High-Tech Soccer Ball Worries World Cup Goalies
The world's biggest sports competition, soccer's World Cup kicks off tomorrow in South Africa. The nearly 6 billion people expect to watch the World Cup will see something dramatically new on the field: the ball.
The jabulani,as it's called, was unveiled by Adidas with dancing girls, and its own theme song.
"Jabulani" is Zulu for "celebration." But players aren't celebrating.
Brazil's goalie called the ball "horrible." Italy's goalie said it's "a nightmare."
YouTube reviews posted by soccer fansshow the ball swerving strangely. In one replay, the Jabulani ball clearly zig-zags - behaving more like a waffle ball than a soccer ball.
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But Adidas insists, "this is the most accurate ball we have ever made."
While older balls have 32 sewn panels, the vinyl Jabulani has 8 heat-bonded panels - which Adidas claims makes it perfectly round. Three years in the making, it's been run through wind tunnels and robotic legs - not just for kicks, but for cash.
The German company sold 15 million balls during the last World Cup four years ago. So this isn't just about a new soccer ball. For them, it's a game of money ball.
We showed the new ball, which sells for $150, to three experienced players, including Winston Buddle, whose son Edson plays for the U.S. team.
Jerry Edwards saw the difference right away. On one kick, the ball made a dramatic late turn to the left.
Jerry said the ball's "faster," with "more knuckles and swerves in it."
On its websitetoday, Adidas finally conceded its ball does travel faster at higher altitudes. That'll mean more trouble for goalies at the World Cup in South Africa, but maybe more thrills for mans.
