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."