189 1 year, after Dr. naismith invented basketball, his best friend Mr. Spalding made the world's first basketball in 1894. Before that, all the balls used on the basketball court were replaced by football. Starting from 1983, Spalding basketball has been used in all official NBA games. Each game ball has strict numerical regulations: the diameter should be 9.4 inches (0.239 meters); The upper limit of circumference is 29.5 inches (0.749 meters); Weight 567-602g; The requirement for elasticity is that when falling from 6 feet (1.83m) to the floor, it can bounce to a height of 52 to 56 inches (1.32-1.44m).
Spalding official website introduced this new ball very well, calling it the most advanced and high-tech ball on the market at present. The new ball adopts the original Cross trax sion(TM) technology, which is the perfect combination of innovative design and breakthrough materials. The biggest change in the appearance design of the new ball is that it has two interlocking panels instead of eight oval panels of leather basketball, which increases the material coverage. The biggest change of the new ball material is the use of superfine fiber composite material, which can provide a strong grip and touch during the whole game.
Another notable feature of Cross trax ion(TM) technology is its moisture absorption function. This function has been patented, which can make the sweat and moisture on the basketball surface evaporate quickly. However, unexpectedly, it is this function that has been attacked by many players. People not only don't think that the new ball is easier to evaporate water, but also think that the new ball is smoother when it is wet with sweat.
In fact, the first batch of new balls was tried by some players as early as 2005, and this new ball was also used in the last two All-Star Games. Spalding improved the new ball. During the Houston All-Star Weekend in February this year, the NBA distributed the new ball to all teams. This summer, every player received a new ball with his name on it. In this summer's league match, all teams used new balls.
One cannot arouse public anger.
The initiator of shelling the new ball is O 'Neill. At the beginning of 10, he publicly complained about the new ball, thinking that the new ball was "like a cheap ball bought in a toy store, and it couldn't be controlled when it was wet." The new ball will reduce the hit rate and increase the error rate. "
When Aopang made this remark, many big-name stars also expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of the new ball in the game. Carter, Rasheed Wallace, Anthony, Arenas, Nash and Marion all complained about this. To sum up, everyone thinks that the shortcomings of the new ball are reflected in three aspects: first, the new ball is too sticky under dry conditions; Second, it is too slippery in a sweaty state; Third, the new ball wears away faster than the old one.
However, some players think that they used this new ball when they played in college, so they are more adaptable to the new ball, and most of these players have just entered the league. Jeret Jack, a second-year player of the Trailblazers, believes that NBA players are not used to new balls because they are used to making old balls with pure leather, and the new balls made of superfine fiber composite materials are similar to those they used in college, so there is no uncomfortable feeling.
NBA President Stern said that most players will not be unfamiliar with this new ball, because leather balls are no longer used in American high schools and college leagues. In the NCAA championship in 2002, only four of the 64 teams still used leather balls. In June, Vice President Stu Jackson predicted that 99% of the existing players grew up with synthetic balls, which is one of the reasons why the NBA dared to support Spalding. Mavericks swingman stackhouse said, "The new ball I use now is the one I used when I was 12 years old. However, after using the ball for a long time in the NBA, no one wants to change the ball, neither does Michael Jordan, nor does Dr. J. "Bulls coach gayles also said," I remember that when I was a sophomore, I was changing synthetic balls in the top ten leagues and even the entire NCAA league. At first, everyone expressed dissatisfaction, but after a few months, almost everyone accepted the new ball. Things can be like this. This requires a process. In the NBA, I am afraid this process is also needed. "
PETA's victory?
Spalding has been the official ball manufacturer in NBA since 1983. This year is the first time that the league has replaced a new ball in 35 years. Why does the NBA want Spalding to change a new ball against the disapproval of the whole world? According to the inside information of NBA, Spalding changed the new ball, probably because he wanted to leave the leather industry. It was Spalding's idea to change the basketball this time, because Spalding gained the "notoriety" of leather manufacturers because he used leather for basketball for a long time. At the annual training meeting of NBA rookie in September this year, league officials told these first-year players who just entered the NBA that the ball made of superfine fiber composite materials in the new season was mainly at the request of Spalding Company.
