There is an odd relationship between facial hair and sports. Some teams say you can't have it (the Yankees), while others embrace it (the Athletics), but in the end it's one thing the fans can all cheer for, regardless of the team.

For years I have never been a fan of Jason Giambi, when he just beat out Delgado for the MVP in 2000, when his lazy ass didn't slide and made a great play by Derek Jeter an "absolutely-ridiculously-best-play-of-all-time-OMG" play (according to the pro- Yankee media), when he bolted for the cash from the Evil Empire, when he took steroi... (whoops, I forgot he didn't admit that yet, my bad). But then all of a sudden he started growing a duster, and then (curses) he hit a come from behind walk off jack against the Jays, and despite the resistance from his wife, Giambi felt the 'stache had something to do with it. The whiskers were a good luck charm.

I love that factor about sports and facial hair, each year as the Leafs went deep in the playoffs (it's been a while) I even felt like my facial hair had a karmic effect and didn't shave. I was only in high school at the time so my 'beard' looked nothing like what I saw on television as each year I looked in awe when about 15 bushy faces drank from the cup. As many as there have been over the years, I truly think Scott Neidermayer's beard in 2007 was by far the best, followed closely by Lanny McDonald in 1989.

Athletes are known as an extremely superstitious bunch, so when they're winning or playing well, that means they're doing so simply because they still have the same hair on their face from when they won last. Unfortunately (or fortunately as a Jays fan) Giambi and the Yanks started slumping so the tickler was no more, thus leaving only the scum of the earth (Yankees fans) cheering for Giambi.

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