Sports Mustache of the Month - Starvin' Marvin Harrison

While thick and bushy mustaches are more common these days at NASCAR and Demolition Derby events around the Syracuse area, this SU alum sports one of the cleanest looking 'staches in sports. Marvin Daniel Harrison, Peyton Manning's go-to wide receiver since being drafted out of Syracuse in 1996, is one with the mustache. The Philadelphia native has made a career out of keeping his mouth shut while hauling in numerous catches, Pro-Bowls and chicks in every NFL city. In 2002, Harrison shattered Herman Moore's single season receptions record by 20. He finished with 143 catches and over 1,700 yards. Starvin' Marvin had a tough year in 2007 where he was hampered by a knee injury that forced him out most of the season. Now in 2008, Marvin is back on the block with something to prove aside from growing a very neat and clean mustache (and being an excellent milk drinker as displayed in the photo above!). For your receiving talents, milk drinking capabilities and most importantly mustachial grace, RV99 awards Marvin Harrison as the September 2008 Mustache of the Month!

RV99 Monday Evening Quote

(From former Yankee pitching legend and current YES Network broadcaster David Cone, after Jason Giambi shaved his mercurial and wondrous mustache) "...and Giambi homers much to the dismay of the American Mustache Institute!"

Way to go Coney, it's great to see the enthusiasm in the booth and was even more fantastic to see you on the hill this past Saturday at the final Old Timer's Day at the old Yankee Stadium! As our good friend Luis Sojo used to say (with incredibly thick and funny accent), "Hey Coney, why don't you have a dance?!?

Sports Mustache of the Month

A familiar face has turned up in a new place. Salvatore Frank Fasano, aka "The Greatest Mustache in Baseball" has made the rounds throughout Major League Baseball, most recently landing in Cleveland as the backup backstop behind Kelly Shoppach. In a special honor to the Syracuse Basketball legend, Big Fat Sal has donned the #44 for Derrick Coleman. Always a huge DC fan, it is great to see Sal and his mustache back in the big leagues. A veteran since 1996, Fasano has played for nine MLB teams including the Royals, Athletics, Rockies, Angels, Phillies, Yankees, Blue Jays and now the Indians. A lifetime .222 hitter, Sal is known more for his stellar defensive but most for his fantastic upper lip fuzz that is always very creative and hairy. At 36 years of age it is unknown how much more baseball the Chicago native has left in those legs and that 'stache of his but at this moment in time, we should all sit back and cherish every moment in which we get to watch Sal on TV.

Jason Giambi 'Support the Stache' Campaign Really Heating Up

Classless Mets Dump Willie at 3:12am Following Third Win in Four Games

Now former Mets Manager Willie Randolph can breathe a sigh of relief that he has been put out of his misery. A man on the hot seat since the infamous Collapse of 2007, Randolph's job security has waned down with each loss and recently with each multi-game losing streak. It got so bad that the other day it was rumored that Willie was speaking with team management encouraging them to promote someone from his staff once he was inevitably dismissed. While they took Willie's advice and promoted Bench Coach Jerry Manuel to Interim Manager, it was a disgusting way in which to fire a manager who came only one out away from bringing his team to the World Series just two seasons ago when Cardinals' light-hitting catcher Yadier [name that] Molina blasted a game-winning home run to send the Mets packed for the winter. Randolph has always been the fall-guy with Mets management and even with their fans. A Yankee at heart, Willie has struggled with some managerial decisions since moving over to the National League and leading the Metropolitans. Most notably, the double switch has always been a true quagmire to the mustachial Randolph. However, the way in which the Mets told Willie to take a hike will never be forgotten by baseball fans and New Yorkers alike. The franchise let their lame duck manager make the cross-country flight to Anaheim, where he managed the team to a 9-6 victory on Monday night against the Angels. Following the game, Randolph met with members of the media and answered questions. He discussed the encouraging victory and how the team needs to creep its way back to the .500 to compete with the Phillies and the rest of the NL East. When he returned to the team hotel, General Manager Omar Minaya was waiting with an axe. Pitching coach Rick Pederson and first base coach Tom Nieto were also let go and replaced by coaches promoted from the Mets' farm system. Players were in shock as displayed by backup catcher Ramon Castro's quote in the team's hotel lobby: "I'm in shock. I don't know what to say." Minaya is scheduled to speak at a 2pm press conference today at Angel Stadium where he will announce the promotion of Manuel. In the 3 1/2 years as Mets manager, Randolph returned the team to contention and helped mentor young players like David Wright and Jose Reyes while grooming them into major league talents. Willie didn't deserve to go out like this and the Mets do deserve what's coming to them - a roster of elderly, over-paid, under-performing scrubs who aren't even worth the price of a soggy stale hot dog at the crappiest ballpark in baseball. Randolph had already been selected by NL All-Star Game Manager Clint Hurdle to join his staff at Yankee Stadium next month and I hope he shows up in pinstripes to receive a Lou Gehrig-esque response from the appreciative and knowledgeable Yankee Stadium crowd as there is always a spot on Joe Girardi's staff for an excellent baseball mind like Willie Randolph.

