I can hear it now.  After losing to a lousy team early in the Euro 2012 soccer tournament, at least one player will blame the ball.  It happens all the time. Right before any big tournament, Adidas comes out with new balls.  This new one they’ve come up with is called the Tango 12.  It has been developed over a two year period and has been rigorously tested by pro players in eight different countries.  Looks like a soccer ball to me.  Actually, it looks like somebody put a ladies’ thong over a soccer ball.  These new balls are lighter and have improved touch.  They fly faster in the air, and you can kick them for hours and they won’t lose performance.  Wow.  Magic balls.  But you know someone will complain.

     The last time I checked, they’re gonna use the same balls for every single game.  Both sides are gonna have to dribble, shoot and block these balls.  The only reason why guys will complain about them is to give them an excuse when their team tanks.  They’ll just blame the balls.  It’s like a hockey player complaining about how crappy the ice was.  Well, if it was crappy, it was crappy for both teams.  Shut up and play.

     I’m all for new technology, but why do they have to keep changing the characteristics of the ball?  The NFL doesn’t redesign the football for every Super bowl.  On the golf course, I can hit a Titleist Pro V just as far as those dimpled rocks they sell at XS Cargo.  Can’t tell the difference.  Because in golf, and in hockey, and in soccer, it’s not the arrow—it’s the archer.