A Wisconsin fan is emailing basketball players and asking too much about their hair

Athletes have to deal with all sorts of fans. Diehard fans, superfans, strange fans — and sometimes random fans who critique your hair and want to know what length clippers the barber used. On Monday, Nigel Hayes worked out for NBA teams and pulled his hair into a ponytail. Later that night he got an email.

We’ll save the niceties that start the letter and just get to the weird hair stuff.

“But now one thing -—- what the heck crazy odd hairdo are you having on the top of your head?? [...] who wants a handsome nice guy like you with such a bizarre hair-do as what you got? Get to the barbers (JC afro barber over on the west-side of Madison is outstanding) and get all cleaned-up with a nice haircut and side-bur trim and prof. appearance — then for sure you will get picked to be on a pro basketball team looking better and more classy for their team and community. Set example not only by getting your nice college diploma -- but a good appearance. Ok??”

The hair that got the emailer so in a tizzy?

It’s just Hayes’ dreadlocks put in a pony tail. That’s it. He simply wanted to tie back his hair while working out for a team and put it in a pony tail. People of color often face racially charged commentary regarding natural hair, and this situation is no different. The same person went on to email Hayes’ teammate Zak Showalter about his hair with a different choice of words but equally as loaded with racial undertones.

“I like that fresh short haircut....my brother, who is to return to Madison in two weeks, should see your fade haircut. Can you email me a couple of photos of your new fade short haircut...just get a side and back view close-up of the haircut for him to see and then take to his barbers in Green Bay to do on him later this month... thanks. Like the cut, just how short is is Zak... clipper blade length?”

So yes, a random fan is endlessly emailing people about their hair in Wisconsin. If you’re Badger you might want to check your email now. A creeper might be waiting for you.

Also, maybe this emailer should think a little more about NBA teams giving anything close to a rat’s ass about players’ hair?