I think all the players and goalies should shut the fuck up and stop crying about the "new ball". YOU ALL HAVE TO PLAY WITH THE SAME FUCKING ONE.

It's not unfair either way, so kwitcherbitchin (I think that's a model of table at Ikea).

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I caught an article a week or so ago about how every World Cup players are grumbling about something. This year it happens to be the ball.

Yep

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I dunno, man. This year's ball knuckles pretty easy. It doesn't take the skill involved any more.

That being said, yea they can STFU

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mechaphil

The people I would expect to complain would be the goaltenders who have been giving up some cupcakes. :p

Maybe if they stopped mistaking the pitch for a swimming pool and cut the diving, they'd be allowed to complain about something...

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

SOCCER players are the biggest group of whining pansies I've ever witnessed in "professional" sports. They exaggerate ALL contact and ALL injuries.

Bitches.

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I love sweeping generalizations

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Some players do, but that's true for all sports. (Derek Roy anyone?)

I'll do ya one better than Derek Rat-Tail:

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mechaphil

Hockey players are toothless idiots who just want to smash into each other on skates.

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They've been using the same ball for the last six months in the euro leagues, so it's not like it's a brand new ball. In defense though, I've seen players responding to constant questions, and half the responses are, "...everybody has to use the ball...nobody has an advantage...it moves a little funny but we all have to get used to it...".

If reporters would stop asking the same dumb questions the players wouldn't be talking about it.

Basketball players are all gun-toting thugs from the projects.

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mechaphil

Earth girls are easy.

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All hobbits are spineless and have no heart for adventure.

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mechaphil

Expecting journalists to do journalism? EL OH EL.

What I don't get is why they make a new ball for every damn world cup.
Name another sport where that happens.
Why change the single most crucial piece of equipment before the largest tournament every 4 years?

Oh, yeah....marketing.
Look at us sitting around and talking about an Adidas product for no particular reason...just like the rest of the world.

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Hold my beer and watch this...

Funny thing, X - you're the only one who may have known the brand lol

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mechaphil

Squanto, unfortunately you're right, because "journalism" has become little more than asking the same dumb questions until somebody gives you a juicy enough answer to exaggerate, skew, or embarrass somebody with.

Adidas has to make their money too. They make a new ball months before every World Cup. There's really not that much difference between the different models, but so many people get caught up in it, it's easy revenue.

I remember it from this same controversy 4 years ago.

They have a monopoly and this is their payday.
Guess how much those balls cost....

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Hold my beer and watch this...