In honour of the new month November, and more importantly the Movember movement our Grape Debate returns to determine and celebrate the Great Sporting Moustaches.
There have been so many Great Sporting Moustaches through the years from many different sports.
But what makes a great sporting mo? Bushyness? Distinctiveness? Uniqueness? Longevity and Long term dedication to the mo?
It is going to be hard to decide which is best. But decide we will, and there will be a vote to let you make that decision.
So enjoy our Grape Debate of Great Sporting Moustaches.
Great Sporting Moustaches Form Guide
MERV HUGHES
At a minimum it is Australian Cricket’s most well known moustache, if not Australian sport in general.
Merv is a larger than life character, loved by many, and the big handle bar facial hair is at the forefront of the big man.
It was also a tool of intimidation back in his playing days, as he thundered with the threat of an oncoming Mack Truck with the face of an outlaw bikie.
He took lots of wickets, a test hat trick and most importantly, the respect of sporting fans around the world.
Importantly for the Great Sporting Moustache discussion, he has maintained the rage and kept the mo decades after his cricketing peak. Despite the grey, a fate most of us will have to suffer, it is still magnificent.
DAVID BOON
From the same era and not far behind Merv Hughes is the legendary David Boon.
Avoiding comparison with the ultimate handle bar cricket, Boon went with a bushy crescent which is arguably as distinctive as Big Merv’s standard.
Boon is of course more known off field for his drinking of beers than mo, but his facial hair is seriously underrated.
Like Hughes, David Boon has kept his moustache in his post cricket life, and it still holds up as a great sporting moustache.
ROD MARSH
The former Australian wicket keeper comes from the era just before Boon and Hughes, and one could argue set the style for those who followed.
Rod Marsh’s moustache was certainly full and hearty, and a mostly ever present feature, not a trend that came and went.
As with the cricketers above, he has kept faith with the moustache all these years. A big box ticket for the ultimate sporting mo.
DENNIS LILLEE
You really can’t have Marsh without Lillee in cricket or life, and certainly not when it comes to great sporting moustaches.
DK’s was never quite as bushy as his fellow Western Australian, and he did change it up from time to time. And always looked stylish. And menacing.
There’s also more bonus points for dedication to the mo for after cricket life.
PETER TAYLOR
A surprise selection perhaps? But not all great sporting moustaches have to be big, bushy and intimidating. Some of them can just be pleasant.
Much like the Peter Taylor’s moustache and bowling style. The first man in cricket to mix off spin and interpretative dance.
And who can deny the strength of the moustache.
Peter Taylor’s cricketing career nosedived after he shaved it off.
Nuff said.
ROBERT “DIPPER” DIPIERDOMENICO
The AFL legend was a larger than life character, and of course sported a larger than life moustache.
Dipper’s thick upper lip was almost as iconic in 1980’s AFL as the tightness of a certain Warwick Capper’s shorts.
It helped that Dipper was winner too, as part of a very good Hawthorn side of the era.
Like most good sportspeople here, he has maintained the moustache post sport.
LEIGH MATTHEWS
While Dipper had the loudest and proudest moustache of the 1980’s AFL, Leigh Matthews’ mo is definitely worth considering.
Perhaps it was what gave him the super powers to be the best AFL player of the century.
And it was adaptable too. Mean looking and feisty in his playing days, and then distinguished and thoughtful once he moved into coaching and the media.
A real all rounder.
NIGEL MANSELL
Very few drivers could continually excite on the F1 circuits like Nigel Mansell. He gave it everything in every race, and often was just as dramatic off the track. Like when he radioed to his team after an accident to tell them he thought he was unconscious.
And through all his success and occasional lows, came a big British moustache. As full and lively as a hedge at an English palace grounds.
We boldly declare it is the finest motor racing moustache of all time. But we’ll let the readers decide that.
We are of course disappointed that he has removed it a decade and more ago.
KEKE ROSBERG
If ever a look and driving style were made for each other it was Keke Rosberg and his mid 80’s moustache and hair.
The Swashbuckling Finn was one of the most underrated drivers in the 80’s, wringing maximum out of some ordinary and very unreliable cars, and his look is often overlooked as well.
Being blond, it is harder to get a moustache to look good, but Keke Rosberg does it so well.
GRAHAM HILL
Bigger is not always better, and how could you argue against the finest British pencil-thin lip liner there probably has ever been.
On a par with Hollywood giant Errol Flynn, Graham Hill leads the way for old time sportsmen moustaches.
And arguably of all time.
He was part of a great era of drivers from the 1960’s in F1, an era when sadly too many drivers lost their lives.
Perhaps it was Graham Hill’s great thin mo that was his lucky charm on the track.
HARALD ERTL
Although technically a beard as well, you’d have to agree that the moustache world championship worthy facial hair is worthy of a quick include here.
ROB DI CASTELLA
So many things from the 80’s are great. And Rob Di Castella’s Brisbane Commonwealth Games marathon win certainly was iconic.
Like many iconic 80’s sporting moments it features a giant and stylish moustache.
He is carrying the weight of athletics though in the great sporting moustaches, but since he can run 42km, he’ll be right. Just like his mo.
WALLY LEWIS
Understated yet regal. That’s what you would associate with the moustache of Wally Lewis.
It doesn’t always have to be big and bushy to be legendary.
Like a lot on this list, he still proudly sports the mo.
KEVIN HARDWICK & KERRY HELMSLEY
Two mos is always better than one, and this pair had some of rugby league’s best of all time.
And then there’s the hair to go with, ensuring parties at the back and front.
Balmain certainly knew how to produce a mean 80’s mo.
Just a shame for them that their premiership winning facial hair didn’t win as many trophies off the field.
MIGUEL ANGEL JIMINEZ
So technically this is usually a goatee, but who would begrudge us including the cigar smoking, hoe-in-one expert, fan favourite, in a list of great sporting moustaches.
While the mo / goatee gets lost
RODGER DAVIS
Quintessential 80’s golfer Rodger Davis had a quintessential 80’s mo.
While he challenged Greg Norman for popularity with Australian Golf fans in the 80’s, especially when he donned those tremendous plus fours with AMP sun visor, Greg Norman couldn’t get close to Davis when it came to a giant moustache.
Perhaps Greg liked to be clean shaven. As we have seen so many, many times in the past few years. Especially at this website.
JOHN NEWCOMBE
We almost forgot Tennis legend John Newcombe.
How could we?
Just look at that style, and especially that quality fuzz.
A final ace to bring home the greatest sporting moustaches.
VOTE FOR THE BEST SPORTING MOUSTACHE
Time to put your money where your mouth is, or where these great sporting stars mouth is, and vote for which is the Greatest Sporting Moustache ever.
MOVEMBER
Before we finish we would just like to take a moment of your time to acknowledge Movember.
We have decided to take the plunge this year, and am growing a mo for charity.
For those inclined you can head over to the page for more details.
