One of the biggest traditions for hockey players in the playoffs is to grow a playoff beard. However, one television executive isn’t happy about the tradition and wants it to stop. NBC Sports Chairman Mark Lazarus made comments to the Chicago Tribune that wouldn’t make any hockey fan happy at all about the beards.
Lazarus told the newspaper, “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. I know it’s a tradition and superstition but I think they hurt recognition.” This is the worst thing that Lazarus could have said.
Hardcore hockey fans want to see their favorite players with beards that cover their whole faces by this time of year. They see the players clean-shaven during the regular season. Lazarus needs to understand that fans are going to come and go no matter what but hardcore fans are going to be there no matter what to watch the games on NBC or NBCSN.
