Euphemism for a moment in
time (typically in pop
culture) where
something or someone that was lackluster and/or underachieving suddenly and surprisingly became much better and exciting. Taken from Star Trek - The Next Generation, which many fans considered wanting until Commander Riker grew a beard at the start of Season Two, after which the show was solid and well-received for the rest of its run.
"Heather Locklear joining the cast of Melrose Place was that show's Riker's Beard moment."
"Ben Cherrington (Boston Red Sox
GM) trading expensive malcontents
like Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett to the
LA Dodgers was a Riker's Beard for his career (and the Red Sox) if ever I saw one."
"Little did the New England Patriots know it at the time, but when Mo Lewis knocked
Drew Bledsoe out in Week 2 of 2001, it would become a Riker's Beard for the franchise."
"The fact that Danny Ainge (Boston Celtics
GM) turned getting boned in the 2008
NBA Draft Lottery into a Riker's Beard is still staggering to me."