June 30, 2024
- Brush: Yaqi – Evil Zebra – 26mm Synthetic
- Razor: Karve – Christopher Bradley, Plate C
- Blade: Wilkinson Sword
- Lather: Abbate y La Mantia – Crumiro Soap
- Post Shave: Master Soap Creators – Apricot Pie Splash
- Fragrance: Thierry Mugler - Angel MenEdP
I live in the USA
Yaqi Brush is from China
Karve Razor is from Canada
Wilkinson Blade is from Germany
Abbate y La Mantia Lather is from Italy
Master Soap Creations Aftershave is from South Africa
Thierry Mugler Fragrance is from France
Legacy. Long after I’m gone, when all my shaving gear is inevitably inherited by my children, and eventually passed down to their children, one day, one of my grandchildren may stumble across my Lather Games Trophy and ask me about it. And I’ll wryly smile, and tell them I was one of the Greatest Lather Games Shavers of all time. Then they’ll ask me why I have so many soaps, when I can’t possibly use them all, and I’ll gently tell them to mind their business and shut their little mouths!
But… Back to Legacy. Let’s focus on that.
Here I am, trying to cement my Lather Game Legacy. Trying to become the first ever back-to-back Lather Games Champion. Anyone that has participated in Lathers Games will tell you that winning is hard. As former winner, CosmoBarber, came down from the Mountain to tell me just 3 days ago: “There are only a handful of Lather Games Champions on this planet, so honor that crown!” Winning the Lather Games twice has never been done. For good reason. Many would say it’s impossible. I’ve said that I wanted to be the Tom Brady of The Lather Games and cement my Lather Games Legacy and do it. For those who don’t know American Football and don’t know who Tom Brady is: (1) What is it like under the rock you’re living under? (2) He’s won more Championships than anyone else in the history of The National Football League. He is considered the undisputed Greatest Of All Time – The GOAT – in professional American Football. To quote T-Pain: All he does is win, win, win.
So today, on the last day of the 10th Annual Lather Games, and I’m going to where the Greatest American Football Player of All Time spent the vast majority of his career. A place that has a winning atmosphere. Where greatness lives and where mortals become legends. The place that Tom Brady won more than any other: Gillette Stadium. This stadium is for winners. It is home to the greatest football dynasty of all time. And today, it will be forever intertwined in my Lather Games dynasty.
I spot several benches outside the stadium, directly next to the Patriots Hall of Fame. Perfect. I can feel the energy of championship after championship upon me as I make me way down the stairs. I see the Patriots’ Super Bowl Banners donning the stadium. I, too, know what it is like to hoist a Championship Trophy. I want to feel that again. But for now, I can’t get too far ahead of myself. I still need to shave today and get the damn thing won this year. Winning one ain’t a dynasty. Gotta win at least two for that. I get to my perfect shaving spot, in the shadow of Gillette Stadium, where Tom Brady first became the superstar everyone knows today. And I’m right outside the Patriots Hall of Fame, where Tom Brady was inducted just 2 weeks ago, cementing HIS legacy in New England. And hopefully where I cement MY Lather Games Legacy. The pressure is on. Let’s shave.
The Stadium and Hall of Fame aren’t too busy this morning, but there is a steady stream of people walking by me as I prepared to shave. The final time I’ll be using my mobile shave den this year. As I lathered up Crumiro, it started to smell like a sweet Italian Bakery had moved into Gillette Stadium. The rich, buttery scent of freshly baked cookies with a hint of almond wrapped filled the air around me, to compliment this winning atmosphere. Ahhhh… It’s also fitting that I end the Lather Games with a Gourmand Shave. If only they served cappuccinos at the stadium, it would be a like shaving at a quaint café in Rome – The type of café that was the home to the greatest NFL dynasty of all-time… People are walking about, heading into the Patriots Hall of Fame or waiting their turn for a tour of the stadium, as I go about my business. Entirely focusing on the final shave of the Lather Games. I give myself a good final Lather Games shave, wipe my face with a towel, then splash on Master Soap Creators' Apricot Pie Splash to continue that the dessert theme. As I splashed it on, the juicy aroma of ripe apricots mingled with the comforting spices and buttery crust of a homemade pie. It was like taking a bite of a perfectly baked, golden-crusted pie, still warm from the oven. My skin felt refreshed, and I felt at ease, knowing I did everything I could this year and I’m about to put the final touches on my last shave of the Lather Games. To top it all off, Thierry Mugler’s Angel Men EdP sealed the deal. This powerhouse fragrance, with its complex blend of caramel, vanilla, and sweet spices added a wonderful, sophisticated layer to the sweetness of the shave. It’s like the final flourish of an extravagant dessert—rich, indulgent, and utterly unforgettable. The perfect finishing touch. A dessert shave that was a symphony of rich, decadent scents, each note harmonizing perfectly to create a deliciously satisfying experience for the final course of my LG2024 shaves. #FOF
Thank you to the organizers, judges, fellow participants, and the great sponsors that all make these crazy games happen. Even if I didn’t fulfill my desire to be the first ever back-to-back Champion, I’ll be ecstatic if I pull an Djundjila and go from 1st to 2nd, or even if I pull a Red and go from 1st to 5th, or do something entirely different. I could have messed up and finished 52nd. I don’t know. The fact of the matter is: I love these games, I love the competition, I love the writing, I love the shavanigans, and I love the community. This year had less Spite, more love, and was just as much fun for me. I tried my best to bring the heat with every single post and make people smile, roll their eyes, shake their heads, and maybe even chuckle to themselves. The goal was always to entertain. I took no days off and left it all out on the field. I’d be beyond honored to win again, but I’d also be happy to send the trophy along to its next destination. Lather Games 2024 has been a hell of a ride. And remember, the real meaning of the Lather Games is the friends we’ve shaved with along the way.