Clay Zavada of the MLB’s Arizona Diamondbacks has won the American Mustache Institutes (AMI) “Mustached American of the Year” award for 2009. Not a bad ‘stache by any means, but he beat out Capt Sully Sullenberger – the dude who landed a full sized commercial aircraft on a river next to Manhattan.

A statement from the AMI makes me question just how serious or dillusional members of the organization are.   -Via AMI

“Clay and his menacing mouth garden were a great story throughout the 2009 baseball season, and Quicken and the American Mustache Institute are proud to honor him as the ‘Robert Goulet Memorial Mustached American of the Year’ award winner,” said Chelsea Marti of Quicken®, who herself is a robust supporter of the Mustached American way of life.

It’s good to know that females in the finance industry believe and support in a mans right to wear a mustache. But I don’t quite understand the appeal of a mustache. It seems like it gets in the way of normal activities, like blowing your nose. Plus, it predestines the wearer of said ‘stache to a lifetime fighting crime, or riding around the country on a motorcycle. I’m all for the clean cut look which never goes out of style.

However, if i was going to sport a ‘stache my only hope is it would be half as good as this one being worn by Nick Offerman for his character Ron Swanson on NBC’s Parks and Recreation.

This mustache conveys power and leadership. I would walk off a bridge for this man.