"Brad Childress’ Beard (and yes, the second B is capitalized in this case because that patch of facial hair is a proper noun not associated with the rest of Childress) is really starting to grow on us, just as it has grown on him. At first, we thought it made him look foolish and crazy (like “a fake Eric Clapton,” one friend said a couple of weeks back). But now we have to say it makes him look a little meaner and a little more authoritative."