Baseball players eyeing shortcut to Olympic gold

Five Japanese baseball players, including ace pitcher Yu Darvish, have had close-cropped haircuts since arriving in Beijing.

The reason for the shorn locks is not to look cool, but to show each player’s desire to win the gold medal in the baseball competition.

According to Japanese custom, cropping one’s hair is a way of showing contrition or determination, and is especially common among athletes.
[...]
“I was ashamed of my performance [against Cuba], so I got my hair cut,” Darvish said.

Yes, but did he trim his sideburns?