SoccerCleats Choosing To Win – Why SoccerCleats are the most important piece of equipment..

Posted on July 29, 2011 by aman

SoccerCleats sounds so simple just walk down to the local soccer shack and pick up a pair. That’s exactly what you did 20 years ago but today soccer cleats have seen a revolution. Soccer Tech is making strides so quickly that at times it’s hard to keep up!

The basics are still the same, as always your soccercleats are not going to make you into Christiano Ronaldo, but they can give  you an extra edge if you go to your strength.

Cristiano Ronaldo Shooting Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly III FG Safari Cleats

Cristiano Ronaldo Shooting - His Nike Mercurial Vapor Safari Cleats are built for speed and looks

So where do your strengths lie? What kind of player do you want to become? You can play the speed game, the bread and butter game, the playmakers game among others. Take a look at some of the reviews below and let your heart take you there.

Speed Cleats

Speed Cleats  are engineered to be as light as possible and have great ball touch. The Adidas Adizero F50 is a good example.

Bread and Butter Game

The fact is most of us are not Cristiano Ronaldo and a lot of us are happy with that. Bread and butter soccercleats are made for just about any position on the field and do not sacrifice performance for foot protection.

Soccer Tech in the bread and butter lines includes special dribble zones and shooting zones. The edge they represent can really give you a spark in your ball handling.  Take look at the Adidas Predator X to get a better feel.

Playmakers Cleats

Made to help with ball control and passing playmakers cleats can put the strategists one step ahead. These soccercleats include special passing zones and spin zones that make the thinking game an art form. Take a look at the Nike CTR360 Maestri II to get a feel for these.

Other Styles

There are of course a ton of other styles out there.  If you don’t see yourself in any of the above take a look at pro players. Are there any successful ones that excel at your style? What kind of cleats do they use and why?

Personal Preferences – Old School vs. Synthetic

SoccerCleats now come in a variety of materials but leather still has some strong backers.  Leather is more durable than most synthetics and provides more friction on ball contact. Some of the more popular cleats are available in both synthetic and leather like the Adizero F50, but most aren’t.

black leather f50 adizero fg cleats

Black Leather F50 Adizero FG Cleats

A few years ago the difference was pretty simple, Nike made synthetic cleats and Adidas made leather. Things are changing quickly though with Adidas starting to use more synthetic materials. So why should I care?

Leather – Has a natural surface that interacts with the ball more than most synthetics. Synthetics unless the surface is altered tend to be slicker and the ball will pick up less spin on a kick. Leather also naturally breathes giving your feet some much needed perspiration relief.

Synthetic – Easier to modify to create special zones for ball interaction like passing zones, spin zones, power zones, etc… The newest microfiber synthetics have even started to feel like leather with similar toughness.

Making the Hard Choice – Which One is For Me?

Taking the time to read through several good reviews can help you to get a feel for what’s out there. Spending $200+ on a pair of soccercleats, breaking them in, and your field time is an investment not to mention your game.

Be willing to think outside the box, take some time to read some reviews. Does anything you read inspire you? Do the cleats looks make you feel faster? Sounds crazy but try it.

Think about the kind of player that you want to be. Are you all about speed, playmaking, or are you just out there to play? You should find a soccercleat that matches your style of play practice and kick some!

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Adidas Adizero F50 Cleats Review

Posted on July 15, 2011 by aman

There’s not room enough in this here town for us both Nike, draw! Adidas put a shot into Nike’s Mercurial Vapor at the world cup that is still blowing them away. With so many pro players switching over to the Adidas Adizero F50 either Adidas is paying the very big bucks or they have a great and super light cleat.

Adidas F50 Adizero Chameleon Purple Review

Adidas F50 Adizero Chameleon

So what’s the big deal? Adidas took a completely different tack on the F50 Adizero cleats than previous versions of the F line.  They simply cut out all the dross and left only the essentials and did it while still leaving the cleat comfortable.  That’s a great trick and one that almost no one else has pulled off.

5.8oz for a comfortable cleat is something most people thought was impossible.

First impressions, these things are so light I can’t imagine how they are going to hold up. I really like the chameleon / electric / black color scheme. It looks simple but it feels charged up.

Lionel Messi Adidas F50 Adizero Cleats

Lionel Messi the Ultimate At Speed Ball Handler w/ a Pair of Adidas F50 Adizero Cleats

#1 Breaking Em In

Not to much of a story here, double socks for a few training sessions and you’re golden. The sole plate is thin and the upper is the thickness of a few sheets of paper. There really is not that much to these. The uppers mold to your foot right away and the heel stub that looks like it’s going to rub doesn’t. That little raised heel stub instead seems to do a great job supporting the Achilles tendon.

