Following the growth of Dancin' Shawny's beard through the 2011 Philadelphia Flyers Playoff Run and raising money through Beard-A-Thon for Flyers Charities.
How To Donate:
Go to my Beard-A-Thon Page And fill out the form to Pledge this Beard! (Make sure it says Shawny Hill)
Having some uploading problems, but I'll have a photo update before the end of the week. At the end of the week we'll be playing in Round 2. By the end of the night, we'll know who we are playing in Round 2!
Also we'll get to see the progression of the Flyers's beards!
I'm finally starting to feel the weight of my beard. There's starting to get that constant feeling of something being on my face, which usually last a couple days and usually means it's ready for prime time.
However, while the beard is rollin' along, and is awaiting your donation, I'm wondering if I should get a haircut before we get underway in Round 2. Some people allow for the trimming of beards/hair inbetween rounds. I'll never trim my beard unless an odd circumstance, but I've always wondered about haircuts.
So that's the question I pose to you beard blog readers...is a haircut acceptable?
And remember, the goal is to match the total for Round 1 in Round 2! So you need to donate TODAY!
Haven't posted in a couple days as my off days became rather busy, but I also figured everyone could use a day or two off!
However, I'm ready to get back to hockey, and I hope you're ready to get back to donating! I'm currently in 3rd place on the leaderboard and as we get ready for Round 2 I'm ready to throw it into high gear!
Here's how you can help - I understand money is tough all around (please keep reading), so what I'm asking is to ask your co-workers, friends, etc. Link them to the blog, tell them about the causes (Breast Cancer Research, Children's charities, and many more in OUR area), show them my photos, show them my YouTube videos!
You buy their kids cookies, sponsor their walk-a-thons, and give soup to their homeless. Why can't they help support a guy growing a beard for charity? :-)
But seriously, I'd love to show how much passion the Flyers Community has by trying to match my Round 1 donation total of over $400! Let's show why we're not only the Most Intimidating Fans in Hockey, but just as supportive outside of hockey as well. (Plus we can't let any of those other clubs raise more money than us?)
While we hear stories of light practice and wait for reports on Lappy's face, the Beard-a-Thon quest rages on! My beard is has reached full coverage and now will grow into a gritty, playoff tested, Round 2 beast!
Kinda like the Flyers themselves, now's the time to hop on board and enjoy. Donate today so when Game 3 of the Second Round comes, you can find me down at the Wachovia Center, point to the many, many hairs on my chin, and get amped up knowing you kept the Playoff Beard going, and helped many people along the way!
Eliminated the Devils and now are waiting to see who we'll face in Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This also means the beard keeps on growing and you haven't missed out on your chance to Donate!
For your viewing pleasure, my beard took a trip to entertain some local students! See the clip below from CBS 3 (ignore the guy at the end who tries to talk about the nfl draft..LAME!)
Special Thanks to those at St. Christopher's for inviting me out to help them get Flyer'd Up!
I've always loved growing a playoff beard. It's something I think every hockey fan should do at least once and every hockey player should do as soon as they are able to grow anything.
Yet every year at playoff time I'm reminded, that there is one person in my life that HATES beards. And she let's me know, multiple times a day. Luckily for me, I have a very important person in my corner who is Pro-beard!
But every playoff season, I have to hear this debate. So I asked them to write up a short piece to share with you (philly)phaithful Beard Blog readers. Enjoy!
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Why I Hate the Beard
By: Shawny’s Mom
Hate the beard Shawn! I am glad the Flyers made the playoffs, but now I have to look at my son with this ugly beard. Every day I see the beard growing more. It seems to grow out, rather than longer. It is crawling down his neck and up his face. I think it looks horrible. It is coarse and thick and takes away from his beautiful blue eyes. He is 24 years old, but now looks like he is pushing 30, with all this hair on his face.
I know it is for a good cause, to raise money for Flyers Charities, but this beard takes away his boyish looks. Help, my son looks like a mountain man!! I can only wonder how the Flyers mothers feel watching their pride and joy on the ice, covered with facial hair, hiding the face they love. I’m hoping the Flyers win them all in a row these playoffs, so all this ugly hair can disappear.
Why I Love the Beard
By: Missle (Shawny's Girlfriend)
Love it or hate it, the Stanley Cup Playoff Beard is a time-honored tradition that has evolved into a staple of the sport itself.Every April, fans and players alike shun their razors for as long as their team can stay alive in the grueling, thrilling quest for Lord Stanley's prize.I love the playoff beard because it serves as a constant reminder of my favorite time of year.Because it represents my team's quest, and the fact that this might be our year.Because it means I'll be able to watch the best hockey played all year on television, every night.Because, from the # 21 of 2008 to the # 21 of 2010, the range of beard growing ability never ceases to amaze me.Because, this time of year, stubble on your face represents much more than a laziness, fashion statement, or an unwillingness to shave; it means you're a part of a team.
