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by jimmy spako
Ha, not *exactly* a weirdo, but we're the only ones I've seen out and about in Neukölln over the years.
There's a decent but small league system here, starting with tee-ball and toss-ball, and going through youth league up to the Bundesliga.
There are a handul of places for kids to start here. I took the little dude to a tee-ball practice when he was five (he's seven now) but he was really torn and distraught (wanted to play but not without me, or wanted to play but not go off and start the stretches and drills) so I didn't push it, of course, picked him up, wiped away his tears and carried him to the bus or to get ice-cream or whatever. I've introduced the idea to him every year since, but he says he just wants to practice and play with me, so that's what we've done. I have a feeling he might be up for it next year.
When we were still playing with a plastic/foam bat and spongey balls or tennis balls, we used to be baseball ambassadors to the feral youth of the hood, but I am more hesitant these days with the aluminum bat and only slightly softer tee-ball balls. I have already almost pulled or dislocated various things trying to get out of the way of his line drives of late. It's fun to introduce his friends to the sport though when we have the time. The kid soaked up a ton just watching around the ages of three to five, and we used to play in the tiny entrance hall to our apartment every night after dinner with the plastic bat, my (German-born) girlfriend constantly yelling "A swing in the mist!" (something she "picked up" from watching baseball at the dinner table too). Now, it is pretty encouraging how I can just point out or correct little things about his stance and swing and he incorporates them right away, same for fielding and pitching. Baseball rules. It is a tough sport though, can be a grind when it's not going right, so I have also been encouraged that he is now getting a little into soccer on his own, something he can play with everyone.
