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Miroslav Raduljica takes solace in Serbia's loss by claiming beard victory over James Harden

Miroslav Raduljica takes solace in Serbia's loss by claiming beard victory over James Harden

On Sunday, the USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team dominated Serbia 129-92 to win the gold medal at the FIBA World Cup of Basketball. Apart from the first few minutes, it was a decidedly one-sided affair, with Team USA meeting and arguably exceeding expectations as the game's overwhelming favorite. Serbia simply looked overmatched.

Yet if Serbia was not particularly competitive in the gold-medal game itself, they at least made a statement in one of the contest's sideshows. Serbian center Miroslav Raduljica, who played for the Milwaukee Bucks this past season but looks likely to return to Europe, has a very impressive beard. Team USA guard James Harden is well known for having his own signature facial hair. In the wake of Serbia's loss, Raduljica took solace in claiming that, even if his team had not challenged the Americans on the court, his beard had bested Harden's in battle:

It's a bold claim, especially considering that Harden has turned his beard into a trademark and his most readily identifiable attribute (except for maybe his reputation for terrible defense). On the other hand, Raduljica is clearly not concerned with branding. When it comes to hirsute superiority, the beard must stand on its own merits.

So let's judge them as such. You can see Raduljica in the photo that tops this post. Here's Harden:

United States' James Harden reacts during the final World Basketball match between the United States and Serbia at the Palacio de los Deportes stadium in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)
United States' James Harden reacts during the final World Basketball match between the United States and Serbia at the Palacio de los Deportes stadium in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)

They're similar beards in terms of heft, to the point where one could pick either without making a particularly bold statement in either direction. Except, as with most matters of style, it's more about how each man carries the look. Harden uses it as a statement of his own brashness. Raduljica, on the other hand, seems like more of an outdoorsman in accordance with his burlier frame. It's a matter of taste, though one that indicates a great deal about those wielding the opinions.

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Eric Freeman is a writer for Ball Don't Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at efreeman_ysports@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!