12/03/24
May 11, 2004
I'm just a simple Caveman outfielder ...: but not any more. Boston's Johnny Damon has decided he will shave off his unkempt facial hair to raise money for a reading program, courtesy of the fine folks at Gillette. Damon's beard and long hair have led to plenty of comments and even a t-shirt, but the important question is this — who is the sloppiest, nappiest athlete of all time?
i'd have to say Daneyko ranks up there. here's a scarier shot, kenny with a bat in his hands.
posted by goddam at 11:35 PM on May 11, 2004
Ugly footballers EPL starting ugly XI from 2003, 2002, and 2001. Though I'd put an unshaved Ryan Giggs in there someplace. Given the shape of his face (cheekbones I guess) - with heavy stubble he looks pretty nasty. Drive-a-windowless-van-slowly-down-your-street kind of nasty.
posted by gspm at 01:27 AM on May 12, 2004
There were plenty of unkempt footballers in the 70s, but I'd have to go for Chelsea's Mickey Droy. (He's the one on the left..)
posted by salmacis at 04:12 AM on May 12, 2004
The '82 Milwaukee Brewers were a slovenly bunch as a whole, but Gorman Thomas led the way. As a kid, I was in awe of his eye black and facial ... whatever. There's also this great photo from the 1982 celebration, and a terrific feature on one of the game's best-loved players.
posted by wfrazerjr at 10:31 AM on May 12, 2004
Oh yeah, hockey tough-guy Chris Simon's lank, long hair always seemed kind of sloppy. But someone told me he wore it that way to honour his Ojibwa heritage, so I guess that's different. Anyway, the greatest all-star hockey hair of this generation has to belong to Jaromir Jagr. (He must have been a Disney fan.)
posted by molafson at 11:27 AM on May 12, 2004
C'mon...you can't mention bad hockey hair without mentioning this guy.
posted by MeatSaber at 11:49 AM on May 12, 2004
I don't have any scrubby athlete stories... but i can share some of my favorite Johnny Damon inspired sightings... the Disciples of Damon at the park. They have t-shirts, wear fake bears, fake wigs (if required) and red sox caps and they all sit together. the new thing you can have done is customized team t-shirts. Instead of getting a red sox t-shirt with Garciaparra and 5 on the back, you can get (almost) whatever you want. Seen at Fenway, a #18 t-shirt with "captaincaveman" on the back.
posted by jerseygirl at 12:27 PM on May 12, 2004
Mike Commodore has the biggest red afro I've ever seen on a hockey player, but unfortunately the only pictures I can find of him are from before he grew the 'do.
posted by sauril at 01:54 PM on May 12, 2004
Ricci got his helmet knocked off at one point last night, and the crowd went nuts. He's a legend in the NHL. Don Cherry showed a picture of Ricci on his draft day, when he, quote, "still looked like a human bein'".
posted by Succa at 01:59 PM on May 12, 2004
The Mad Hungarian was always more than a little ragged-looking.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 03:52 PM on May 12, 2004
New Raider and former Hawkeye Robert Gallery has a future in this field.
posted by jason streed at 08:52 AM on May 13, 2004
While not unkempt, Roberto Baggio's braided mullet distinguished itself for being absurd, and yet carefully maintained.