Just George
02-02-2011, 08:50 AM
My first priority Tuesday wasn't interviewing Pittsburgh Steelers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/pittsburgh-steelers/67067) defensive end Brett Keisel (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/player/brett-keisel/102582).
I wanted to speak to The Beard.
Keisel's kisser isn't framed by just any old facial hair. This is something that belongs in the Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium located in nearby Grand Prairie.
Eight months of unfettered growth has created a brown, grizzly spectacle that is both gross and beautiful at the same time.
It's gross from an aesthetic standpoint. It's beautiful if you're a superstitious Steelers player or a fan that has helped give The Beard its own identity through "Fear the Beard" T-shirts and Twitter and Facebook accounts.
"I have to blame my teammates, really," Keisel said Tuesday at Super Bowl XLV Media Day inside Cowboys Stadium. "When I started this thing, I said, 'As long as we're winning games, I'll let this grow.' It's really their fault."
All right, Brett. That's enough from you. Let's hear from The Beard.
I opened our interview by asking when The Beard took on a life of its own.
"I think when it started getting cooler," The Beard said. "When the snow started falling in Pittsburgh, The Beard overwhelmed."
Favorite hobby? "Playing football."
Favorite food? "Steak."
Favorite movie? "Braveheart."
Favorite TV show: "(The Beard) really doesn't watch too much TV. There's other things to do."
Why doesn't The Beard have any endorsement deals? "Maybe that will happen later."
And, finally, what's the toughest thing about always having to hang out with Brett Keisel the person?
"It's not tough at all," The Beard said. "The toughest thing is probably Brett's wife (Sarah). But she's been great through all this. Hopefully, this will carry us through one more game."
The Steelers are counting on both Keisel and The Beard to do just that Sunday against the Green Bay Packers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/green-bay-packers/67046).
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/Brett-Keisel-beard-Media-Day-Super-Bowl-XLV-Pittsburgh-Steelers-020111
I wanted to speak to The Beard.
Keisel's kisser isn't framed by just any old facial hair. This is something that belongs in the Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium located in nearby Grand Prairie.
Eight months of unfettered growth has created a brown, grizzly spectacle that is both gross and beautiful at the same time.
It's gross from an aesthetic standpoint. It's beautiful if you're a superstitious Steelers player or a fan that has helped give The Beard its own identity through "Fear the Beard" T-shirts and Twitter and Facebook accounts.
"I have to blame my teammates, really," Keisel said Tuesday at Super Bowl XLV Media Day inside Cowboys Stadium. "When I started this thing, I said, 'As long as we're winning games, I'll let this grow.' It's really their fault."
All right, Brett. That's enough from you. Let's hear from The Beard.
I opened our interview by asking when The Beard took on a life of its own.
"I think when it started getting cooler," The Beard said. "When the snow started falling in Pittsburgh, The Beard overwhelmed."
Favorite hobby? "Playing football."
Favorite food? "Steak."
Favorite movie? "Braveheart."
Favorite TV show: "(The Beard) really doesn't watch too much TV. There's other things to do."
Why doesn't The Beard have any endorsement deals? "Maybe that will happen later."
And, finally, what's the toughest thing about always having to hang out with Brett Keisel the person?
"It's not tough at all," The Beard said. "The toughest thing is probably Brett's wife (Sarah). But she's been great through all this. Hopefully, this will carry us through one more game."
The Steelers are counting on both Keisel and The Beard to do just that Sunday against the Green Bay Packers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/green-bay-packers/67046).
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/Brett-Keisel-beard-Media-Day-Super-Bowl-XLV-Pittsburgh-Steelers-020111