Sorry Tybee, a Challenge is a Challenge
Chas McFarland said the other night that his mustache is itching and he would love to shave it, but can’t. The Deacons are on a four-game winning streak, and he doesn’t want to jinx it.
If I didn’t know better, I’d think he was just trying to avoid any humiliation from the `Battle of the Staches’ I proposed last week.
The reaction I’ve gotten from my offer to shave my beard and mustache in the event that Wake makes the Final Four has been so strong and gratifying that I imagine I’m in regardless of whether Chas or any of the Deacons want to challenge my ability to sprout facial hair. The gauntlet I threw down, if you weren’t paying attention, was that should Wake Forest reach the Final Four I would shave my face clean of mustache and beard and grow back only my mustache over the weeks leading up to Chas’ graduation in May, at which time photographs would be taken and I’d have all you guys judge who has the best ‘stache. I’ve even offered to allow Chas to keep growing his, giving him a handicap of sorts to help make up for the 40 years of practice I’ve had in growing mine.
So here’s the new deal. I’ll take on all comers, as long as they play basketball for Wake Forest. I’ve noticed that L.D. Williams has pretty heavy growth. He might be really tough to out-sprout. But I’ll willing to give it a shot.
I told Dino Gaudio about my challenge last week and he loved it. Everyone has, in fact, except for my bride Tybee. And she was aghast. See, she’s one of the few people in Forsyth County who have seen me without a beard and, judging from her panic-stricken face when I informed her of my offer, she obviously doesn’t want to see it again.
“You’re going to what?’’ she demanded.
I told her to calm down, that Wake hasn’t been to the Final Four since 1962. That relieved her a bit, but I could see she was still a little shaken over the possibility of having to see my face.