Dallas Keuchel had scarcely more than a five o'clock shadow when he made his major-league debut in 2012.
The former Arkansas Razorback and current Houston ace has since turned his beard into one of the more recognizable in sports, rivaling that of Houston Rockets star James Harden in an unusual one-two punch for the city. Like his beard, Keuchel's popularity has grown, too, as he has helped the long-suffering Astros take the lead in the American League West.
There is Keuchel's Korner, a section of the ballpark dedicated to the left-hander, where at each of his home starts, $35 buys a game ticket, a fake beard, a shirt with a the words "Go Beard or Go Home" and a cartoon depiction of his whiskers.
Unlike Harden, Keuchel isn't committed to keeping the beard.
"I would definitely cut it off," he told The Associated Press.
Shearing it would have to mean something, though. He is trying to devise a plan where getting rid of it could raise money for charity, possibly in the fight against Alzheimer's. His 81-year-old grandfather, Joseph Keuchel, died in September after a battle with the disease.
If someone stepped up with a "large amount of money" to go to an Alzheimer's charity, he'd have no qualms about a transition to clean-shaven Keuchel.
"It's something that I would like to see a lot more awareness of, and that's why I would be willing to cut my beard," he said. "Hopefully one of these days ... we can find a cure for it."
Golden collection
The American flag that goalie Jim Craig wrapped around his shoulders after the U.S. hockey team's Miracle on Ice victory at the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics is on the auction block.
The flag is one of 19 items in "The Jim Craig 'Miracle on Ice' Collection," which also includes Craig's Olympic gold medal and the jersey he wore against the vaunted Soviet Union and in the gold-medal victory against Finland. Also included are the only mask Craig wore during the Winter Games, his skates and goalie equipment and the goalie sticks from the games against the Soviets and Finland.
Asking price for the collection is $5.7 million. The items are on display through Sunday at the National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago.
Craig said he decided to sell the items "so my children and grandchildren will be financially secure in the future."
Craig, who has made a living as a motivational speaker, has a 26-year-old son and 24-year-old daughter.
Proceeds from the sale also will benefit several charities that Craig supports.
Cheers, Rickie
Rickie Fowler ended his first round at the Quicken Loans National on Thursday with a hole in one at the par-3 ninth at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.
Fowler used a 7-iron on the 200-yard downhill hole to make his second career PGA Tour ace and first since his pro debut at the Frys.com Open in 2009.
"We had 176 as the adjusted number," Fowler said of the shot that finished off a 4-under 67. "Spun to the right. I was trying to cut it. Rolled in with perfect speed."
Fowler could have walked off then and there, leaving playing partners Ben Crane and James Hahn to finish out, but the 2015 Players winner stuck around to shake hands and wrap everything up formally.
The celebration continued for Fowler after the round as he sent a bucket of beer to the media tent.
QUIZ
What NHL team drafted Jim Craig?
ANSWER
The Atlanta Flames
Sports on 08/01/2015