Why David Letterman grew that bushy, white beard
Papa Smurf, Hershel Greene from The Walking Dead? Or is it David Letterman?
The big beard isn't sprouting from his face because David Letterman thinks it looks dapper, plays up his features. This isn't a cosmetic thing.
The curled-up, white whiskers aren't there to disguise him from a stalking public after his retirement from late-night comedy.
No. Letterman's beard — so big it seems to have stolen the show over the weekend at the IndyCar Series finale in Sonoma, Calif. — is there for superstitious reasons.
The Indianapolis native, former host of "The Late Show" and part owner of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, said in an IndyCar Series video that driver Graham Rahal seemed to be more confident, bigger and stronger of late.
And, strangely enough, it started happening when Letterman's beard took root.
"Graham looks different to me," Letterman said before Sunday's GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma. "He looks bigger. I don't know how that happens. When you're talking about confidence, I'm not exactly sure where that comes from. Does it come from the outside in? Does it come from the inside out? But, it's palpable."
And then this:
"I'd like to think that my beard has something to do with it," he said. "It's given people a new vision. (A) greater, stronger desire and just the will to win."
Rahal, of course, didn't win. Scott Dixon did.
When asked about his beard Sunday, whether it would keep people from recognizing him, Letterman said no.
"I think I'll probably be beaten up," he said.
Beaten up may be a little strong. But Letterman has definitely caught some teasing on social media.
He's been compared to Santa Claus, Hershel Greene (a now-deceased farmer portrayed by Scott Wilson on "The Walking Dead"), Wolf Blitzer and Papa Smurf.
"Announcing the team's name change to Rahal Kringle Lanigan Racing?" Steve Lepper, a stunt driver at SAG-AFTRA, posted on Facebook.
John Oreovicz, an ESPN.com motorsports writer from Indy, said talk of Letterman's beard had turned to its length by Monday.
"People were joking that he trimmed it between Sunday and Monday," he said.
Some people seemed to think it could use a trim — or maybe a shave.
Follow Star reporter Dana Benbow on Twitter: @DanaBenbow.
