago Tribune.Archived fromthe originalon June 10, 2015.RetrievedJune 9,2015.
- ^Trey Kerby (April 19, 2010)."The Los Angeles Lakers are growing playoff beards".Sports.yahoo.com.
- ^Neveau, James (December 20, 2018)."Mitchell Trubisky, Bears Quarterbacks Growing Out Beards for Stretch Run".NBC Chicago.RetrievedMarch 27,2019.
- ^Payne, Marissa (January 27, 2015)."Michael Bennett, Richard Sherman and Marshawn Lynch put on for Super Bowl Media Day".The Washington Post.RetrievedOctober 12,2015.
- ^Mike Reiss (January 7, 2015)."Julian Edelman, Tom Brady working overtime to re-establish connection".ESPN.RetrievedNovember 11,2015.
- ^John Branch (January 18, 2006)."Quarterbacks growing wild".New York Times.RetrievedMay 4,2007.
- ^"Ian Appleyard: Doncaster's bearded wonders bringing back golden memor…".September 19, 2012. Archived fromthe originalon September 19, 2012.
- ^Martin Rogers (November 15, 2007)."Houston's growth potential".Yahoo Sports.RetrievedNovember 16,2007.
- ^"Houston Dynamo Reaches MLS Cup Final".Huffington Post.November 7, 2011.
- ^Andrea Canales (November 13, 2010)."Galaxy Battle-Tested And Bearded For Playoffs".Goal.com.Archived fromthe originalon December 5, 2021.RetrievedDecember 5,2021.
- ^Billy Baker (October 23, 2013)."Diehard Red Sox supporters bond over their beards".The Boston Globe.RetrievedOctober 24,2013.
- ^Nick O'Malley (October 21, 2013)."Believe it or not, Boston Red Sox closer Koji Uehara used to have a beard - and a 33.75 postseason ERA".MassLive.RetrievedOctober 24,2013.
- ^Tony Manfred (October 23, 2013)."Photos Of Red Sox Players Before And After They Had Playoff Beards".Business Insider.RetrievedOctober 12,2015.
- ^unknown."Playoff Baseball and Beard Tugs".What The Huff. Archived fromthe originalon October 29, 2013.RetrievedOctober 24,2013.
- ^Mary Schmitt Boyer (April 24, 2007)."LeBron says ankle won't keep him out".The Plain Dealer.Archived fromthe originalon September 24, 2015.RetrievedMay 4,2007.
- ^"Beards be gone: Mavs beat Hornets to get back to.500, earn much-needed shave".The Dallas Morning News.Associated Press.April 14, 2013.RetrievedOctober 12,2015.
- ^Curry Kirkpatrick."The Beard Has Begun".Sports Illustrated.RetrievedMay 26,2013.
- ^Jerry Bonkowski (October 16, 2014)."The Penske Files: Who's the Penske prankster and taking Chase beards to an extreme".NBC Sports.Archived fromthe originalon October 18, 2014.
- ^"St. Louis Beards".American Public Media. October 28, 2006. Archived fromthe originalon January 9, 2016.RetrievedOctober 12,2015.
- ^Olivia Solon (February 4, 2005)."Beginning the finals countdown".Cherwell24. Archived fromthe originalon May 19, 2006.RetrievedMay 4,2007.
- ^van Emden, Maarten (June 14, 2012)."I remember Edsger Dijkstra (1930–2002)".Vanemden.wordpress.com.RetrievedDecember 22,2010.
- ^Greg Wyshynski (April 14, 2010)."Patrick Kane rejects playoff beard in favor of 'trashy' mullet".Sports.yahho.com.
- ^Tim Sassone (April 16, 2010)."Hawks throw some 'Dirt' on Kane's new hairstyle".Dailyherald.com.
- ^Jean Lefebvre (April 10, 2008)."Flames take Game 1".Archived fromthe originalon January 9, 2016.