VOA · Arts & Culture
Intermediate · B1–B2learner speed3:042025-02-26public domain
The Arts & Culture beat covers music, film, museums, food, and traditions from the United States and around the world. The reports are short, vivid, and full of everyday descriptive language — great for learners who want vocabulary beyond textbooks.
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01A top professional American baseball team recently announced it would change a long-held rule about its players' appearance.
02The New York Yankees dropped their ban on beards, or facial hair that covers the cheeks and chin.
03Former team owner George Steinbrenner banned beards in 1976.
04His son and current owner Hal Steinbrenner announced an end to the ban in late February.
05Hal Steinbrenner called the former policy outdated.
06This generation, the vast majority of 20, 30s into the 40s men in this country have beards, Steinbrenner told reporters at a news conference.
07It is a part of who these younger men are.
08It's part of their character, he added.
09Steinbrenner noted that he himself had never worn a beard and found it difficult to relate to the desire to have one.
10But he said the ban seemed somewhat unreasonable.
11His father, George Steinbrenner, announced the policy during spring training in 1976, ordering no long hair or beards.
12Mustaches, hair directly below the nose, were permitted.
13My dad was in the military.
14He believed that a team should look in a disciplined manner, Hal Steinbrenner said.
15Very important to my father.
16But again, for my father, nothing is more important than winning, and that's in the back of my mind.
17Hal Steinbrenner succeeded his father as controlling owner of the Yankees in November 2008.
18He said he had considered the beard issue for the last 10 years and discussed the possible change recently with Yankee star players Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Garrett Cole.
19There are conditions attached to the new beard policy, however.
20In a statement, Hal Steinbrenner described permissible beards among players and other Yankee employees as well-groomed.
21I'm Katie Weaver.
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