By: Billy BeerSlugger
These things come in three’s. First Farrah Fawcett, then the King of Pop Michael Jackson and now superstar infomercial spokesperson Billy Mays. You know Billy Mays from such products as OxiClean, Orange Glo, Kaboom and many other cleaning type products.
His death leaves us without a true torch bearer for “The Beard”. No man since the new millennium has sported the beard with more pride or resolve. So who will take up his mantle? I can’t think of a single worthy person who continuously sports a beard in his everyday life. Maybe a member of ZZ top, but you hope for someone a little more spry.
A true tragedy for the advertising world, Mays, Pennsylvania born, honed his pitch skills on the Atlantic City boardwalk after high school. He recently appeared on an ESPN 360 commercial and had his own reality competition on Discovery Channel called Pitchmen.
Mays was on a plane from Philadelphia to Tampa which blew out a tire upon landing and had several objects strike him in the head due to the turbulence. Though it is not clear whether this contributed to his death.
Mays was 50 years old, same as Michael Jackson. Coincidence? You make the call.