About time!

NBA commissioner David Stern, in a stunning reversal, has decided to shelve the new microfiber composite basketball after just a few months of use and switch back to the old leather model for all games starting Jan. 1, ESPN.com has learned.

The decision will be formally announced by the league later this week, according to sources close to the situation.

Despite an avalanche of player complaints about the new synthetic model from the first day of training camp in October, skepticism was high among players that Stern would consent to a change during the season. But with a number of prominent players complaining of cuts on their hands caused by the new ball's high-friction cover --Phoenix's Steve Nash and New Jersey's Jason Kidd among them -- Stern was forced to concede that an in-season swap was unavoidable with the new ball inflicting injuries.

Marc Stein is the senior NBA writer for ESPN.com.

Now they can sell limited editions of the composite ball, and the "new-old" ball at the same time.

Brilliant!

Good, fuckastern.

It's amazing what happens when beloved superstars complain.

http://www.suaramerdeka.com/cybernews/sport/basket/Dwyane%20Wade.jpg

It was bound to happen eventually with all the bad pub it was getting but i think the main thing that go Stern was the cuts on some of his prized players. Which could've resulted in lost revenue in the long term.

Stern had done this to himself. I understand his quest to squash the "thuggery" image of the NBA with all of the new "rules", but at the same instant, it's not like he had recently assumed the role of commish from an outgoing moron. He's a control freak -- pure and simple.

In baseball, different teams crop and groom their fields different ways, and the outfield fences are not all of the same distances (CF can range from 400 to 417 feet, correct me if I'm wrong Vinny). And WTF with Houston and that mound out there? It's all a part of the game. With the old ball, variances in it's bounce and feel are part of the game. If you cannot adjust, then maybe you're not NBA material.

I've seen something like this before


http://www2.coca-cola.com/heritage/img/cokelore_left_newcoke.jpg

Had he consulted the players before the switch was made, this whole situation could've been avoided.

Someone said getting Stern to admit he is wrong is about as easy as getting Bush to admit it. Sorry bout the political bullshit.

Stern is a bunch of punks©

thank goodness. stern is a moron. this is the same guy who had to be talked out of raising the baskets by red auerbach some years ago!

what an idiot.

Ralph Nader bitched about this. Reading this and some other things, he has a real bitch with Stern as head of the NBA. Good for him!

http://www.leagueoffans.org/2sternletter.html

Dear Mr. Stern:

Why continue to use inferior equipment that damages game quality and causes undue physical harm to players?

While it is good that you have taken responsibility for the unilateral imposition of the new synthetic basketball at issue, it doesn't make sense to keep using it over the well-liked leather ball of years prior. The purported reason for the change to the new ball is consistency, which it obviously does not achieve. Whereas the level of performance associated with the leather ball has generally been accepted by all associated with the NBA for many years.

Sending the new basketballs back to the manufacturer, Spalding, for further testing does not solve the current problem, a remedy for which is immediately available. The New York Times reported on December 6 that you indicated you have "left open the possibility that [the ball] would be changed during the season." Again, why not change back to the leather ball, and do it now? It is unreasonable to think that Spalding could have an adequate new synthetic ball, with significant changes, ready for game play by the best players in the world within the next few weeks or even months.

The same Times article summarized the inferiority of the new ball from complaints by players and coaches. The new ball:

- caused league MVP Steve Nash to wear "bandages on his fingers last week because of cuts caused by the new ball";

- caused the Nets' Jason Kidd, and the Mavericks' Jason Terry and Dirk Nowitzki to [speak] out against the material [of the new ball]" (other reports indicate that Kidd has experienced something similar to Nash, like paper cuts all over his hands; while Nowitzki has experienced bleeding from one of his fingertips as a result of the new ball);

- "[has less consistency] in the way it handles and bounces";

- "has stuck to players' hands";

- caused the Knicks Eddy Curry to say: "The ball never leaves my hand the same way. It sticks to my middle finger. It bounces differently off the dribble and on the shot.";

- caused an unnamed NBA assistant coach to "[tear] a ligament in a finger when, in retrieving a ball that had bounced onto the sideline, his finger stuck at an odd angle on the ball";

- "has also not been able to absorb moisture as well as the leather ball" (other reports indicate that the ball is too sticky when dry, too slippery when wet);

- has "become frequently lodged between the rim and the backboard."

Beyond the game quality issues, is it not in the interest of the NBA to immediately protect player safety by simply switching back to the traditional ball? At the very least, you should immediately allow every player to vote on whether or not to make the switch right away, and respect their wishes.

- Dirk Nowitzki, when asked if he favors an in-season switch back to the leather ball said on December 6: "I definitely would. I know our whole team would." On the time needed to readjust to the old ball: "I think we're pretty much all used to the old ball."

- The Cavaliers' LeBron James told reporters on December 6 on the time needed to readjust to the old ball: "We've used it a long time. It wouldn't be hard to make the adjustment."

Mr. Stern, having never consulted the players about changing to a new ball, nor even allowing them to test it before implementation, you have shown the players a great deal of disrespect. You must put to rest this controversy. It is inexcusable to allow it to run on -- possibly all the way to the off-season -- with a ball so unpredictable and physically damaging.

Perhaps, finally, you will learn your lesson as to your attitude toward the league you have been entrusted to manage. The well-being of the players should be your highest priority. After all, you need them more than they need you.

Sincerely,

Ralph Nader
Washington, DC