From the Morning News:
The NBA is planning a return to its leather basketball on Jan. 1, sources said Monday afternoon.Did Stern blink because of the grievance filed by the players union? That's possible, but more likely it was the relatively recent revelation by players across the league that the new ball was causing small, paper-cut-like abrasions on their fingertips. Apparently it's bad enough that some assistant coaches have taken to wearing gloves during passing drills.
Commissioner David Stern has said in the last week that he was considering changing from the new synthetic basketball that has been met with near-universal bashing by the players. The ball was part of the reason the NBA players' association filed unfair labor practices against the league last week.
While details of the transition have not been finalized and the official date for the return of the old ball could change, the sources said the leather ball that was used for 35 years will be back in play before midseason.
So, for all of you holiday shoppers, does the new ball (and by "new" I guess I mean the "old new" ball) head to the discount bin or become a collector's item?
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
I hope the NBA reintroduces the ball in a white box. You know, like, Gandalf or something...
You got to think did they do a survey before hand to see how the players would like or dislike the new balls > I guees not thanks for fileing the grievance KUDOS to the palyers assocation....
P.S. paper cuts can lead to staff enfection very easially
I don't have a positive thing to say about David Stern, who has given the NBA the credibility of the WWF (or whatever its initials are now.) Anything having to do with anything bad in the NBA begins and ends with Stern. Think he'd change a ball if Michael Jordan would or would not have wanted it?? Think this Jordan suck-up would have permitted a single tech on a Chicago Bull, let alone Jordan?? Bet me.
The day this chump is gone, however it happens, is the day the NBA can be taken seriously again.
Oh, take Rod Thorn and Darrel Garretson with you too, loser.
DV