Where have you gone, Franz "Schani" Mitterhauser? A nation turns its fuzzy eyes to you

Tomorrow sees the start of the World Beard and Moustache Championships in Berlin.














Be sure to check out the Beard Team USA blog for some of the most in-depth beard competition analysis I have ever seen.

Strategy! Infighting! Show-downs between fading champions and young turks!

And the predictions for our furry home-town boys?

"Realistically, the Americans have little chance of taking home top honors at this bi-annual event. After all, the Germans are hosting the contest, make the rules, choose and pay the judges, and define the categories. With 31 contestants traveling to Germany, Team USA hopes to establish itself at this year’s worlds as a force to be reckoned with in international facial-hair competitions.

This is a momentum-building year. The team is looking ahead to London 2007. Some day Team USA will be the team to beat."