The chairman of NBC Sports, Mark Lazarus has a suggestion to make the NHL a more TV-friendly game. Shave the beloved playoff beards.
It’s long been a status of accomplishment in the NHL post-season. In the hockey world, players and fans alike recognize the importance of a good playoff beard, and many young players have been the butt of jokes for not being able to grow them. However, Lazarus believes it’s a new day.
“I know there are some traditions and superstitions that you can’t mess with,” Lazarus told Ed Sherman of the Chicago Tribune.“But this is one tradition I could do without. The players won’t like this, but I wish they all would stop growing beards in the postseason,” Lazarus said. “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. Or simply more recognition with fans saying, ‘That guy looks like the kid next store,’ which many of these guys do. I think that would be a nice thing.”
Lazarus makes a good point here and I agree 100%. The argument isn’t dissimilar to the issue the NBA had in the late 90s-early 2000s. Some players wanted to wear 5x white tees and huge pieces of jewelry into games. These images were helping to perpetuate stereotypes many viewers may have had about Black culture, and rather than trying to explain to irrational people about the obvious, the NBA chose to enact a dress code for how players were to appear on camera and it turned out to be a fantastic move for the visibility & marketing of the game.
The chairman of NBC understands that although most in the hockey community love playoff beards, the NHL needs to reach people beyond it’s traditional brand of fan to grow. The game, especially in a playoff setting, is amazing. However, it’s viability on television is less than average, especially in America.
The NHL players shouldn’t look at this as a shot to their right to facial hair. They should look at this as another way to ultimately increase their revenue.
[h/t CBS Sports, Chicago Tribune]