It's a big day here for all those in the Gateway City who are currently sporting lip dusters. To much fanfare, the locally-based American Mustache Institute has released it's formal list of finalists for the 2008 "Robert Goulet Memorial Mustached American of the Year" Award.
It's sort of like the Heisman, the Cy Young and the Nobel Peace Prize rolled into one...except the winner has a world class patch of fur on their upper lip.
As expected, the sports world has several notable names amongst this most prestigious group. Here are some of the finalists along with a brief summary of their contributions as provided by the AMI:
Art Monk - "Monk has been a philanthropist in his community and proudly sported the 'stache for decades, even as he watched other less deserving (non 'stached) athletes gain entry into the Hall of Fame, never once losing faith that his facial hair would be rewarded."
Keith Hernandez - Keith's mustache has dated a woman who's been on the cover of Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue three times – Cheryl Tiegs – and his mustache is the MOST famous mustache ever to star on “Seinfeld.”
Jason Giambi - After beginning the 2008 baseball season in a slump, Jason grew a mustache and personally brought great popularity and regard to Mustached Americans in 2008 as his batting average was 100 points higher with lip fur than it was without.
Goose Gossage - Goose Gossage was the lone inductee into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008, and unlike Mark Spitz, he has remained consistent and committed to the mustache, choosing to not destroy the magic of his face by shaving his mustache after his most famous years were behind him.
Even despite my true appreciation for Keith Hernandez's mustache and all that it did for the St. Louis Cardinals organization in the late 70's/early 80's, my vote will likely be saved for Mr. Gossage.
My support is due to a number of factors - 1.) his contributions to the mustache in calendar year 2008 by being the lone man inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame 2.) the fact that I was one of the people who officially submitted his name to AMI for nomination 3.) his role in the "Legacy of the Closers" and 4.) the fact that I have had a Goose Gossage baseball glove since I was in grade school.
If you are as big a fan of handlebar mustaches as I'd like to think you are, then I would urge you to head to AMI's website and log your vote today. The winner will be announced at the World Famous 'Stache Bash taking place October 25 at Lumiere Casino.
Buy your tickets now and come out to see if Goose has what it takes to win the Goulet.
Jason Giambi - After beginning the 2008 baseball season in a slump, Jason grew a mustache and personally brought great popularity and regard to Mustached Americans in 2008 as his batting average was 100 points higher with lip fur than it was without. 
