Photo: beardsoftheworld.com
- Adam ParkerWe here at Beard and Stache have long believed in the importance of facial hair in relation to the performance of a professional athlete in his respective sport.
To put it frankly, if you have facial hair, you're bound to be a quality player more often than not, and the more you have, the better you'll be.
I mean, after all, how can you deny the success of the countless grizzly men scattered across the sporting world?
It makes sense, right?
Still not convinced?
Well, let's try to change that.
Just think of some of these names: Justin Verlander - arguably the best pitcher in the majors last year and his man scruff undoubtedly had something to do with him taking home the Cy Young and AL MVP award in the same season.
But before we leave the baseball diamond, it would be stupid of us not to mention the beast of a beard sported by Giants' closer Brian Wilson. Now this guy know's how to get it done. He openly admits that his beard's mystical powers gives him other-worldly abilities on the mound.
Wilson obviously pays daily homage to the small bear cub nesting on his chin, and it's payed big dividends -- not only for him with all the commercial gigs, but also with the Giants winning the 2010 World Series.
Oh, and his beard houses little cookie-baking gnomes that make all the Tollhouse cookies you enjoy. You're welcome.
Other MLB honorable mentions: If the Giants' B-Wil has baseball's best beard, then the best mustache in baseball (since Rollie Fingers that is,) has to belong to Brewers' closer John Axford.
Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth and the talents provided solely by his magnificent beard would be a welcome sight in the city of brotherly love at this point in the young season. Sorry Phillies fans...
Johnny Damon's phenomenal face pieces he donned in his days with the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays are also high on our list.
Damon also spent time with the Yankees during his career where the beard had to take a short sabbatical because of team guidelines against facial hair. Not that it's mattered in the long run. The Yankees are still the winningest franchise in professional sports.
Now, in the NBA, there aren't as many guys sporting spectacular facial hair, but that's because with today's draft eligibility rules the way they are, most of them haven't even had the chance to hit puberty yet -- see baby face Russell Westbrook.
Thunder guard James Harden and Knicks guard Baron Davis champion the facial hair movement on the hardwood, but unfortunately for Davis, his beard seems to be on its last legs as far as keeping his career afloat goes.
Harden on the other hand, has ridden his beard all the way to a potential top seed in the Western Conference playoffs and possible NBA title. Not bad for a beard that's only now 'getting its sea legs.'
Honorable NBA mentions: Clippers forward Reggie Evans' beard has turned him into a glass-eater supreme.
And now we come to the NFL, where beards have become almost as prominent as they are in the National Hockey League or as hispanic players are in baseball.
It shouldn't be surprising that the Jets' Darrelle Revis has become the best cornerback in football. It coincides with the time that he allowed his beard to mature. Ravens safety Ed Reed has been a raging ballhawk for over a decade now. Coincidence? No chance. The powers of Reed's grizzly face carpet lead him right to the ball.
And then we come to our 'cover athlete' for lack of a better term - Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel.
Keisel's Paul Bunyan mountain man beard has taken the entire league by storm, and it's been the most prominent presence in the spotlight during the Steelers' two most recent Super Bowls; transforming Keisel into one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL and an emerging leader on the league's best defense.
Where was Keisel before he grew out his beard? A former seventh round pick fading in and out of relevance on a deep Steelers' defensive line.
What a difference a beard makes.
Still don't believe me?
Look at how long NFL ironman Brett Favre was able to play in the NFL -- almost two decades in what many people believe to be the most physically-straining sport in the world.
Denying that his graybeard scruff didn't play a part in his longevity is foolish, indeed.
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