Lots of NHL players grow beards during the playoffs. It's fun! It's fun to have a beard and it's fun to be in the playoffs. T.V. Brandman, also known as NBC Sports chairman Mark Lazarus, doesn't feel so great about the playoff beards. From the Chicago Tribune, via Sporting News:
NBC Sports chairman worried NHL playoff beards are hurting his #brand
”The players won’t like this, but I wish they all would stop growing beards in the postseason. Let’s get their faces out there. Let’s talk about how young and attractive they are. What model citizens they are. (Hockey players) truly are one of a kind among professional athletes.
“I know it’s a tradition and superstition, but I think (the beards do) hurt recognition. They have a great opportunity with more endorsements. Or simply more recognition with fans saying, ‘That guy looks like the kid next store,’ which many of these guys do. I think that would be a nice thing.”
First of all, I think that kid lives next *door.
Next of all, buried under the kinda creepy “model citizens” and “one of a kind among professional athletes” garbage is a legitimate point: Hockey players perform beneath huge pads and helmets. It gets hard to tell them apart, and to recognize them when they’re not in uniform. Covering all their faces with fuzz only further obscures identities. That’s a bummer if you’re trying to market these persons to the world.
Counterpoint: Guys are gonna do whatever they want with their facial hair. You don’t make the face rules, TV man.
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