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BASKETBALL:
by Tim Sullivan
How do you sell a basketball? They’ve been around forever. The
sport is not going to make some radical change that involves a new
type of ball, requiring everyone to go out and get a new one. So what,
then, do you do? Clearly, you make the balls better. And these
companies have done just that.
Classic
Sport 808™ Legend™ |
Classic
Sport 808™ Legend™
Classic Sport Companies motto is The Good in Sports™, and this
ball exemplifies that. The ball looks good, and, more importantly,
feels good in your hands. While this is the more traditional of the
balls featured here, it is not made of traditional leather. Instead,
the ball is made of a “new composite material which provides superior
grip and feel.” I spoke with Matt Torson of Classic Sport, and he
claims that this material provides the ball with more “tack,” and
that the “tack” will not wear away with time. Anyone know what tack
is? Me neither, but I found out. It is the inherent stickiness of
the ball on your hand. And, Matt seems to be right. I’ve played with
an 808™, and my game was diabolical.
Huffy
Twilight™ |
Huffy
Twilight™
I really thought that LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) had pretty
much found their best possible usage when I saw them lighting up the
walkway to Bally’s Casino in Las Vegas. It is truly something to see.
If you haven’t been to Bally’s, you probably know LEDs better as the
light in your computer’s keyboard that goes on when you hit the CAPS
lock. It turns out that Bally’s is not alone in their LED ingenuity,
as Huffy Sport has found a truly cool use for the light source: within
their basketballs. No longer will nighttime encroach on your game,
for, with the press of a button, the ball lights up, and the game
continues. Balance is the main thing I was concerned about here, and,
the company notes that while there is a balance change, it is virtually
unnoticeable. They are correct. Only a scientist in a lab would be
able to discern the difference. Worried about being able to see the
basket? Truth be told, that does become a bit of a problem. However,
with daylight savings time, it doesn’t come into play until real late.
And, for the die-hards, Huffy makes a lighted basket as well.
Spalding Infusion™ |
Spalding
Infusion™
Ever heard of the Spalding Infusion? Most likely you have. It
was used in the NBA/WNBA 2-Ball Competition, it’s endorsed by Kobe
Bryant, and heavily advertised. The advertising is working. With over
1,000,000 balls sold (HUGE for this category,) the Infusion is truly
at the top of its game. Having acquired 55% of the market share for
Spalding, the Infusion continues to be the #1 selling ball in its
category. And, truth be told, it’s a cool ball. Made of a composite
material that feels like leather, the Infusion has a pump built
into it. It doesn’t get much handier than that.
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