As for Shawny's beard?Well, that's where his mom and I disagree... I think it looks great on him :-)
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No matter who you agree with, both would like to ask you to donate, because helping out a great cause is always a favorite!
LET'S GO FLYERS!!
-Dancin' Shawny
(Hittin' up the Twitter tonight for Game 5!)
We got a 3-1 series lead, but we're breaking foots and toes suffering lower body injuries. So it looks like we're not out of the woods yet.
But while the injury front would be a receding hairline, the rest of the team is a full steam ahead of facial growth. Which leads me nicely back into......Playoff Beards!
It looks like we'll get to see the debuts of Ville Leino's and David Laliberte playoffs beards and I'm expecting big things. I remember Laliberte from my time at the Phantoms being able to get great coverage. (Though as much as I'm down with Laliberte, my friend Riley should really get a chance for playoff action. Yeah, I said it.)
Last night the beard and I had to endure a full TV timeout worth of dancing, but it was all worth it to give a little extra face time to convince you that THIS is the beard to pledge this playoff year. It's starting to get nice and thick and soon will be in the minor leagues of "bushy" status. (Minor league of Bush League? Is that even possible?)
And while the play of late seemingly supports the notion that there will be more time to donate, why wait? Get on board early! Like everyone who already owns a Giroux jersey you could be part of the growing movement!
(I love how this is turning into a pun filled lounge comedian act)
Tomorrow I hope to have a fun little Point-Counterpoint featuring two important people to my life. It'll give a little glimpse at what I deal with come playoff time.
Until then all that's left to do is GROW DONATE!(One more pun for the road)
Photo time: (Goofy Edition)
(Don't do this with your wristband. Donate instead!)
Playoff hockey tonight in Philadelphia and I could not be more pumped!
Except when it come to donations. We've stalled. I haven't had a donation in a couple days, and while times are tough, I'm hoping someone will dig deep and give a little for charity.
And just to remind people, I don't get anything out of this except an awesome beard and the pleasure of helping others.
Here's where your money is going (via Flyers Charities website).
"The money raised during fundraising initiatives has helped the Foundation assist many local beneficiaries such as, but not limited to: Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis & Education Center, Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation, YMCA, Philadelphia Youth Network, Firefly Literacy Fund, Virtua Foundation, Penn Hospice at Rittenhouse, Foundation for Melanoma Research, and Living Beyond Breast Cancer."
As much as I try to have fun here, I want to make sure the cause isn't lost.
Anyway, as we hit Game 4 tonight we're going to start seeing good growth on just about everyone growing beards. Haven't really seen a good leading candidate yet, unless you count Scott Hartnell, but I haven't really seen him around. Maybe that'll change tonight.
Tonight I plan to to a little Shampoo dance move, making sure to lather up the beard as well! Be on the lookout for it!
In the time of year known for Playoff Beards the man with the 'stache gets it done! Great game last night and my beard and I were on the edge of our seat the whole game!
Speaking of, my beard made it's home debut to rave reviews, but no donations! It was even featured at the Beard-A-Thon stand in the Wachovia Center! But I'm not going to let it deter me, I know I have quality growth and have faith in the fan base that pushed the Flyers to victory last night.
So Flyers Fans I'm asking you, let's keep this momentum going! Please pledge my beard in the Flyers Bears-A-Thon !
Right now, I still stand in second place behind Mr. Luukko. (Read my previous post on why you should help me get back into first!)
As for the beard blog, been a bunch of quick posts so far, so we'll have some fun posts coming up this week. I have some guest posters coming up as well such as my girlfriend and Mother in an epic debate! I've also asked Glen Macnow of 610WIP and Jeff Marek of HNIC Radio for some beard related posts, and they both, well, haven't responded to me asking. So I'll ask some more people!
Game 3 is here and it's time for the home debut of my playoff beard. If you are going to the game tonight (BE LOUD AND PROUD ALL GAME) check out the beard on the big board and find out first hand why you should donate!
And if you see ol' $1000 Luukko, tell him my beard's coming for him!
Peter Luukko has jumped out to an impressive $1,000 total. I sit in second place on the leaderboard with $300. We're 2 games into the playoff run and just like the Flyers who head home for two home games, this is the time for us to take charge!
I'm asking you, Flyers Fans, pledge my beard and don't let Peter Luukko win! Donate to my beard, the beard that represents the fans! Every hair on my face represents every orange clad screaming fan!
