Soccer in America

Michael Now to recreational sports. For two and a half years, with one exception--when Angelika's brother Bernd visited with Julian and we played soccer in Dolores Park--I haven't played soccer. So I was pleased to hear that there is a soccer team at Netscape. The email system there has a special distribution list, soccer@netscape.com (soccer is what they call football in America), where people arrange during the day to kick around on a nearby field in the evening--quite extraordinary in soccer-hostile America, where mainly baseball (the one with the wooden bat and the small ball and the people standing around on the field chewing huge pieces of gum) and American football (the one with people in armor-like costumes and helmets fighting over an egg-shaped ball) are popular, and at most some immigrant Mexicans can play soccer reasonably well. The rest couldn't even score a penalty on an empty goal. Just like in Germany, no one knows how many strikes the hitter is allowed in baseball before he's "out." Or do they? Does anyone among our educated newsletter readers actually know? The creme de la creme of German intellectuals (ahem!)?

ATTENTION: Starting today, each newsletter will include a question to test your knowledge of America and distinguish "Heroes" from "Zeroes." Whoever answers it correctly first (there are two categories: email and regular mail) will receive the announced prize and, of course, be mentioned by name in the next newsletter. Today's question is: After how many strikes is the hitter "out" in baseball if he doesn't hit the ball? Heads are smoking... the lucky winner will receive this time... drum roll... brrr... brrrrrrr... kschhhhhh!: A CD compiled according to individual personal taste! Depending on who wins, either Angelika ("Schmusi-Schmusi") or Michael ("Pow! Pow! Pow!") will take care of the compilation, and the winner will be in seventh heaven! Write in masses! And remember: Time is running out--only the first email and the first mail submission will score!