CUT & DRY: Mets legend Keith Hernandez will have his mustache shaved by barber Elliott Chester, seen practicing on a client. (
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’Stache it away
Vegas barber to shave Hernandez
Elliott Chester knows his margin for error is razor-thin, but he is confident Keith Hernandez won’t have to worry about a close shave.
The “mane” event arrives Thursday when Chester takes on an assignment big enough to change the face of men’s grooming, and the face of the 1986 world champion, when he makes sure that one of the most famous mustaches in sports is hair today, gone today, in a matter of minutes.
Chester will be flying in from Las Vegas, where he owns Elliott’s and Co. barber’s lounge, with his trusted Schick Hydro Power Select.
“Honestly, I’m honored,” Chester told the Rumble in an exclusive interview. “I’m flattered Schick wants to have me come out to New York to take care of Mr. Hernandez. I’m a baseball fan. I know who he is. I know what he means to the Mets. I know what he means to New York. It’s definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me.”
The event, which is open to the public, will take place at 11:45 a.m. before the Mets-Pirates game next to the Shea home Run Apple in the Mets Plaza outside the Jackie Robinson Rotunda at Citi Field.
Chester, 37, is in razor-sharp shape and mentally prepared as well.
“I’m familiar with his mustache,” Chester said. “I always remembered Keith having that thick, very traditional, full men’s mustache.
“His mustache is quite iconic, as a matter of fact. It’s a big, manly mustache.”
Chester doesn’t worry about feeling guilty in the event Hernandez is horrified at how he looks without the mustache.
“He’s a pro’s pro,” Chester said. “I’m sure he’ll be fine. It’s facial hair. It’ll grow back. … I’ll give him good words of encouragement. It’s very in vogue to be clean shaven at this particular time.”
Starting next week, fans can enter for a chance to win the commemorative razor used to shave Keith’s trademark mustache and an autographed baseball. Visit SNY’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/SNY for more information.
Henandez is shaving his mustache for charity. $5,000 is being donated to Jacquelyn Hernandez Adult Day Health Center (named for his mother). Tune into the Mets game on SNY on Thursday or MetsBlog.com or “Mets Weekly” to see footage from event.
Rutgers coach going ‘Over the Edge’
Mike Rice is taking his dedication to cancer research to another level, and he’s risking his well-being to do so. The intense and fiery Rutgers men’s basketball coach will rappel down a 50-story Jersey City building Friday as part of the American Cancer Society’s “Over the Edge” event.
“When I was first asked, I laughed at them, ‘Are you serious?,’ ” Rice told The Rumble’s Zach Braziller. “It was out-of-the-box thinking.”
Rice was thrilled to be a part of it. He is involved in Coaches vs. Cancer and attended a recent rally at the Capitol in Washington. He hosted a Tip-Off Dinner at the Rutgers Athletic Center with his wife Kerry to increase awareness and raise money for cancer research.
The third-year Rutgers coach will climb down the the 470-foot Harborside Financial Center Plaza 5 in at approximately 9:30 a.m., and his unaccompanied descent is expected to about 20 minutes.
Rice said he has some experience from his younger days rock climbing, and Friday’s experience is nothing compared to those.
“It’s an exciting way to help,” he said.
Those interested in supporting Rice’s rappel and donating to the fight against cancer can visit his page on the “Over the Edge” donation site at http://main.acsevents.org/goto/mikerice.
Sons, daughters focus of Houston ‘Legacy’
Knicks assistant general manager Allan Houston took his “Legacy Foundation’’ to Brooklyn yesterday as part of his “Fathers Knows Best 5 Boro Tour’’ at Pratt Institute. The event features fathers and their sons or daughters playing in a basketball tournament. Houston founded the foundation in order to emphasize fathers to become better parents. Knicks guard Iman Shumpert and Brooklyn Nets vet Jerry Stackhouse were in attendance.
Booming opening for Esiason’s Grill
Boomer Esiason’s Stadium Grill opened Thursday night, with Giants’ fans rooting on their hometown team against the Panthers and feasting on an enormous buffet with N.Y.-style food such as hot dogs with sauerkraut and chili to top it off, while the Carolina-inspired food included pulled pork, cornbread and fried pickles. … Bounce Sporting Club celebrated its one-year anniversary with an epic party. VIP guests including BET’s 106 & Park star Rosci Diaz and rapper Jim Jones enjoyed the open bar with music by DJ and rapper Biz Markie. Partying next to the DJ booth were queen rappers and old friends Lil’ Kim and Pepa from Salt-N-Pepa, both sipping on Rose before Lil’ Kim surprised guests when she grabbed the mic and broke out her classics “Get Money,” “How Many Licks” and “Lighters Up.”