Steven Stamkos to NBC Chairman: Playoff beard stays!
By Len Nunes
Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos has spoken out against the no playoff beards wishes of NBC chairman Mark Lazarus.
On Tuesday June 9th, NBC chairman Mark Lazarus shared his opinion about NHL players and their playoff beards. Not even 24 hours later, Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning – a card-carrying member of the playoff beard group himself – responded.
The Mark Lazarus quote out of the Chicago Tribune:
"“The players won’t like this, but I wish they all would stop growing beards in the post-season. Let’s get their faces out there. Let’s talk about how young and attractive they are.”"
The Steven Stamkos response from the Canadian Sportsnet:
"“The longer, the better! It’s such a long-lasting tradition…and I don’t think guys are going to be willing to change anytime soon.”"
There you have it Mr. NBC chairperson: a big, fat “No!” from one of the NHL’s biggest stars.
The playoff beard has it roots in the 1980s – a time when TV cameras weighed as much small cars, and all telephones were mounted to a wall. Times have now changed so drastically that we apparently feel the need manufacture players’ looks.
One could argue that New York Yankees manufacture the look of their players by enforcing military-style grooming code: all players, coaches, and male executives were forbidden to display any facial hair other than mustaches. That’s totally different because it is a team owner running the team his way, not a “TV guy” trying to tell a fraternity of players how to look.
When was the last time somebody turned off a sports event on television because the players were too hairy?
One can’t fault Mr. Lazarus for trying to find ways to raise the profile of the NHL and its players while NBC has a deal with the league. It is easy to believe that with this year’s highly entertaining Stanley Cup Final more casual fans will be inclined to check in to the action. Mr. Lazarus actually expressing his desire for the players to look good for their Stanley Cups auditions with new fans is a classic case of the mouth moving faster than the brain.
What do you think? Do you agree with Steven Stamkos and love the playoff beards? Or do you agree with Mark Lazarus and wish for cleanly-shaven hockey players?