Pretty In Pink
by Jeff Kagan
Comedian George Carlin said that all racquet
sports are simply derivatives of ping-pong, and he even went so far as to
suggest that tennis is ping-pong played while standing on the table. Wolfgang
Busch might agree with that sentiment as ping-pong is his passion.
The paddle-wielding, German native competed in a
variety of sports (including tennis) in his home town of Heppenheim, where his
father was the right-hand to the town mayor. Busch says, "I was a
semi-professional soccer player and tried out track in field. I was a
roller-skater, swimmer, tennis player and played table tennis with my brother
at my uncle's table in his garage and at my best friend’s house." However,
playing ping-pong, also known as table tennis, was the one activity that sent
his ball(s) flying over the net every time. And due to excessive wear and tear
to his body from all of the other sports, it was his saving grace as he now
plays as a form of physical therapy. "By nature, I am very competitive and
I have a lot of fun playing 4 to 5 hours at a time. I have a lower back and
neck disability and [ping-pong] works wonders for me," Busch says.
In 2002, he was living in Brooklyn and dating
Paulo Freitas. In talking, the couple discovered that they both enjoyed playing
ping-pong as teenagers, so they found a table and played one afternoon. Busch
recalls, "We had so much fun, so I decided to start a group by advertising
it at the LGBT Center in Manhattan." He called it Ping Pong NY and it
brought many smiles to the faces of gay ping-pong enthusiasts to not only find
competitive opponents, but new friends to socialize with after the games.
The organizing grew and by 2010 they were ready
to take on the rest of the gay world in Gay Games VIII, which was played out in
Busch's home country. He says, "I organized and put the team together for
the Gay Games in Cologne, Germany and we dominated the recreational division by
winner a total of 8 medals. I won two gold medals and one bronze. It was
completely unexpected and was definitely a highlight moment in my life. It gave
me new energy and encouragement and made me very proud of my achievements."
More recently, in an effort to attract some new
players, Busch decided that the group’s name needed a splash of color. He
recalls, “I was looking for a gay touch for our name and somebody suggested
Pink to me.” The newly named “Pink Pong Foundation” caught on and Busch
continues to promote well-being in recreation to over one hundred members. He
says, "The health benefits alone are worth trying it or picking it up
again after dropping out for many years. Besides we are a fun bunch of guys!”
Look for Wolfgang Busch in Cleveland, Ohio in
2014 at Gay Games IX and learn more about PinkPong at
www.PinkPongFoundation.org.
