But now, right now, there is loads of controversy going on with complaints up and down the spectrum including all types of opinions from the extreme left and to the conservative right about this $130. USd priced soccer ball named the Adidas Jambulani (in Indonesia called 'Jamulani' with cheap copies available at Taman Puring for $10 USd).  Should you go on the internet and do a bit of research then you will find that it seems to be the Nike sponsored players and teams who are whining the loudest about Adidas's perfectly round patent.  Do I think that Nike could have put it's own branded players and teams into the stew pot to criticize Adidas?  For sure and some of that is going on with no doubt about it.  That is business.  Happens all the time.  One business tries to criticize the other in an attempt to legitimize its own reputation or product.  This strategy usually backfires because as the saying goes:  (Eventually) you got to put your money where your mouth is!  So whatever one criticizes must be met with either a superior service or a better product.  So then... is the Nike ball better?  No.  Not at all. It is not even a particularly good ball itself even though it is in use in the EPL.  It is just an average ball with no particular liveliness or energy to it.  But it is sufficient.  Personally, I find it a bit lifeless and lacking personality.  In fact, I will be happy to see the end of that particular line of Nike creations.  And I think that Nike should stick with shoes and clothing and let others create the balls that we are supposed to be playing with simply because the lower end Nike balls as as bad as those useless plastic glue on panel balls (still being produced) that Mikasa invented back in the 1970's after the 1974 World Cup.  So, in conclusion, a lot of guerilla marketing is what is really behind the scenes here and what is really going on with this ball controversy. 

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But I have to bring Bernhard Schumm back into the public spotlight because he said one of the most profound items of common sense heard in ages.  He freely admits that the ball is faster and a bit lighter and that if you hit it just right (in the sweet-spot) it will fly like a wicked rocket nearly spin-less like a knuckleball at the target.  But if you hit it anywhere else it will misfire and fly anywhere BUT that intended target.  In other words, it can make a good player look bad.  But what he actually said was:  'The ball has been on sale since January.  Any player could have gone to the store and bought himself one and by now he would be accustomed to it so I'm sorry - no excuses (accepted)'.  And I agree.  If you thought that you might be chosen to represent your country at this year's World Cup finals then you should have done just that.  The German teams that are sponsored by Adidas have been using it in their league this year so obviously they are indeed used to it by now and it showed in the German's 4-0 victory the other night.  And the super skilled Spanish players looked like they knew the ball intimately despite their loss to the Suisse (which incidentally made Marc Giovanola so very happy by the way).  Yet, keep in mind that seven of those Suissers are plying their trade in the German Bundesliga as well. 

Bernie said another thing about this ball which got me thinking even more.  He said that this is the most perfectly round technological ball ever produced.  His quote because I cannot leave this subject alone and hit him with 20 SMS's a night:  'Don't discuss this again.  This is the perfect ball exposing the slightest technical mistake and reacting to the softest (of) technical impact (touches).'  And my reaction is: 'But we are not machines.  We are humans.  We rarely do anything perfect.  And maybe, just maybe, we are not ready for this advanced ball during this period of human football history'.  And so here is my conclusion.  Since this is the lowest scoring World Cup opening round in history:

Bring back the Tango - the undisputed best ball of all time.  Every professional player who ever used it will agree including Maradona.  And that is the final word on that!  I am accepting no alternative opinions.  Should Adidas bring it back they will find that they suddenly will have on their hands the best selling ball ever in the history of the game.  If they fail to heed my advice than well, Nike here is your chance.  Are you reading my words?  And, if you are, than are you understanding them?