<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace was asked after Monday's practice if he put stock in stories that NBA commissioner David Stern was considering bringing back the leather basketball. Wallace -- who hates the new, synthetic Spalding ball -- said, "Man, if they switch back, hell will freeze over." Well, Monday must have been a cold day in hell because the NBA will scrap its new microfiber composite ball and bring back the leather one beginning Jan. 1. "Our players' response to this particular composite ball has been consistently negative, and we are acting accordingly," Stern said. "Although testing performed by Spalding and the NBA demonstrated that the new composite basketball was more consistent than leather, and statistically there has been an improvement in shooting, scoring and ball-related turnovers, the most important statistic is the view of our players." Stern said the league will work with players and Spalding to "determine the best ball possible for the NBA." The switch to synthetic was the first change to the ball in more than 35 years and only the second in 60 seasons. The change came a week after a grievance was filed by the players union, whose director, Billy Hunter, paid his annual visit to Detroit on Monday. The suit claimed it was unfair to switch the game's most significant piece of equipment without running it by players. Stern empanelled four former players who work in broadcasting to assess the new ball. That group reportedly gave it a thumbs up after a one-hour session. Stern also snuck the synthetic ball into the All-Star Game last season. Until this week, Stern remained adamant that the new ball offered better grip and a more consistent bounce. But from the beginning of this season, when the old balls went into storage, a majority of the league's players voiced concerns. Most players said it was slippery when wet and it gripped their hands when dry.The ball also bounces differently -- at times it seems to "die" upon contact with the rim or backboard, plopping lifelessly into the net when the old ball would have dinged away.</div> Source
