Hair Experts On VGK’s Wild Bill Karlsson: ‘He’s A Hair Model. It’s Very Thor’
By ALAN SNEL
LVSportsBiz.com
William Karlsson flipped his gorgeous blonde hair and each of the three women sitting at the MacKenzie River pizzeria bar yelled with delight as if the 25-year-old Swede just scored a game-winning, between-the-legs, division-clinching goal.
The three women, who included two MacKenzie River servers, were watching a NHL.com video of Karlsson mic’d up for a Vegas Golden Knights practice in Columbus, Ohio in March.
The scene in the video shifts from the rink to the locker room, where Karlsson flips his blonde locks and that little maneuver triggers the trio of women at the bar to go wild as the team practiced at City National Arena Wednesday . Karlsson joked to the cameraman in the video that the hair flip should be taped in slo-mo.
Karlsson has enjoyed a breakthrough season, scoring 43 goals for the Cinderella first-year Golden Knights, including a sensational, jaw-dropping, between-the-legs short-handed decisive goal against the San Jose Sharks in a March 31 win that clinched the Pacific Division crown.
His blonde hair has also enjoyed a breakthrough season.
“He’s a hair model. It’s very Thor,” said Tabitha Grasso, a hair stylist at nearby Life Time Athletic in Summerlin and at a salon serving the Venetian and Palazzo on the Strip.
“He has man layers. I love the way his hair flows,” Grasso, who also works as a MacKenzie River pizzeria server and bartender, told LVSportsBiz.com. “Whoever does Karlsson’s hair does a great job.”
And Grasso added this: “I want to be the one to shampoo his hair. He needs the Tabitha Experience. I would love to shampoo it, do a cut and give him a scalp massage.”
Grasso made this video appeal to Karlsson.
LVSportsBiz.com covered the Golden Knights practice Wednesday and saw Karlsson and his hair looking in a prime Stanley Cup playoff condition.
And the closeup.
LVSportsBiz.com is not aware of any Karlsson shampoo or hair product endorsement deals.
“I’m trying to,” Karlsson told LVSportsBiz.com of attempting to line up a hair endorsement deal. “Maybe I’ll put some braids in.”
Personally, don’t know about the braids, Karlsson. I’d stick with the hair as is.
Golden Knights defenseman Colin Miller, who has also impressive flowing locks, was impressed with Karlsson’s hair and thought it has potential for a TV spot.
“His Swedish hair is pretty wild. He was thinking of cutting it before the playoffs,” Miller said. “Hopefully, my hair is still thriving like his even though it’s not as luscious as his.”
It’s a good thing Karlsson didn’t cut his luscious locks. A shampoo commercial could likely bring Karlsson a decent pay day.
Through the years, a variety of jocks have peddled shampoo. One of my favorites was former Dodgers and Mets catcher Mike Piazza pitching Pert Plus shampoo in an endorsement deal in the 1990s when Piazza sported a power mullet.
Another Golden Knights player with impressive hair is veteran James Neal, who has been known to adjust his hair without his helmet on as the team walks through the mirrored tunnel onto the ice at T-Mobile Arena.
“I love the James Neal hair twirl,” said Dinorah Blanco, a make-up artist hanging with Grasso at MacKenzie River pizzeria Wednesday. “I’ll curl his hair. Give it to me.”
Interestingly enough, there’s a video of Neal working on his hair when he played for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Apparently, Neal’s care for his hair is not exactly a secret in the Golden Knights locker room.
“One person who spends time on his hair is Neal,” Miller observed. “He has pretty good hair for 30 years old.”
Neal said as much Thursday. When it comes to hair care, Neal said, “Always.”
Besides the hair-gifted Karlsson, Miller and Neal, the Golden Knights have two other forwards with anchorman hair, David Perron and Jonathan Marchessault, who impressed Grasso and her friends.
“They have hair that not’s moving. It’s even ready for an interview,” said Grasso’s server friend, Megan Szabo. “As rough as their sport is, their hair looks graceful.”
Las Vegas has an impressive history of former sports stars doing TV product endorsements.
Who can forget former UNLV basketball star Larry Johnson donning a dress for his memorable “Grandmama” endorsement of Converse sneakers.
And Las Vegas’ own Andre Agassi, the former tennis star (speaking of hair — and then no hair), parlayed his “rebel” reputation into endorsements for Canon’s EOS Rebel X camera.
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With the Golden Knights enjoying unprecedented success for a first-year team, it’s inevitable that endorsements will be coming for players. LVSportsBiz.com envisions star goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, for example, drawing endorsement opportunities from flower businesses or even McDonald’s for its McFlurry ice cream dessert.
LVSportsBiz.com even asked Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant during his daily media session Wednesday if he has drawn any local business endorsement opportunities.
Gallant, who wouldn’t be confused for a stand-up comic, said he’s focusing on coaching and hasn’t received any offers.
But there was some follow-up chuckles from the assembled Las Vegas sports media. Las Vegas Sun VGK beat reporter summed it up best in his Twitter post.
That’s a funny line, Turk.
Hard-hitting forward Ryan Reaves told LVSportsBiz.com that he’d be happy to be a endorser for car dealerships in Las Vegas and he had one particular car manufacturer in mind.
“If somebody wants to throw a ‘Lambo’ (Lamborghini) my way,” Reaves said, “I’d take it.”
If you get that Lambo, Reaves, just take Karlsson with you so that Wild Bill’s luscious, flowing blonde hair could blow in the Red Rock Canyon air.
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