It's a bird, it's a ...

	Darrell Sapp, Post-Gazette Burgh Man skates across the Clemente Bridge on his way to PNC Park. Click photo for larger image.

Pirates fans may have noticed something missing this year. I mean, besides such pesky details as hitting, home runs, any kind of runs. I refer to the black-and-gold caped, inline-skating masked crusader known as Burgh Man.

"Pittsburgh's Super Hero" was a fixture outside Pirates games, entertaining fans with juggling and his patented Burgh Man patter. He's not been seen this season, because he's moved (and who hasn't?) to Florida. Alter ego Mark Bedillion, who worked as a drug and alcohol abuse counselor here, now manages a law firm in Hollywood Beach.

"I have been developing a Florida character," he reports, "and I have some people interested in my vision of helping kids."

This weekend, he'll roll again as Burgh Man for the Walt Disney World Inline Marathon, for nostalgia's sake and because some Pittsburghers are coming down.

Bedillion is philosophical about his tenure: "Sorry the Burgh Man never really impacted the Burgh, as much as I had wished. Maybe my calling was to test market Burgh Man and move on."

Turn off, turn on . . .

From the AP
• Man Buys Smoker, Finds Human Leg Inside • Coach Stops Runaway Horse by Biting Ear • Man Allegedly Tries to Use 'Blurry' $100 • Police Break Up Brawl at Chuck E. Cheese • Suggestive Card Ruffles Farmer's Feathers • Nerds to Auction Themselves to Women • Toilet to Tap? San Jose Probes Plan • Seattle to Allow Pygmy Goats As Pets • Yankees Rookies Dress Up in Oz Costumes

I shouldn't have to tell you, but this is National TV-Turnoff Week. The idea is not to acknowledge that TV, by and large, is a turnoff but rather to encourage people to avoid TV-watching. So, if your TV is on right now, get up and turn it off. The Allegheny County Health Department is trying to encourage physical activity. It's asking people to visit its Web site, www.achd.net, and turn on to "101 Screen-Free Activities."

The need is there: 59 percent of adults in the county are overweight, according to a 2002 survey. Those who take the turnoff-TV pledge and report their activities receive a free portable FM radio with earphones. But if you just sit there with your new radio on, somebody's going to start Radio-Turnoff Week.

More awareness

There's more to this week than TV-Turnoff. Many subjects demand our awareness. That's why there are so many awareness weeks every week. Yes, it's late, but our Awareness Week editor Chris Snowbeck has sorted through this week's crop for our Top Five Awareness Weeks of the Week, so you can plan your weekends accordingly.

1. National Scoop the Poop Week. No known celebrations planned.

2. National Medical Laboratory Week. Don goggles and party with a pathologist.

3. Final week of National Pecan Month. Previously unranked pecans now rank 13th among all high-antioxidant foods, according to the National Pecan Shellers Association.

4. Sky Awareness Week. You never know when it might fall.

5. National Karaoke Week. "You know an industry is growing when it has earned its own special week of recognition," reports the American Karaoke Guild.

Overheard

Two Pitt students crossing Forbes after a class where one apparently gave a presentation:

He: "So how do you think it went?"

She (dead serious): "Great! I don't think I fell asleep even once."