Does talent come with a mandate to aspire to greatness?

I posted this on my Twitter not long ago, but it's a question that I am truly curious about and would love to hear opinions on.

This is a question that initially occured to me in the context of Rasheed Wallace signing with the Celtics. Or, rather, it didn't occur to me. It occured to Joey over at FreeDarko in this article. You won't mind if I quote for context, will you?

"We already know that history is likely to speak ill of Roscoe. It will harp upon his volatility. It will almost jeer as it calls him an underachiever. And it surely will subsume his contribution to Detroit's recent championship, bundling it with "however" and "if only" while emphasizing the technicals and the meltdowns. Rasheed will go out as grousing, mercurial, unreliable. His enormous talents will only damn him, as the critics, whose voices appear to ring loudest, cite his gifts as evidence of the disappointment he's authored.

Our sports culture so thoroughly disdains "wasting" talent that Rasheed Wallace's career is almost wholly anathema. (...) Rasheed bears some blame, of course. His flare-ups have been counterproductive, and shameful moments like Game 6 against Cleveland three seasons ago strike at whatever sympathy his personality, history, and style encourage. Be moody. Reject that talent carries with it a mandate to aspire for greatness. But don't flout obligations, or punk out in such explosive, consuming fashion."

So, the question is...does it? This doesn't just go for sports. It can easily be transposed to anything, but our discussing will naturally lean toward acting.

If one is talented, what is it to "waste" those talents? And why does it gall us so to see it?

I don't expect much discussion, but I do think it's a topic that warrants it.

But anything worth doing is worth doing badly...

So, how many out of town auditions have I been on?

Just wrapped up SC Rep. There is also Springer Opera House (If you want to count them...), Orlando Shakespeare, Tennessee Shakespeare, Tennessee Rep, UPTA... That's all for this year, though I did go to Staunton fairly late last year.

Is that really it? It just doesn't seem like much, when you put it like that. Although, there is some solace in knowing that, outside of Springer, they are all at least a four hour drive...

Also sent out headshots to Cincinnati Shakespeare, NC Shakespeare, and Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, along with some other spots.

I think I'm probably done doing the out of town thing for a bit. Most places are ratcheting down their audition season, so I guess I can look forward to a new slate of places to audition for in a couple months.

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I jammed my finger pretty well yesterday playing basketball. It's grown a bit and is a cute purple shade. Yay!

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I have two reThink shoots this week, as well as a Kidstuf shoot at the beginning of next week. Other than that, no performance opportunities. I'm trying to stay on people's radars as much as possible, but there just isn't much coming up until...really, January. There are spots here and there, but chances are slim (But not impossible) that I would move from something in September, to Buy My House...Please at the Aurora to Fair Use at Actor's Express. That's how tight it's looking, folks. Seriously. January opens up because there are no less than 8 places I'd love to work during that month.

Keep your fingers crossed, man. I can use all the luck I can get.

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Maybe I'll do my Atlanta Theatre Life post in the next couple of days. Or maybe I'll have something to talk about so I won't have to scrounge for content. We'll see...

23 > 24

I hope you will forgive my off topic dallience, but I am loving playoff basketball. I love that I get sucked into a game every time I sit down to watch five minutes. I love that Kentucky players are playing very important parts on playoff teams (What up, Rondo and Chuck!). I love that the Hawks, even though they're probably going to get swept, are putting up a heck of a fight with such adversity around them. And I love that the mathmatically impossible title of this blog post is a call to those who know the new math.

Also, speaking of Rondo, everyone who is a basketball fan should check out the following article: Strange Fits of Passion Have I Known. The whole discussion started from the comment "Watching Rondo in this series feels like one of those "origins" comic book movies where we see the villain as an innocent boy, and we understand that becoming evil was simply a survival mechanism. Even if he goes on to become the new Isiah, I will love him because I saw the child in him die." I don't disagree. As much as I am rooting for the Magic to win the series, I have to that that I am rejoicing / despairing in Rondo's evolution / devolution. He's become a star, but at (the risk of sounding cliche) what cost?

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I'm going home on Thursday / Friday! Yeah! Then I'm driving back on Tuesday for a couple of auditions. Actually, I've got three auditions in a two day space. It's that time of year again.

Also, I am disappointed in the lack of response to my cry for help about Hal. I expected more from you, blogfriend.

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No Monologue Monday today! I'm plumb out right now. But, have no fear. I'm looking into some this very night. Maybe I'll have some new stuff for you soon.

We'll be kings again.

Just recording a quick, good memory.

We had a two show day of Hamlet today. Between the matinee and night show, Doug Graham, Josh Jones, Daniel Parvis and I went to the park by Doug's house and played some basketball. It had been forever since I had played an actual game, so I was pretty rusty. We all were, but it was a phenomenal time. Doug put in some impossible shots, Josh was a beast in the paint, and Parvis put in the winning shot in both games (For our team, of course. The North Druid Hills. Watch out for merch, coming soon.) I even hit a couple of threes...there are few feelings as sweet as the ball leaving your hand and knowing it's going in.

After showers, Josh, Doug and I headed to Gladys and Ron's Chicken and Waffles and ate some delicious chicken (and waffles) before the night show. We were all tired, but it was a good tired. We're hoping to do it next week, but we'll see how that goes.

This made me go back to my old blog and review a post I had there. If you'll allow me the moment, I'd like to quote part of that post. It's after another beautiful night of basketball.

As I sit and type this, my skin smells like sweat and smoke from Log Cabin. I'm tired, my legs hurt and I really couldn't be happier. On nights like these, you realize how much is possible. You realize how much you love all of the people around you and how important they are to you. You realize that you don't tell them enough and you can't possibly tell them enough. This goes beyond Murray, for that matter. It's Rothbury, it's New Jersey, it's Benton, it's Charlottesville...it's every place that you have to say goodbye to after really making it your home. You can only hope that when you do leave to go on with your life, as we must all do, they remember you fondly and hold onto these moments when, for just a bit, we're all perfect. Because that's what happened tonight...tonight we were all perfect.

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.

You remember my checklist from yesterday? Let's scratch off "getting paid for it." Today, I was simply finding time to enjoy the fact that I love what I do. And I love the people here. And I may...MAY have just fallen a little bit in love with Atlanta. Occasionally, life is very, very good.