NBC Sports Group Chair Mark Lazarus said that he "has lobbied the NHL and its players to end the tradition" of growing beards during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, because the excess facial hair "hurts player recognition for fans, perhaps hindering the development of new stars during the highest-rated games of the season," according to Ed Sherman of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Lazarus: "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." He added that the element of a shaggy beard "makes it even more difficult for fans to identify players," and that it "is a detriment considering the Stanley Cup Final posts the biggest ratings of the year." Lazarus: "These are the most-watched games and they’re all bearded up" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/10). Lazarus this morning noted that this has "turned into a little bit of a pop culture story," and said, "I've been nothing but the butt of the joke on Twitter for the last 24 hours or so.” Lazarus said, “I made no demands, and this is an observation that I think we could really raise the profile of players, and if some players chose not to go the playoff beard route that they could raise their profile. We could get a better look at them and hopefully build, not just the core fans that are there, but bring in more casual fans who would understand the accessibility and likability that these players have. No one gave any pushback, and it was really more of an observation and no demand on that.” He noted he has yet to hear from any players on the topic and said, “We have nothing but respect for the players. We're in this with them to grow the game, and that was the sentiment that I made these comments with to help grow the game" ("The Dan Patrick Show," 6/10).
SAY WHAT? In Minneapolis, Michael Rand writes there "is no official daily award given out to the most ridiculous idea in sports, but if there was it’s a safe bet" that Lazarus’ "concern about NHL facial hair would get a trophy." Even though NBC is paying $400M a year for NHL rights under its current contract, it "still takes quite a bit of audacity to make such a suggestion." So much of pro sports has "become made-for-TV theater that perhaps Lazarus feels empowered to ask for such a thing." But if sports "are going to retain even a hint of innocence, we can’t have networks telling grown men to shave" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 6/10). YAHOO SPORTS' Greg Wyshynski wrote NHLers are "sold on two things: Skills and story." A beard "doesn't change what they do on the ice," and it "doesn't change who they are intrinsically" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 6/9). ESPN's Michael Wilbon said he understands Lazarus' sentiment, but said NBC and the NHL "can't make policy here." Wilbon: "Every sport has its quirky traditions, and this is one that belongs to the NHL." ESPN's Tony Kornheiser said, "I understand the motivation. ... A lot of players would be happy to do this because a lot of them are young and they really can't grow beards and they feel they have to show they're hockey players.” Wilbon: “That's the pressure of their culture.” Kornheiser added, “But their ratings are up even with beards” (“PTI,” ESPN, 6/9).
LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE: THE HOCKEY NEWS' Adam Proteau wrote while Lazarus "was wrong to lobby the NHL" to ban playoff beards, his "underlying message -- that the league, the game and its players must take greater efforts to maximize their marketability -- isn’t to be mocked at all." Lazarus "is doing the NHL a service by trying to shake the tree and wake people up to a problem, because hockey at its highest level too often strives for a homogeneity that threatens its place in the pro sports pecking order." Lazarus "picked the wrong target when he focused on playoff beards," but his intent "is admirable, and if we can stop piledriving his one particular notion into the ground, we’d see he’s got a point" (THEHOCKEYNEWS.com, 6/9).