This beard yells at the refs and boos the opponent. This beard would keep the Spectrum open and the Phantoms in Philadelphia. This beard knows that the War Room in Toronto is bias. This beard would never make you pay $15 dollars to park your car. This beard would do whatever it could to save the league from Gary Bettman. This beard rocks the party that rocks the body. This beard is ready to be loud ALL GAME come Sunday.
So please, donate whatever you can the Flyers Fan beard. Let's close the gap on Luukko!
P.S. I forgot to mention. Every dollar that both Peter Luukko and I raise goes to Flyers Charities, so every dollar is a for a great cause no matter who's specific beard gets the money. I still think you should pledge mine, but I applaud Peter and his work for charity and he deserves your kudos for that effort.
Good win last night by the Flyers! As for the Beard-A-Thon, We Are On A Roll! $300 so far so has put me near the top of the leaderboard. But I'm not satisfied yet!
Here are some reasons why you should donate!
1) You can't grow a beard - Work won't let you, girlfriend hates it, your a defenseman from Lativa; whatever the excuse may be, show your support by supporting my beard! 2) It's almost the opposite of a walk-a-thon - I love the opportunity to help out others by raising money, but sometimes you have to do things like walk 5 miles. This, just watch my beard grow! 3) Our collective efforts are on display! - I said last year that pledging my beard is like buying stock in it, when I'm dancing on the big screen, and you see my beard, you can say, "Hey! I'm part of that beard!" 4) You can do it for a $1 a day - One of the cool things about the Beard-A-Thon is that you can donate $1 for everyday the Flyers are in the playoffs! It's a great way to not only show faith in beard, but in the Flyers! 5) I'm going to come up with a contest - If you donate, you may win something. Details as I get them.
That's 5 good reasons to donate and there are at least a couple more!
TONIGHT it begins. The hairs on my face are standing in full anticipation for tonights opening game. It's a special time of year, my favorite time of year (except the weather, I miss the snow) and tonight the previous 82 games don't matter.
Beard wise we'll get to see the growth of some of our favorites. Briere's smooth stubble, Giroux's red wonder, and actual growth on Gagne! Remember 10 YEARS AGO and when Gags was 20 and it was hilarious watching him try to grow one? I'm also interested to see Lappy and DP's beards which I hope are as classic as they are. And will Downshall (Carcillo for those not familiar) keep rockin' the stache or will he go full growth?
Anyway, let's not forget, the beard show dedication, commitment, and sacrifice. So please visit https://www.beardathon.com/flyers/DancingShawny/profile.aspx and donate. It's for a great cause. So far I've got $0! Yeah, that's embarrassing. But it also gives an opportunity for someone to be the first one to donate and get the ball rolling!
My goal for today, at least is $20 before the puck drop tonight!
I did a blog like this last year and decided I liked the first post I did there so I'm going to copy and paste it to start off this one! It's laziness at it's finest, but I did tweak it a bit to make it updated for the 2010 run.
WIkipedia: "A playoff beard is the superstitious practice of a National Hockey League player not shaving his beard during the Stanley Cupplayoffs. The player stops shaving when his team enters the playoffs and does not shave until his team is eliminated or wins the Stanley Cup."
Hey everyone!
I'm not sure who my audience will be for this, if any at all, but I figured it was a fun addition to my profile at www.beardathon.com/flyers
If you haven't checked out that site already, please do so. I am one of many people growing a playoff beard for the Flyers quest for Lord Stanley's Cup. In addition, I am hoping to raise money for Flyers Charities through the website www.beardathon.com/flyers. Every day or so I will post an updated picture of my playoff beard and hopefully write here about my beard and such, with occasional commentary on the Flyers playoff run. This blog is intended to be for fun and entertainment, so I will tend to avoid deep hockey talk (if I can!).
Some quick notes: - Normally, I start my playoff beard from nothing because I feel once the regular season is over, you wipe the slate clean and begin your journey. But this year the Flyers needed to put it into playoff mode early. So I got a 4 game head start this year. I tend to grow facial hair at a good pace, and if any one saw my previous beards, it can get pretty glorious. - The art of trimming to be more acceptable to society is another thing I don't do. A hockey fan is who I am. It's not going to be pretty, it won't look professional, but it will look like Shawny - The Hockey Fan. - I'm interested to see which Flyers I can outgrow. Dark horse for best beard - Ryan Parent - Blog related: Please don't junk up my comments with negative or unrelated posts. 1) I probably will only skim the comments to begin with, so you're not really posting to me. 2) This is focused more on raising money for Flyers Charaities in a fun way, not a forum to critize.
Anyway, I hope I properly introduced this blog and I hope any that read it get some enjoyment out of it.
