Playoff beards are a hairy tradition in the National Hockey League, dating back to the New York Islanders of the 1980s and now spilling over into many other sports.
This year, the NHL Players' Association is putting the tradition to a good use, sponsoring a "Beard-a-thon" that has already raised over $50,000. The funds will go toward purchasing automated external defibrillators for local hockey arenas across Canada.
The NHLPA will match the first $50 pledge that each beard-growing participant receives prior to May 14. The beard-a-thon runs through the final game of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Hockey fans can grow a beard of their own (no, dear, I have no plans to do this) and seek out pledges, or make a pledge to their favorite beard grower -- player or fellow fan -- at www.beardathon.ca or www.nhlpa.com.
Cowboy up, gecko style
Need a reason to go to a rodeo this summer?
The Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association just announced a partnership with GEICO, the auto insurer with the charming gecko and neurotic cavemen.
Deep, cool thoughts
Ski Utah boasts that its 14 resorts finished the season with more than 700 inches of snow falling on the state's slopes and trails. Snowbird's total leads the way with 711 inches.
To put it in perspective, the winter total is more than a third of the height of the Statue of Liberty.
Tidbits
The Salt Lake Bees, Huntsman Cancer Foundation, Swing for Life and others have teamed up to host the fifth annual Breast Cancer Awareness Night tonight at Spring Mobile Ballpark. Special discounted tickets for $7 each are available by downloading the free voucher at slbees.com/pink. Fans are encouraged to show support by wearing pink. ...
We note the passing of former Big Sky Conference commissioner Ron Stephenson, who died on Wednesday at age 67. ... President Obama has declared May 2011 as National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. ...
Athletes from 36 nations are competing in today's Ford Ironman St. George. ...
Southern Utah University quarterback Brad Sorensen has been named one of the top-10 quarterbacks at the NCAA FCS level by The SportsNetwork. He is the top returning passer in the FCS ranks. ...
The Utah and Wyoming amateur boxing associations will stage their annual "meet-at-the-line" fights tonight at 6 p.m. at the National Guard Armory in Evanston, Wyo. The fighters will honor coach Tony Palmasano, who died earlier this year.
Final thought
My good friend Trudy sent me pictures of a new Mercedes Benz SCL600 this week, but I won't be getting my wife one for Mother's Day.
Why?
Instead of a steering wheel, the luxury automobile comes equipped with a joy stick.
While the images are futuristic, it's probably only a matter of time before it becomes a reality.
Chris J. Miller is sports editor for the Standard-Examiner. He can be reached at 801-625-4261 or cmiller@standard.net.
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