My Hero is Scum

By Friday, I have to find a new hero.

And I'll tell you this- I'm dreading it. Because regardless of whether Alex Rodriguez is handed a yearlong suspension or a lifetime ban from the game later this week, the punishment won't hurt him nearly as much as it will the dozens of impressionable young kids who believed in him.

It was only a decade ago when A-Rod came to the Bronx to don pinstripes. Back when he was well on his way to becoming the greatest player to ever play baseball. That once-in-a-lifetime talent that would eventually earn his own hallway in Cooperstown.

Of course, this was before the allegations. Before the positive tests and Peter Gammons interviews. Before Cousin Yuri. Biogenesis. Dianabol. Shame.

From day one, I have been Alex's most outspoken supporter. While #13 was slapping at mitts, distracting shortstops, and flirting with women from the dugout, I was collecting his memorabilia, wearing his jersey, and defending his naivety.

While #13 was using PEDs to cheat the game I love, I was working day-and-night to recreate his batting stance in little leagues, hoping it would help me be the best I could be. Because that's how A-Rod made it, right? Hard work and perseverance. Sure.

I feel ripped off. Betrayed. Duped. I don't care how many home runs he hit or how much money he stole from the organizations who believed he was doing it clean; to me, he is scum. Lower than scum.

Two years ago, I got the chance to "meet" Alex Rodriguez. Finally, an opportunity to see my hero up close and personal. He walked, with cousin Yuri Sucart by his side, right across the street in front of me. He made sure not to acknowledge any of his fans.



That's the thing about A-Rod: it's all about A-Rod. He pretends it's not all about him, rarely, but it's almost too easy to see straight through his facade. When he "opens up" to Sports Illustrated, ever so arrogantly, it's tongue-in-cheek.

And when the MLB announces the suspension, A-Rod will profess his innocence- again and again. He will sit in front of a microphone and take pages out of the Ryan Braun Book of Lies: "I would bet my life that this substance never entered my body at any point," "I've always had tremendous respect for the game of baseball," "By no means am I perfect."

When really, everyone knows. I know. Alex Rodriguez used performance enhancing drugs, and probably even helped other players use them too.

I hope he is banned from the game. I hope he looks back in 20 years and regrets every single one of his actions. I hope he knocks on the door of the Hall of Fame every day for the rest of his life and no one lets him in. Some people are not worth defending.

Or idolizing.

Perpetual Motion

Perpetual (adj.) - Never ending or changing.

Motion (noun) - Power of movement. To change place or position.

"Perpetual Motion" (show) - Four nights of mind-blowing contemporary ballet backed by Pittsburgh's finest garage rock trio.

I had the pleasure of attending the third night of Pittsburgh's own Texture Contemporary Ballet's "Perpetual Motion" series this evening at the New Hazlett Theater in North Side, and I must say- it blew my mind. The group's newest collection of uniquely choreographed routines did something to me that's never been done before (besides making me, well, enjoy watching ballet of any kind.)

It shut me up.

I'll be the first to admit- When my high school's dance team performed at pep rallies (*cringe*), I turned into the blabbering fool who was always sure to voice his disgust. "This is horrid." "All they are doing is moving their bodies." "I can do that."

How naive I was.

The routines in "Perpetual Motion" are brilliant. When picked apart and separated, the dances are sophisticated and intricately complex, but the troupe, led by founder and artistic director Alan Obuzor, makes them look simple. And, heck, it's an injustice for me to call what I saw tonight "dance." It's art. Expression. Magic. Beauty.

The performance, divided into four segments (Mulberry Way, Wash, Broken Mirror, MOIP), began with an energetic piece to Elbow's "Grounds for Divorce," which, needless to say, rocks.

Then, after a handful of other impressive routines to stereo tracks (including a beautiful dance to Bon Iver's "Wash"), the group brought out local rockers Meeting of Important People to take it up a notch- literally. On a platform 40 feet above the stage, MOIP cycled through 11 of their finest jams while Texture Ballet followed every beat of the drum.

It was truly incredible. Like nothing I have ever seen before. Here's a clip from rehearsal (videotaping the actual performance was frowned upon) -



On top of that, I can't say enough about how classy both groups are. Members of Texture Ballet took questions after the performance, and you could tell they are humbled by the opportunity to show their art to such a large audience. And MOIP- I could dedicate a whole 'nother blog to them. Always a pleasure to be around, and always a pleasure to listen to. Like family to me.

The last show is tomorrow at 2 P.M. You can purchase tickets here. Also, keep up with both groups by heading to the following:

Texture Ballet - Facebook - Twitter

Meeting of Important People - Facebook - Twitter