WASHINGTON - There are the fans who grow out “playoff beards,” and then there’s Eric Brooks. The Capitals superfan has been turning his facial hair into fanatical statement pieces.
He has twisted and turned his beard into the words “CAPS” and “CUP.” He’s also sculpted it into the shape of the Capitals eagle.
Brooks is a regular on the competitive bearding circuit, which is where he got the idea.
“I decided why not take that to another level and show my love for my sports team through my facial hair,” he said.
Brooks—whose nickname is “Beardo,” for obvious reasons—is a beer brewer who now lives in Boise, Idaho with his wife and toddler daughter. He was born and raised in Rockville, Maryland and moved out west a couple years ago.
“I’ve always been a hardcore Caps fan, ever since I was young,” Brooks said, adding that he has some faint memories of going to one the Final games the last time the Caps were in the hunt for Lord Stanley’s Cup back in 1998.
He says anytime he goes to a sporting event, he gets a lot of attention.
“Heads turn and eyes light up. It’s pretty cool.”
PHOTOS: Caps fan uses his beard to cheer on the team
So, how does he do it?
It takes a lot of hairspray, curlers, a blow-dryer… and a lot of patience. It took Brooks about an hour to shape his beard into the number 8—for Alexander Ovechkin, of course.
Brooks said he’s ready to cheer on the Caps and hopefully watch the team hoist that cup on the ice.
“Go Caps! I’m so excited, let’s go!”
You can follow Brooks—and his beard—on Instagram here.
