It is ALL About the HAIR
A Cardinal Mohawk
This is a topic that could go in lots of directions, but I will keep it confined to my high school soccer player Austin. Actually, this discussion is more about “In The Hair”, which is the name of a local barbershop where I have found myself seated several times recently, waiting for Austin to have a hair transformation done.
You may remember from a recent blog titled, “It is Mohawk Time Again”, which describes the annual ritual of Austin’s high school varsity soccer team players having their hair shaved in the “Mohawk” fashion and further, dyed RED (school color) in a show of force and solidarity as they proceed through the end of season play-offs.
We have gotten to know this one particular barber quite well over the last two weeks since he first shaved, carved, dyed and styled Austin’s hair. This fellow is an artist and takes his time getting Austin looking just so for the soccer field. He and a couple of the other barbers there have become so taken with the cause that they have even been coming out to the games to cheer the team on and following along in the newspapers and internet the stories of how the team continues to forge ahead toward the state championship. They were particularly delighted when Austin’s picture, haircut/ style and all were featured three times in one week in the local newspaper. They vowed to have the photos laminated, framed and placed on the wall of the barber shop.
Even the fellow patrons in the shop have taken an interest and are shaking Austin’s hand and wishing him good luck as we exit. The young man who has been sculpting Austin’s hair before each game (sometimes only a touch up) is necessary, carefully crafts a large red, white and black outlined cardinal head and beak on each temple – it is outstanding! And thus, a tradition is born with Austin and this barbershop and this particular artistic barber who takes great pride in his work and making Austin look the part. Austin, on the other hand, has been so pleased with the patience and skill of his new friend and feels that he must renew “the look” before each leg of the play-offs – almost as a sign of good luck, a good omen or something like that.
The team is facing round 5 this week, after defeating the unbeaten number one ranked high school 3-A team in the state this past week-end, fair and square, 2:1 in a remarkable show down against the odds. We will be right back in the barbershop at least one more time, to get tuned up for Cardinal fever, for the round 5, the state semi-final, against another highly acclaimed team. If they win – they move on to play for the NC state championship!
Wish us luck fellow bloggers and if you really want to support the team – go out and get a Mohawk.. I can give you the name of a great barber!
