They say that love conquers all things. That with an open mind, and an open heart we can change the world. After an intimate evening of performances with some of the world’s most passionate, innovative, and talented performers, I’m starting to believe it too.
The Theatre at Ace Hotel illuminated DTLA on a rainy December night for GOODFest Love by GOOD, presented by Pixel, a phone by Google. As excited GOODFest-goers shuffled out of the rain into the 2,300 square foot grand lobby, an ornate open balcony with a vaulted ceiling comprised of thousands of tiny mirrors glimmering with hope greeted us. As we made our way to the bar for libations, we had a blast taking photos with the Pixel that we were lent for the night; it was an awesome opportunity to check out the tech behind the event. The lowlight on the Pixel camera is incredible. It adapted to whatever lighting was in the room effortlessly and seamlessly, which came in handy in the gothic lighting of the Ace. It captured every moment beautifully.
After we were seated, the lights inside of the theatre began to dim. The crowd began to cheer with the anticipation of a vivid, electrifying show. As the graceful Hannah Simone approached the mic as the host of GOODFest Love, we knew we were all in for a treat. The evening was filled with powerful and thought-provoking performances by the beat-boxing, guitar-playing Butterscotch, the innovative and beautiful D∆WN, and the singing sensation Bilal, who has a voice and a stage presence that brought the entire audience to their feet. The Miguel Atwood-Ferguson Ensemble provided epic live music for the night.
These artists, speakers, performers, and activists opened their hearts, and gave honest and moving performances that embodied what GOODFest LA is about — Love. Being in a such an intimate space with so many amazing people, I am now definitely a believer that love will change the world. And with GOODFest at the helm of this undertaking, I am buckled in for the ride.
Nurse and patient smiling.
Holding hand of patientImage via Canva - Photo by Pitchaya Pingpithayakul
Holding the hand of a patient.Image via Canva - Photo by Portra
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Ketel Marte was brought to tears during an MLB game after facing a shameful fan taunt.
Baseball manager's poignant support for a player brought to tears after shameful fan taunt
Whether they’re expecting perfection from their favorite players or, worse, behaving callously toward opposing teams, sports fans often forget that athletes are human beings. But athletic competition has the ability to unify and uplift, even amid such painful and unpleasant encounters. Take, for example, a major-league baseball game held June 24, 2025 between the home team Chicago White Sox and visiting Arizona Diamondbacks.
A shameful low point occurred when Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte was at bat in the seventh inning. Per ESPN, a fan reportedly yelled out a comment regarding Marte’s late mother, Elpidia Valdez, who died in a 2017 car accident in the Dominican Republic. Team personnel, including manager Torey Lovullo, then requested the 22-year-old fan be ejected. (Though he was remorseful and admitted his actions were inappropriate, according to an ESPN source, he was nonetheless banned indefinitely from all MLB ballparks.) "We commend the White Sox for taking immediate action in removing the fan," the MLB said in a statement. Marte reportedly declined to comment.
- YouTubewww.youtube.com
While the fan’s behavior is inexcusable, it did spark a powerful and inspiring moment. After hearing the comment, Marte was visibly upset, prompting Lovullo to walk on the field, put his arm around him, and offer some words of encouragement. "[I said,] 'I love you, and I’m with you, and we’re all together, and you’re not alone,'" Lovullo said in a post-game interview, as documented by The Rich Eisen Show. "'No matter what happens, no matter what was said or what you’re heard, that guy is an idiot.’"
According to Arizona Republic, Lovullo heard the fan’s comment but didn’t want to repeat it. “I looked right at [Marte] when I heard,” he said. “I looked right at him, and he looked at the person, as well. He put his head down and I could tell it had an immediate impact on him, for sure."
Elsewhere in the post-game interview, the manager called the moment "terrible" and reflected on why he stood up for Marte. "Fans are nasty, and fans go too far sometimes," he said. "I love my players, and I’m gonna protect them…I’ve known Ketel for nine years. He’s had some unbelievably great moments and some hardships as well and some really tough moments in his life. I know those. At the end of the day, we’re human beings, and we have emotions. I saw him hurting, and I wanted to protect him."
- YouTubewww.youtube.com
The following day, the Chicago White Sox X account sent out a message in support of Marte, writing, "We’re with you" and "Baseball is family." On The Rich Eisen Show, the show's host addressed the need to eradicate this kind of toxic athlete-fan interaction: "I was hearing [people saying], 'There’s no place for this in major league baseball.' There isn’t. There’s no place for this in our society. I understand that people are saying the MLB has got to do something about this. Fans have a right to heckle players—this is something that has happened forever…But there is a line."
In another recent, depressing sports moment with a beautiful coda, let’s look to Game 7 of the NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and the eventual champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder. During the first quarter, Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton tore his right Achilles tendon—a devastating injury that could potentially sideline him for most of the 2025-2026 season. Following the game, in a lovely display of sportsmanship, Thunder point-guard and league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander went to the Pacers locker room to check on his competitor. In a press conference, he said, "You just hate to see it, in sports in general. But in this moment, my heart dropped for him. I can't imagine playing the biggest game of my life and something like that happening. It’s so unfortunate."
- YouTubewww.youtube.com