Weeks' meteoric rise has sense of destiny

It was only recently I noticed this short, skinny dreadlocked 2nd baseman showing up on every Oakland highlight on the news. As a Giants fan I don't really follow the A's, but at 5'10" and 165, Jemile Weeks might be Oakland's answer to Tim Lincecum — especially with the hair. (Whether he has adopted Timmy's, uh, smoking habits is another question. With his upbringing in the church, I think not.) As another short, skinny guy, it's a great story.

I'm also really interested in young African Americans coming into the majors, because what with various systemic factors — lack of business support for Little League teams in black communities, and the MLB shifting its recruiting from Caribbean countries and neglecting black America in its marketing — they're less and less a part of the game. As a result, young African Americans tend to identify with basketball and football players and their sports, not baseball, so the cycle is compounded. 

It is what it is. But I'm someone who believes in baseball (as a positive life force? a redemptive power? a unifying American narrative?), and I grew up idolizing Mays, McCovey and Bonds (Bobby — the original), guys who brought power, speed, brilliance and excitement to the game.  Jackie Robinson was able to open a lot of eyes breaking a barrier in baseball because it was our national pastime. So I'd hate to see those lines being redrawn, even if it's in invisible ink. 

Anyway, if baseball has a future with African American kids, and young people in general, it's going to be talented, stylin', young players like Weeks and Lincecum — guys who look like our increasingly diverse country (Lincecum is half-Filipino) — who are going to make that happen.