Victor Genova the alpha male wannabe

My friend Victor Genova is not an alpha male. This illustration is dedicated to him. But there is some confusion on that front. Some guys think they are alpha males because they are jerks. Alpha males are egotists, but so are most males. I know a guy who is an alpha male. And he’s gay.

Its more of an attitude. Another alpha friend of mine was very aggressive with the opposite sex. He never heard ‘no’. Women did love him. He was charming. And drunk most of the time. I liked him. Most guys like alpha males. There was a fellow at college that we called ‘Moose’. Very popular with the ladies. He was an alpha male. Big. Charming. Good looking. When he put his sights on a girl, very few could resist him. And other guys liked him. He wasn’t dumb. He graduated in the top quarter of his class at law school.

So what is an alpha male? First of all, there are very few of them. They are like ‘bigfoot’. They know themselves. Very few are self-deluded. Women mistake it for confidence. They are leaders. Though they tend to shun the spotlight. Although they are athletic, very few are athletes. They are aggressive with women. And can be careless lovers. They lose at cards. And drive ten year old cars. Some of them drink too much. They don’t deal well with boredom. They are not fearless. But when a situation demands action, they take the reigns. (The closest example in film would be Steve McQueen)

When I was in my twenties and thirties I was often mistaken for an alpha male. I frightened some women. Others thought that my detachment and loss of focus was endearing. Men liked me. Yes, gay men too. But I fooled them all. I was a poet.

Americans

Americans are celebrating their day of Independence on Monday. There are no people who celebrate so wonderfully as Americans. Other nations are somewhat cooler to their own histories. Perhaps because they have learned about the dark pages of their own past. But Americans relish the moment. They are a people of the moment. Of now. That is of course the source of their confidence and some might say ignorance. Most of my heroes as a young man were Americans. John F. Kennedy, Mohammed Ali, John Huston, John Ford, Bob Dylan, Duke Ellington, Willie Mays, Jim Brown. I could not make a list that long of Canadians. Or perhaps members of any other nation. I have loved Americans. On a private level. And on a public level. But they also frighten me. They are like teenagers. Full of energy. Self-centred. Fun. Selfish. I hope all of them enjoy their July 4th. Be careful.