Mustache Sightings on the rise..

ATTENTION: The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Mustache Warning for the The Twin Cities and the surrounding area....There is a phenomenon going on in the upper Midwest and it all can be traced to one man....Twins ace, Carl Pavano. AKA Super Pavario.



The man has been hotter than wasabi lately, undefeated in his last 10 starts (8-0), with his last loss coming June 3rd. After a ho-hum start to the season, Pavano, no stranger to the world of facial hair, started growing a moustache in hopes of sparking some sort of momentum and consistency. What he didn't know, was that his mustache would become bigger than him and his pitching. The 'stache (as commonly referred to) has its own facebook page apart from Carl's regular facebook page. In fact, Carl Pavano's Mustache page has over a 1,000 fans compared to just 250 for the man himself! It even has its own Twitter page, @carlstache with 100 followers.

The Courtesy Wave did a little history on the mustache, which can be spelled with an 'o' as moustache. However, American English spells it without the 'o', therefore I have left it at that. I digress, the oldest portrait showing a man with a mustache, is dated all the way back to 300 B.C. (Before Carl), where an ancient Iranian horseman is depicted with a sleek 'stache. The word moustache has been derived a few times. Its etymology dates back to the 8th century where in Medieval Latin the term "mustacium", and by the Greeks in the 9th century with the usage of "moustakion." In the 14th century, the term took an Italian swing to "mustaccio." And finally in the 16th century, the French can be attributed to creating the present day term of "moustache." Take that to the bank and cash it!

History aside, the mustache can take on many forms. The World Beard and Moustache Championships recognize 6 sub categories for moustaches.
1) Natural - the mustache that grows without aids..
2) Hungarian - Big and bushy, beginning from the middle of the upper lip and pulled to the side
3) Dalí – narrow, long points bent or curved steeply upward. Named after weirdo artist Salvador Dali (seen here on the right)
4) English - narrow, beginning at the middle of the upper lip the whiskers are very long and pulled to the side, slightly curled with the ends pointed slightly upward
5) Imperial – whiskers growing from both the upper lip and cheeks, curled upward
6) Freestyle – All moustaches that do not match other classes.

Other popular moustaches and their famous counterparts.


Fu Manchu - long, downward pointing ends, generally beyond the chin. -- David Lo Pan from Big Trouble in Little China


Handlebar - bushy, with small upward pointing ends. Also known as a "spaghetti moustache".--There's no one that symbolizes the handlebar 'stache than the great Rollie Fingers.


Horseshoe – Often confused with the Fu Manchu style, the horseshoe consists of a full moustache with vertical extensions from the corners of the lips down to the jawline and resembling an upside-down horseshoe.--No one rocks this better than the Hulkster.


Pencil Moustache - narrow, straight and thin as if drawn on by a pencil, closely clipped, outlining the upper lip, with a wide shaven gap between the nose and moustache.--Popularized by Raul Julia's Gomez Addams character.


Chevron – thick and wide, usually covering the top of the upper lip.--If you wear your mustache like Jeff Foxworthy...you just might be a redneck.


Toothbrush - thick, but shaved except for about an inch in the center. --Charlie Chaplin rockin the toothbrush way before Adolf ever did.


Walrus - bushy, hanging down over the lips, often entirely covering the mouth.--Wilford Brimley and Pops from the Muppet Show

Let's bring this back to the man, the myth, the legend that continues to grow...Carl Pavano's mustache. There has been a growing trend of mustache supporters amongst Twins fans and mustache fans alike..its even spawned a Chuck Norris like fact list. (who also rocks the 'stache) Here are a few of my favorites:

It takes Carl Pavano's Mustache 20 minutes to watch 60 Minutes.
Carl Pavano's Mustache knows where Carmen Sandiego is.
Carl Pavano's Mustache can slam a revolving door.
Carl Pavano's Mustache ordered a Big Mac at Burger King, and got one.
Watching Carl Pavano's Mustache can raise testosterone levels by up to 35%
When Carl Pavano's Mustache wants popcorn, he breathes on Nebraska.
On the 7th day, God created Carl Pavano's Mustache. And saw that it was good.

And that's it from the CW...So for now, keep growin that upper lip hair, keep watchin Super Pavario dominate opposing mustache less hitters and here's hoping we see the 'stache in the World Series!

bsv
the Courtesy Wave