Alright, so this whole Sidney Crosby beard thing, you know? It’s a topic that always comes up, especially when the playoffs are rollin’. Some folks make fun of it, say it’s a bit sparse, others treat it like some kind of lucky charm. I got curious. Not just curious enough to talk about it, but curious enough to actually try something related to it. I figured, let’s see what this is all about from a hands-on perspective, or, well, a face-on perspective, I guess.
So, I decided I’d attempt to grow out my own beard, sort of in the spirit of the playoff beard tradition, and keep an eye on how Crosby’s own legendary (or infamous, depending on who you ask) beard progresses. My goal wasn’t to look exactly like him, ’cause let’s be honest, that wasn’t gonna happen. It was more about experiencing the “playoff beard” journey myself and observing the phenomenon around his.
Getting Started with My Own Beard Project
First step was simple: I just stopped shaving. Put the razor down. I even made a little note, “Day 1: Beard Quest – Crosby Edition.” Sounds a bit dramatic, but hey, it made it feel official. Took a quick photo of my clean-shaven face, for the archives, you know?
The first few days were a breeze. Nothing much happens, just a bit of stubble. But then, oh boy, the itch set in. Around day five or six, my face felt like it was on fire, or at least crawling with invisible critters. I was this close to giving up and grabbing the shaving cream. But then I’d think, “Sid and the boys go through this for weeks, sometimes months!” That thought alone kinda pushed me to stick it out. I told myself, “Embrace the itch, it’s part of the process.”
The Weeks Rolled By: Observations and Patchiness
As the days turned into weeks, I started making notes.
- Week 1: Still super itchy. Looked more like I was just lazy and forgot to shave for a few days. Not very impressive, I gotta say.
- Week 2: The itch finally started to calm down a bit, thank goodness. Patches were definitely forming. Some areas were coming in okay, others… not so much. It reminded me a bit of how Crosby’s often looks in the early stages – not exactly a full lumberjack beard, more like a determined effort. My wife started giving me “the look.”
- Week 3: Okay, now we’re talking! Some actual, visible beard growth. It wasn’t thick, but it was undeniably a beard. I found myself paying more attention to photos of Crosby during his playoff runs, comparing notes, so to speak. His always has that specific look, doesn’t it? It’s more about the commitment than the density, I think.
- Week 4 and beyond: It sort of hit its peak, which wasn’t exactly mountain-high. It was… a beard. My beard. Distinctly patchy in places, fuller in others.
During this whole time, I was also watching Crosby on the ice, whenever I could catch a game. His beard would slowly but surely fill in, in its own unique way. It’s never been one of those super dense beards, and that’s part of its charm, or what people comment on. It’s consistently Crosby.
So, What Did I Learn From All This?
After a good month or so, I looked in the mirror. Did I have a Sidney Crosby beard? Nah. I had my beard. It had its own character. And no, it didn’t magically make me better at anything, especially not hockey.
But the whole experiment was pretty cool. It gave me a tiny bit of insight into that whole playoff tradition. It’s a small sacrifice, sure, letting your face get itchy and looking a bit scruffy, but it’s a shared thing for those teams. It’s a visual, a superstition, a sign of being “all in.”
My main takeaway here is this: Crosby’s beard is famous because he’s Sidney Crosby, one of the greats. The beard itself isn’t magical. But the dedication to just let it grow, to be part of that playoff ritual, year after year, no matter what people say about its aesthetic qualities – that says something. It’s part of his identity as a competitor.
I ended up shaving mine off after a while. The corporate world isn’t always ready for a “playoff beard” in mid-July. But it was a fun little project. Now, when I see Sid out there, beard and all, I kinda get it a bit more. It’s not just about the hair; it’s about the grit it represents. Or maybe I’m just overthinking it. Either way, it was an experience!
