It’s about that time of year again and I am calling for all the CavFanatics to Beard Up for the Playoffs! This is a long honored tradition for the Cavaliers and all who support them - as the playoffs approach the masses put down their razors, trimmers, clippers and even scissors to join together to root on their beloved Cavaliers on in the quest for a Championship! This is my call for the CavFanatics and everyone who supports the Cavaliers to join the 2009 Beard Brigade!

What is a Playoff Beard you ask? Well, when one's sports team makes it to the playoffs. Fans, team members and supporters stop shaving their facial hair, thus growing a 'playoff beard.' As long as that team is in the playoffs, the beard stays!

There have always been questions about when to start your Playoff Beard, is it when your team clinches a playoff spot, is it a few weeks before the playoffs, or when the playoffs start? The time is NOW … some have already begun to grow and for those who have I say GOOD,  the longer, thicker and scratchier it is for the playoffs the better … for those who have yet to start, now is the time!

It has long been said that in the playoffs (regardless of which sport we are talking about) the Playoff Beard gives strength, power, determination and support to one’s team. Are you skeptical? Are you unsure if you should join the Brigade? Do you think its all hogwash? When it comes to the Playoff Beard the more follicles your team has behind it, the better the team will do!! It’s a proven fact! Let me tell you about some teams that BELIEVED in the power of the beard:

1)      During the 2003 playoffs, Ken Daneyko of the New Jersey Devils grew a significantly large beard. They went on to win the Cup against the Mighty Ducks.

 

2)      Ben Roethlisberger and his beard led the Steelers to their Super Bowl XL victory

 

3)      In 2006 fans and several players for the underdog Cardinals grew beards - The team would go on to win the World Championship.

 

4)      During the 2007 playoffs The Anaheim Ducks defeated the Ottawa Senators to secure the first Stanley Cup championship in team history- Powered by Beards

 

5)      I could go on and on but you get the drift ….beards = wins = championships

I first joined the Brigade in 2007 (my first year with the Cavs) and albeit new to the concept of growing a playoff beard I took the challenge seriously because I wanted a Championship for Cleveland! So I grew the biggest thickest Grizzly Adams beard I could, as did the rest of the Brigade – and we made it to the NBA finals. The 2007 playoffs wasn’t without its Playoff Beard scandal as certain members of the Brigade decided to shave under pressure from either work or spousal disproval. Until that point in the playoffs the Cavaliers had not lost a single game – NOT ONE … after this anonymous shaver killed his beard the team lost the very next game! The POWER of the beard was evident to me after that incident! It took the rest of the fully grown beards to get the team to the finals but we didn’t have enough support within the Brigade to finish the deal – I vowed at that point not to take the responsibility of the beard lightly.

Last year’s version of the Brigade was split from the beginning as several members were not fully committed to the task at hand. There was dissention among the ranks – some people were in with the beard and others wined that “it’s too scratchy”, “it’s too hot”, “my wife doesn’t like it”, “why don’t we do a playoff mustache instead”… to them I say MAN UP and sacrifice for the greater good! Is the beard about you or about the TEAM! I don’t even want to address the mustache comment … what is more intimidating a pencil thin mustache or a BEARD! With the lack of universal commitment I don’t have to tell you how that turned out for the Cavaliers in the playoffs last year.

Like Mike Brown always says it all starts with one goal – we take it one day, one game and one follicle at a time! When the time comes if we have the better beards we will have the better team! So I ask you … are you ready …. Are you committed … are you up for the challenge! To all the CavFanatics out there…. The time is NOW! It’s time to BEARD-UP!

Here are some basic rules to follow for Growing your Playoff Beard:

1.       You have to commit to the beard.

2.       Once you commit, you commit - No shaving because it gets hot in June or your spouse doesn’t like it. If you have to sleep on the couch for a month do it!

3.       If you can’t grow a beard - still try it’s about the effort for the greater good, if you have peach fuzz faces or have splotchy grow ins, you can trim a little, but the full effect of the beard must be present. No goatees, soul patches or mutton chops!

4.       After a win, you do nothing to the beard. Nothing. Even if the next playoff series is a week away. DON’T TOUCH IT.

5.       After a loss, and only after a loss, you are allowed to trim the beard. TRIM DOES NOT MEAN SHAVE! Only trim a little bit to get rid of the bad luck.

6.       Those with gray in their beards are not allowed to color it...it’s a mark of pride and a sign of journeys past.

7.       For the women, although they themselves cannot grow beards (and those that can, please don't), you must do whatever is necessary to aid the men in this task.


Feel free to add any additional rule suggestions in the comments and GO CAVS!