Giambino Slams Walk-Off Pinch Hit Homer, Mustache Mania Takes NYC By Storm

Special Congrats to the Ricky Vaughn 99 Mustache of the Month Award Winner for June 2008, Jason "Meatball Face" Giambi!

Sports Mustache of the Month

Last month it was the gold thong and now comes the emergence of the wonderous mustache! After a brually slow start to the 2008 season, Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi knew a change was in order. Mired in a season-long slump, Giambi saw his average dip below the interstate and his power numbers were less than impressive as well. Injuries to players like Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada only increased the pressure on Giambi to hit the ball but his struggles continued. After putting on the gold thong, Jason started feeling locked in once again at the plate. However, an everyday player cannot be expected to run around every day wearing a banana hammock. Giambi is a superstitious player and decided to grow a long, lustrous mustache to keep his hitting successes on a roll. In previous seasons, Giambi has sported the 'stache as a slump-buster and last year grew it to honor the former Yankee captain and mustachial pheneomenon Donny Baseball. This year's 'stache has excited his teammates to such an extent that Johnny Damon, Joba Chamberlain and Shelley Duncan are growing little fuzzy friends of their own! We'll see how long the mustache growing lasts but through this exercise it is very apparent that mustaches are cool and do not mess with The Giambino.

D'Antoni Spurns Knicks and Bulls, Signs Lucrative Sponsorship Deal with Pringles

May 2008 Mustache of the Month Prestigious Honor

Following the 2006 and 2007 mustache-less seasons, Tony Pena decided to 'give the people what they want' and re-grow his infamous mustache to show off down the first base line for the 2008 MLB season. After the mutual parting of ways with Yankee management and long time manager Joe Torre, Pena was given the opportunity to interview to become Torre's replacement. What did he do prior to this interview, you ask? Pena let his facial hair grow for three full weeks. The night before the interview in Tampa, Pena shaved everything but the beloved 'stache, which was fully back and ready to party. While Joe Girardi was tabbed the new manager over Pena, the great Mustachial Warrior decided to stay with the team and continue coaching first base, although he had absolutely no intentions of getting rid of that mustache (thank goodness!). So a month prior to his 50th Birthday, Tony Pena is the Ricky Vaughn 99 Mustache of the Month winner for May 2008. Congratulations, Tony, and keep that mustache rockin' and rollin'!

Mustache of the Month

Rollie Fingers has some major competition in the house now as Portuguese football player, coach and poet Artur Jorge takes home the Ricky Vaughn 99 Mustache of the Month Award for April 2008. Born February 13, 1946, Jorge's greatest accomplishment was when he won the European Champions Cup as a member of F.C. Porto. He has been known since as "King Artur" and was named one of the best 100 Portuguese football players of all time. Currently, the Mustache King is the manager of French Second Division Team US Créteil-Lusitanos, where he shares his knowledge of the sport of mustache growing with all the young players and coaches. Last month he had a major scare when he arrived home after a big win. Mrs. Jorge was frantic as her husband came home, screaming over and over in Portuguese which was later translated: "Artur, my goodness my poor love...what on earth happened to your upper lip? It is gone!"

Sports Mustache of the Month

Sorry Keith Hernandez, sorry Goose Gossage but the First Ricky Vaughn 99 Mustache of the Month Award goes to a well-deserving Rollie Fingers. Fingers originally grew his famous "Handlebar" mustache is order to receive a $300 bonus from Oakland A's Owner Charles O. Finley! Fingers is most notably remembered as one of the first pitchers to be groomed (no pun intended) as a relief pitcher during his minor league career. In 1981 Fingers both the American League MVP and Cy Young awards while pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers and is one of 8 players in Major League history to have his number retired by more than one team.

Currently Rollie Fingers is the Pitching Coach at Friends Seminary High School in New York City where his son, Chicken Fingers, is the star pitcher and shortstop for the baseball team. When asked if he one day hopes to grow a mustache as thick, full and lustrous as his father's, Chicken just flapped his arms and shrugged his shoulders before heading down to the cafeteria to look for some honey mustard dipping sauce.