Stephen A. Smith is never shy about voicing his strong opinions. Recently, he shared his thoughts on the New York Yankees’ press conference regarding their updated facial hair policy. For those who might not know, the Yankees modified their longstanding rule to now permit “well-groomed” beards. While Smith, a longtime Yankees fan, didn’t seem particularly passionate about the policy change, he criticized the necessity of a “20-minute press conference” to discuss it.
“A 20-minute press conference over facial hair? I mean, what a disgrace,” Smith exclaimed. “I couldn’t believe it. I’m a die-hard Yankee fan trying to keep my cool, but damn. You haven’t won a World Series since 2009. You barely made it last year and got romped by the Dodgers. And facial hair is what triggers a press conference?”
Stephen A. Smith joins SportsCenter to talk NBA, begins with rant on Yankees’ facial hair presser.
“A 20-MINUTE PRESS CONFERENCE OVER FACIAL HAIR? I MEAN, WHAT A DISGRACE… YOU AIN’T WON A WORLD SERIES TITLE SINCE 2009… FACIAL HAIR IS THE REASON THERE WAS A PRESS CONFERENCE?” https://t.co/g3Owl3sJpf pic.twitter.com/Z1S6me3RCD
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 21, 2025
In a vacuum, it’s understandable that Smith feels this way. Major League Baseball teams typically don’t hold press conferences for policy updates. However, this specific policy has been prominent for a long while, and while other teams have had similar rules (for instance, pitcher Andrew Cashner’s 2016 mandatory shave after his trade from the San Diego Padres to the Miami Marlins, which he was not pleased about), the Yankees’ commitment to it stands out. This is why Michael Kay’s remarks about the new rule being a “seismic change” didn’t seem exaggerated—though Smith might disagree.
Ultimately, Smith is right that the Yankees haven’t clinched a World Series title since 2009, and their only appearance since was a five-game beating at the hands of the Dodgers in 2024. This situation isn’t expected to change until at least the fall, meaning that decisions like revising a long-standing policy are deserving of at least some extra focus.