Spalding publicly believes that the ball is changed because the new ball is a "better ball". According to Dan Tuhe, vice president of Spalding, the compound ball adopts more advanced technology, which makes the ball more compact and easier to hold. "In fact, only a few basketball manufacturers in the world are still producing leather balls. We are always looking for better materials, because artificial materials are easier to find, so it is also the general trend to be used as raw materials for production. They are all professional players, at least they have to adapt to their new sneakers, but no player has ever complained. When changing the most important game tools in players' hands, they will naturally have resistance, which takes time to adapt. "
There are even rumors that PETA played an important role. PETA, founded in 1980, is the largest animal rights organization in the world. Its purpose is to establish and protect the rights and interests of all animals. PETA insists on the principle that animals are not tools for us to eat, wear, experiment or entertain. On June 5438+ 10, 2005, Rodman became the first man to shoot a nude propaganda film for PETA's "I'd rather be naked than wear leather" activity, and also the first sports star to be naked for animals.
When the NBA gave up the leather ball, PETA's American website immediately published an article entitled "NBA Lost Leather" to celebrate. The article said: "In June 5438 +2006 10, PETA contacted the NBA and asked it to stop using leather balls and switch to popular synthetic balls, just like those used by NCAA and WNBA. At that time, PETA also sent a report to the NBA, showing how leather manufacturers killed millions of cows, even including the details that a cowhide can only make four basketballs. In addition, the report also reveals how leather production damages the environment and how the use of toxic chemicals harms human health.
The NBA certainly won't admit to being under pressure from PETA. "people for the ethical treatment of animals has nothing to do with changing basketball," said Mike Bass, vice president of NBA marketing. "Good ball, more conducive to grasp, feel better. This is the fundamental reason why we use it as a game ball. "
Some players speculate that the NBA changed the use of the ball to increase the sales of basketball. However, both the NBA and Spalding said that the move was only to promote the development of the league, not to make money. According to NBA data, the unit price of the old ball is $80, and the unit price of the new ball is 100, but the sales of game balls only account for 3% of Spalding's total sales.
A winding path between peaks.
The initial attitude of the league is that it is normal for some people to oppose the new ball, but the NBA will not give up the new ball plan. Vice President Stu Jackson is responsible for punishing players, but he says O 'Neill will not be fined for complaining about the new ball. So obviously, the NBA just wants to promote the use of new balls peacefully, not to irritate players too much.
On October 5th, 65438/KLOC-0, Stern was inspecting the 76ers' European preseason tour in Spain, during which he specifically mentioned the problem of new balls: "Synthetic balls are used in every league-high school, college league, FIBA, etc. So we also launched a synthetic ball. "
But NBA officials are also afraid that players' resistance to the new ball will directly affect the upcoming new season. Therefore, the league official said that if the players' opposition to the new ball is still too loud before the start of the regular season in 10 and 3 1 new season, it is possible to consider changing back to the ball for the game. Fortunately for Spalding, however, this did not happen after the start of the new season.
Stern insists that the new synthetic ball is technically feasible. "Spalding told us that they used new technology to improve the performance of the ball," Stern said. "They said that the NBA is the only organization in professional and university sports leagues that still uses leather balls, and they want to help us change this situation. They told us this a few years ago, and we said that we must see new technologies. They wanted to use a new ball a year ago, but we refused. We first tried it in the NBDL Development League (the NBA sub-league under the NBA) and used this new ball in the summer league. Different players have conducted different types of tests. A year later, they said their new ball was much better than before, so we agreed to adopt it. "
According to the labor agreement, the replacement of the game ball can be decided by the NBA unilaterally without the consent of the players' union. Therefore, although the phone number of bill hunter, Secretary General of the Players' Union, was exposed by disgruntled players, he could only say that there was nothing he could do, but he stressed: "We think we should ask the players' union and players before changing the ball. "
According to the current rules, only one ball can be used in a game. If you are wet with sweat, you can dry it with a towel, but you can't use other balls instead. League officials disclosed that in order to match the use of the new ball, this rule may be changed, that is, when the new ball becomes slippery, a new synthetic ball can be replaced in the game.
Same ball while reserving differences.
The surface energy of the new ball skin makes the water vapor diffuse evenly and make it evaporate better, thus reducing the viscosity of the ball under the condition of sweat and humidity.