I PREDICT (God that’s fun to say!) that 10 years from now, you won’t know or care if those players you see on your 3D-Holographic-TV are real or not! Then truely, only the management will matter. No more pesky players.

Well done. When I first saw this blog, I was laughing hysterically because I thought to myself, ‘Cuban is the only one that would ever do this.’ but then I realized that it had to be done and read your blog intently. I found it particularly interesting that despite countless complaints made by prominent NBA players, both veterans and young guns, the new ball would have to stay. I’m glad that people have basically told Stern that he’s going a bit far on this one. I’m glad it’s gone come Jan 1st.

The thing that can save the NBA most seems to be happening on a small level this year. There aren’t as many “ticky-tack” foul calls which has sped the pace of the game up and hasn’t ruined everyone’s rhythm as much this year.

Lastly, being a Detroit fan, of course I hate the “Sheed-Rule (no tolerance rule). But as a basketball fan, I hate it even more. The most popular sport in the world is Football (as in Soccer) and the atheletes on a football field are always playing on edge with emotion (standing on the sidelines like your players) and not getting called for a card unless it’s really saying something to an official that is a direct insult.

If you make a reaction to any call and you can’t show emotion, it’s ridiculous. Does Stern want this game to flourish? If so, he can’t keep this rule in place. It has damaged the game to a degree that I’ve noticed in myself, my friends and many posters over at my site http://www.wtfdetroit.com. What was once a bon fire lit by the start of the NBA season has quickly simmered to a hot smoking log on the fire. Everyone’s waiting for something to happen. It’s boring.

Restore the soul of this beautiful game. Go back to the leather ball. Go back to letting players stand when they want to and jump out of their seats when their team-mate throws one down. Bring back the intensity when it’s late in the game and a player doesn’t like a call and he says, “What!?!?” Who cares? I think we need our NBA back. It was slowly making another surge in to greatness. Thus far it’s been lukewarm. Bring back that fire.

Thanks for doing your part to help Mark. I’m sure we’ll get it back soon.

MOLA1
WTFDetroit.com

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/basketball/nba/wires/12/06/2030.ap.bkn.stern.new.ball.0604/

You have players like Nash, Kidd, and Nowitzki complaining about the cuts on their hands and fingers.

Now the NBA is gathering up all of the balls for testing. Mark gave them a head start on all of this.

From my own experience playing basketball I hate to shoot with any basketball that is improperly inflated, warped, slick (usually an older ball missing ridges), or any defect in the ball.

I know it seems silly for the players to complain about the new ball, but I can understand it from their perspective. For a professional basketball player the feel of a basketball is as familiar to them as your favorite leather recliner at home is to you. Imagine if you went to the living room Thursday night to kick your feet up on that magnificent recliner and enjoy the Mavs/Pistons game on TNT, but instead of your favorite recliner some ordinary looking vinyl chair was in it’s place? Sure you could still sit and watch the game, but it wouldn’t be the same.

I agree with what Avery said “These guys are so good they could start shooting footballs at the basket and make them” But I don’t see why they need to make it any harder on the players. It’s already challenging enough to make a basket in the NBA when you’re being guarded by the likes of Shawn Marion or Ron Artest. Why add the extra element of a basketball that doesn’t handle as well? Seems pretty senseless to me, but it’s just my two cents.