There are times when something is simultaneously so horrifying and impressive that you can’t look away, even though you want to. This tattoo of Phil Kessel is one of those things.
Penguins fan gets tattoo of ’50s pinup Phil Kessel riding a hot dog
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
Yahoo Sports has the story of a man who walked into a Pittsburgh tattoo parlor wanting a ’50s-style pinup of Penguins forward Phil Kessel and got this perfect, horrific, amazing, grotesque thing. If you think I sound conflicted, it’s because I am.
The piece is a tip of the cap to a 2015 Kessel story about him eating hot dogs routinely during his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs. SB Nation’s Pension Plan Puppets debunked the tale and showed why it was false, and this tattoo is an ode to it.
Kessel was traded to the Penguins and immediately went on to win a Stanley Cup with the team. This tattoo mocks the false report about him eating hot dogs during the season, while pointing to his recent success.
But it’s those eyes ... those cold, lifeless eyes — with a mouth that wants to devour. everything. Stare into the maw of your oblivion.
