NBC wanted hockey players to shave their playoff beards

NBC Sports seems to have a thing against facial hair and lobbied the NHL to ban the longstanding tradition of players growing out their beards for the Stanley Cup — reportedly so that the league's hockey stars could be more easily identified on TV.

To be specific, it's Mark Lazarus, chairman of the broadcaster's sports division, who told the Chicago Tribune: 

"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 door,' which many of these guys do. I think that would be a nice thing."

The NBC executive said he wanted to emphasize how "young and attractive" the players are — but that their facial hair was giving him a hard time.

His comments come as the heavily-bearded Chicago Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning meet in the Stanley Cup Finals, with at least two more games to go.

Since the 1980s, teams have vowed grow their beards as long as they stay in the playoffs — which means players who make the final have gone some two months without a using a razor.

But Lazarus thinks the extra hair means fans struggle to recognize which player is which out on the ice, and makes it harder to market them.

"The players won’t like this, but I wish they all would stop growing beards in the postseason," he said.

"Let’s get their faces out there. Let’s talk about how young and attractive they are. What model citizens they are.... These are the most-watched games and they’re all bearded up."  

The Stanley Cup playoffs have been going since mid-April and are winding down. The Lightning are currently leading the series 2-1, with another game Wednesday night. 

Expect the beards to stay.

Tyler Johnson's goal as called by Chinese broadcast crew (VIDEO)

NBC's NHL crew had a little fun Saturday night by offering a glimpse of how the Stanley Cup Finals sounds during a broadcast half way around the world.

In the second period, NBC play-by-play man Mike Emrick told the national TV audience that they were about to hear how the goal Tampa Bay Lightning forward Tyler Johnson scored to give his team a 3-2 lead sounded to those watching in China.

As Emrick noted, the Johnson goal would have been scored at 9 a.m. in China, where it was already Sunday.

You didn't need a translator to know someone scored a goal but, if you did, this guy is available.

Photo by Tony Mangia

LA Kings fans taunt Devils bench with 'Jersey Shore' heads

Los Angeles Kings fans got a little creative in taunting their New Jersey Devils opponents during Game 3 of the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals.

Behind the visiting team's bench, fans held up large cardboard heads of the cast members of the MTV reality show "Jersey Shore."

The gimmick might have worked after the Kings overwhelmed the Devils, 4-0 for a 3-0 series lead.  It looks like New Jersey will be doing more hand-wringing than fist-pumping leading up to Game 4.

There was no way the Devils players could avoid seeing the giant heads of The Situation, Pauly-D, J-Woww and the usually pint-sized Snooki being waved behind their bench.

Ronnie, Sammi Sweetheart, Vinny, Angelina or Deena were no where to be seen.

It was pretty funny to see the enormous heads bobbing up and down behind the players but, in reality, the Devils don't have any players from Jersey. Who knows if coach Peter DeBoer or the players even knew who they were.  Maybe if they held up giants heads of reality show stars from Stockholm or Moosejaw— they might have been in on the joke.

Anyway, kudos for the creativity.

If the Devils manage to pull out a victory in game 4, maybe New Jersey fans can make giant cutout  heads of the characters from "90210" or "The Real Housewives of Orange County?" I imagine closeups of those old broads would just be plain scary.

Skinny Rex Ryan cheers for Devils at The Rock

New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan took a break from Tebow-mania and OTAs by taking in the first game of the Stanley Cup Finals between the New Jersey Devils and Los Angeles Kings at the Prudential Center.

Sporting a Ilya Kovalchuk jersey, Ryan showed up at The Rock to cheer on the Devils with his wife Michelle and their son Seth.

The Jets' training camp is just a few miles up Interstate 280 in Floral Park, so he was just keeping it real in Jersey.

Last year Ryan might have been the the biggest Devils fan — literally— but has lost a lot of weight during the off season and looked pretty fit in the Devils red and black.  He still won't reveal how he dropped the 90 pounds but said he is "breaking records" on the treadmill.

The players are also getting him about his svelte body.

"They push me to wear [long sleeves] because of the weight loss," he said.  "My arms look like twigs and things.  They're like, 'Put some sleeves on.'"

The Devils lost 2-1 following Anze Kopitar's overtime goal and the teams will meet in Game 2 on Saturday night.

Any chance Tim Tebow can lace 'em up?  Just wondering.