David Stern Blinks, Brings Back Leather Balls

According to published reports by the Dallas Morning News and ESPN's Marc Stein, NBA commish David Stern has decided that the new-fangled micofiber ball has fallen into the same company as New Coke, fruit-shaped Trix and Michael Jordan in a Wizards jersey: attempted sequels that left everyone yearning for the original.

From the Morning News:

The NBA is planning a return to its leather basketball on Jan. 1, sources said Monday afternoon.

Commissioner David Stern has said in the last week that he was considering changing from the new synthetic basketball that has been met with near-universal bashing by the players. The ball was part of the reason the NBA players' association filed unfair labor practices against the league last week.

While details of the transition have not been finalized and the official date for the return of the old ball could change, the sources said the leather ball that was used for 35 years will be back in play before midseason.

Did Stern blink because of the grievance filed by the players union? That's possible, but more likely it was the relatively recent revelation by players across the league that the new ball was causing small, paper-cut-like abrasions on their fingertips. Apparently it's bad enough that some assistant coaches have taken to wearing gloves during passing drills.

So, for all of you holiday shoppers, does the new ball (and by "new" I guess I mean the "old new" ball) head to the discount bin or become a collector's item?