Mr. Irrelevant goes for a spin
Scores of people pedaling their hearts out filled the room. Music blared. Lights pulsated, painting the room red and neon blue. The room was also filled with individuals wearing Arizona Cardinals jersey shirts that read “Christian — 256” on the back.
Basking in the attention at the front of the room was none other than Gerald Christian, the dead-last pick, No. 256, of the NFL Draft, Mr. Irrelevant XL.
It’s Irrelevant Week in Orange County, as conducted by the non-profit Foundation for the Undefeated. Christian made his most recent stop at GRIT Cycle, an intensive spin center in Costa Mesa. As part of his week of unique recognition, Christian was willing to put his cardio to the test in one of GRIT’s grueling 45-minute sessions on Wednesday morning. This is no easy feat, not even for a professional athlete.
“I have never been to a cycling class before,” Christian says. “I didn’t know what to expect. But like five minutes into it I was already feeling it. But with the music and everything, that was the funnest workout I have ever been a part of.”
The event was charity-based, a “Karma Ride,” and the proceeds went to Southern California Special Olympics. After the session was over, Christian, though drenched in sweat, wore a big grin as he expressed how glad he was to be able to participate in something so special.
“It was great,” Christian said. “Just being able to be a part of giving back to someone. That always makes you feel good, to help other people. I would do that every day if I could.”
Christian’s mother, Mary Ann Brown, joined her son in the cycling class.
“I was always excited to do cycling,” Brown said. “I had seen it on Facebook. And the idea of working out to music, because I like to dance, I think it’s a great event for charity.”
Both mother and son gave the workout their all and felt that they had done something positive by the end of it. Not everyone does so well on their first outing at an advanced spin class but Christian, being a high-level/pro athlete, was able to tap into the high standards and athletic drive that got him drafted into the NFL.
“He did amazing,” said Dani Wellbroch-Gallinger, GRIT’s Director of Operations, who led the spin class. “I was really impressed by him. You can tell he’s an athlete because he’s really competitive. It makes it difficult, the longer the legs and the bigger your body, but he’s a rock star.”
Fueled by a cyclist’s high, Christian was pumped for the rest of the events waiting for him during Irrelevant Week.
“Mr. Irrelevant Week rates 11 out of 10 so far,” he said. “It’s been great already. I am so excited. I got four or five more days of this and I am looking to enjoy it. I get to surf with my new board on Friday. I have never surfed before. You’ll see me out there trying to get it.”
Brown is fully enveloped in the energy of Irrelevant Week. But that wasn’t always the case.
“When I first heard about it and they called him Mr. Irrelevant, before I had heard the story, I was upset, “ she says. “I was like ‘how dare they call him Mr. Irrelevant,’ because he really is relevant. He’s so competitive. He loves the sport and he’s a great athlete. But now that I have the concept, I think it is awesome that they would honor the last pick of the draft like that.”
Irrelevant Week Founder Paul Salata, a Newport Beach resident, based his fun tradition, in its 40th year, on “doing something nice for somebody for no reason at all.”
After working up a sweat during the charity spin ride, Christian and his entourage spent the rest of the day at Disneyland.
