For anyone who missed yesterday’s amusing photo of Steve Nash’s new hairstyle, here it is again:

Due to attending the Toronto FC and Argonauts training facilities this week (more on this in the coming days), together with flying overnight, I’ve not had an opportunity to prepare a decent column.  (Obviously some of you would say this is a daily occurrence anyway.)

In any event, this is my lame attempt at an apology for today’s blog, where I’ve basically decided to use Nash’s new hairstyle as an excuse to look at some other disastrous sporting dos.  Enjoy.

1) We start off with one of Toronto sports great underachievers…..Oh, hold on, there’s quite a few of them isn’t there?  I guess we better narrow it down.

Basically, it’s former Blue Jays pitcher A.J. Burnett who inexplicably decided to attempt a ‘Dennis the Menace’ haircut during his stint with the Yankees:

2) Staying with former Toronto athletes but definitely more of an overachiever rather than an underachiever, here’s Chris Bosh:

To be honest, this has nothing in particular to do with Bosh’s chosen hairstyle and everything to do with my continued sports-hate for the ex-Raptor.  Regardless, he still looks ridiculous.

3) Next, not that we ever need any excuse, but here’s the much-adored Gary Bettman, circa. 1994:

Suave, sophisticated and trendy.  None of these are words you’d associate with the above picture.  Instead, try clueless, ridiculous and smug.  (And let’s be honest, he may as well be holding his middle finger up at us all.)

4) It’s a well-known un-factual fact that virtually every black/African American man has more style than the average white male.  This includes their ability to sport afros better than, say, David Hasselhoff.

But I have to draw the line at this:

Seriously, is it Coco Crisp or Coco the Clown?

5) Further to the previous point, David Beckham is often perceived as one of the few white guys who can pull off most styles.  However, even he is susceptible to making bad decisions:

6) I thought we’d end with one of the most polarising mullets of all time.  You either love it or hate it, but I have to give kudos to Jarmoir Jagr for even attempting this:

It actually make’s Kelly Gruber’s mullet from his Blue Jays playing days almost look acceptable.

Enjoy your weekend and keep an eye out for blogs over the coming days in relation to my visit this week to the Toronto FC and Argonauts training facilities.

• By paul.taylor
• October 5, 2012
• Comment

Wow, what else can go wrong for the Blue Jays?  Ricky Romero has a rare good outing, against the Yankees no less, but still loses and Jose Bautista’s season is over.  What a demoralising second half of the season this has been.  I think we all need a nice change of pace.  How about another mailbag?

In case you missed it, here’s part one of our mega mailbag.  Now settle back for part two, but be warned, some of the questions are tenuous at best in terms of their connection to sport.

Q. Raptors question, given your bias for Toronto sports is blatantly obvious; Do they have any hope of success this season?

Tom - London

You do realise this is a Toronto sports website right?  Just checking…..In any event, to answer your question; not likely.

I do think they’ll continue to build a solid foundation and improve under Dwane Casey.  I also fully expect Andrea Bargnani to find a new level of consistency (although that may be because of my blatant Toronto bias.)  Just don’t anticipate a playoff appearance this season.

And while it’s up to Bryan Colangelo and company to bring in better players, they’re also hamstrung by the way the NBA is set up.  Remember how David Stern and company  claimed a lockout was necessary to help make teams more even and competitive?  I think the Dwight Howard trade to the Lakers tells us what a load of rubbish that was.

Mind you, it’s not like the NBA has a problem in respect of competitive balance.  Oh, hold on, let’s compare the four major sports over the last 30 years:

NFL:   15 different champions

NHL:  16 different champions

MLB:  19 different champions (yep, that one surprised me too)

NBA:    9 different champions

The NBA can claim whatever they want, but don’t lie about trying to attain more parity in the league. Parity my arse!

Q.  What do you make of Colby Rasmus’s new cornrow hairstyle?

Julie - Mississauga

That’s two straight days of hair questions.  I guess that’s what happens when you have a female presence within your audience.

Basically, I feel there’s just some things us white men should never attempt.  Forget ‘White Men Can’t Jump’.  White Men can’t pull off the cornrows look either.

Even so-called trend-setter David Beckham couldn’t pull off the cornrow look and it certainly doesn’t suit Rasmus.  Actually, talking of Beckham………….

Q. So David Beckham’s in the news again over another alleged affair. Thoughts please.

Sharon - Liverpool

It still annoys me how even my passion for North American sports can’t help me escape the Beckham ‘phenomenon’, which I’ve been putting up with ever since he scored his wonder-goal against Wimbledon in 1996.

Even when I came to live in Toronto during 2006, he followed me across the Atlantic Ocean to ply his trade with the L.A. Galaxy and continue making headlines on ESPN.

I’m going to let you in on a little secret: Beckham as a football player has always been overrated.  No, really, he has.  I don’t deny he has more talent in his left big toe than I do in my entire body, or that he has a wicked right foot.  But in terms of ability and skill, he’s not that talented.

He’s actually more of a testament to what hard work, good looks and excellent PR can do for your career.  The reason he’s so popular is down to always giving 100% effort combined with expert marketing: marrying a Spice Girl, the clothes he wears, being seen in public with Tom Cruise, Will Smith, etc and so on.  And don’t think I begrudge him, because I would do exactly the same in his situation.

Sorry about that, you were actually asking about this alleged affair with opera singer Katherine Jenkins weren’t you?  All I will say is if….IF….there’s any truth to it, Jenkins represents a significant upgrade from Rebecca Loos.

Right, I’m off to check my ‘idiots guide to media law’ to make sure the wording of that last paragraph is acceptable.

NB. The Raptors Dance Pak competition closes at noon tomorrow!  Click here to vote for Jamie.

Photo credit: http://whiteguyswithcornrows.com

• By paul.taylor
• August 29, 2012
• Comment

Toronto FC defeated the LA Galaxy on wednesday night in the return game of the CONCACAF champions league by the score of 2-1, to advance to the American (the continent) champions league semifinal.

Unlike last week, Toronto FC was able to hold their lead. In the 89th minute of the game in Toronto, David Beckham produced a beautiful corner kick, after almost receiving a beer bottle on the head from a drunk fan, to help Landon Donovan tie up the game at 2.

Ryan Johnson and Nick Soolsma scored for the winners, who become the first canadian team to reach the champions league semifinal.

Toronto FC will now face the Mexican team Santos Laguna, who had no problem defeating the Seattle Sounders by an aggregate of 7-3.

• By Manny Frag
• March 15, 2012
• Comment