The New York Yankees are finally loosening their infamous facial hair policy, but not everyone’s thrilled about how they announced it.
Owner Hal Steinbrenner revealed the organization’s softened stance on their decades-old grooming rules, marking a significant shift for a franchise that’s held onto this tradition since George Steinbrenner implemented it in 1973.
While most fans welcomed the Yankees’ step into modern times, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith took issue with the team’s approach – specifically their decision to hold a press conference about it.
“A 20-minute press conference over facial hair? I mean, what a disgrace,” Smith said during an unexpected tangent before his scheduled NBA segment on SportsCenter. “I’m a die-hard Yankee fan. I’m trying to keep my cool. But damn. You ain’t won a World Series title since 2009. You ain’t been to one since then until last year—you got romped by the Dodgers. And facial hair is a reason there was a press conference?”
Smith’s frustration seems to reflect a broader concern among Yankees faithful – that the team’s focusing on the wrong priorities while their championship drought continues.
The policy change itself isn’t complete freedom – players still can’t sport full beards or long hair. But it’s a notable shift for an organization that’s traditionally been rigid about personal appearance.
What’s clear is that while the Yankees might be modernizing their approach to facial hair, their fans care far more about modernizing the trophy case. The team hasn’t hoisted a World Series trophy since 2009, their longest title drought since the stretch between 1978 and 1996.
For all the attention this policy change is getting, it’ll be forgotten quickly if the Yankees can’t deliver what their fans really want – their 28th World Series championship.