# 2 The Fits the Thing

A soccer cleat with a poor fit is just about the kiss of death. It will not be long before you blister and are pushing up daisies. No one runs the same with a blister.

The Adidas Adizero F50 cleats fit the form of your foot and seem to cling there more like a sock than a cleat. Super good! That’s why it seems at first glance Adidas is crushing the competition in the speed boot arena.

Sizing them up; If you are pretty snug in the toes of your regular cleats go ahead and purchase the exact size. If you have some room to grow in your current cleats you probably need to drop down a half size.

#3  Tech

The focus of the F50 adizero cleats is speed and agility through cutting down a cleat to a very well engineered skeleton.

The sprintskin synthetic material that the uppers is made of is tough, waterproof, lightweight, and molds to your foot like a glove. You will feel every touch, strike, and cleat stepping on you. (These also come in leather with the leather ending about the 3 lace of the boot for those who prefer the extra 10g and leather touch).

Adidas F50 Adizero Review

Wide Cleat pattern and Triangular Cleats Large Asymmetric Trench for The Laces

The soleplate is strong and light and the cleat pattern a bit wider than normal for stability. The cleats themselves are triangular supposedly to make turning easier.

The asymmetric lace pattern with a large trench allows a good fit for a wide range of feet widths. I think that this also is a big part of why they fit so well over the varying width of the average foot. The asymmetric laces also create a huge sweet spot to shoot from.

TPU bands inside the cleat strengthen the thin sprint skin with a ladder of polyurethane to help prevent rips and tears.

#4 Lookinnn good….

Adidas has done a great job with the chameleon colorway making a boot that stands out but looks conservative at the same time. It seems like Adidas was all about creating paradoxes with this cleat.

#5 Performance – Zippppppp

I really don’t think that anyone is going to run a second faster in the 50m with these, but if you run 100 50m dashes things start to change. Being that little bit fresher and light on your feet when everyone else is starting to wilt can be a game changer. If you are already putting in the work and you are the one who goes for it, these might be the cleats for you.

#6 Negs

The extra weight that most cleats carry goes to comfort and impact/crush protection. The Adidas F50 Adizero cleats have maintained the comfort by some very smart engineering. The crush/impact protection of these cleats is another story, think barefoot because that’s what your foot is going to feel like when that 200 pound lug steps on it.

#7 Price Ala Ebay

Current pricing is about $108

Adidas F50 Adizero Cleats at Ebay

#8  Hasta La Vista Speedy

The Adidas Adizero F50 are a great cleat and if you are reading this review you are probably looking at buying a pair. I would say go for it! They certainly look cool and might just give your game a step.

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Adidas Predator X Review

Posted on July 12, 2011 by aman

The predator line has always been the working mans cleats, they bring home the bacon on just about any field. Predators by far are not the lightest boot out there, nor do they have the fanciest tech, but they do a great job day by day. The Predator X cleats line includes the typical

Adidas Predator X SG – for soft ground

Adidas Predator X FG  - for firm ground

Adidas Predator X HG – for firm ground

Adidas Predator X Cleats Review

Adidas Predator X Cleats Review Pair in Black / Red / White Colorway

as well as some cool colorways, including the traditional red / black / white and now white / brown and yellow.

Adidas Predator X Cleats White / Brown / Yellow Colorway

Adidas Predator X Cleats White / Brown / Yellow Colorway

According to Adidas they pulled the new design from the brain of no other than Zinedine Zidane. He is great spokesman for sure and a pretty sharp fellow to boot.  Of course he is getting paid a ton for his endorsement, so lets take a look for ourselves.

#1 Breaking Them – Woahh Nelly!!!

As with most of the Adidas line these days the Adidas Predator X cleats are not a blister magnet. You may notice some stiffness in the heel plate but a couple of break in sessions should be enough to get them into order.

#2  The Fit

Adidas has a theory that the best way to dribble is to put your foot as close to the ball as possible. These cleats accomplish that in a couple of ways. First they pulled out the tongue and went with asymmetric laces, then they changed over to Taurus leather. Taurus is weatherproof very thin leather so it feels like your foot is right up against the ball. Adidas labels all of this as “Optifit”.

Along the inside of the heel area Adidas has created a series of friction ridges that are raised just above the surface. These ridges serve to prevent the heel moving around and blistering. I suspect that they were inspired by fingerprint friction ridges which serve the same purpose.

The Adidas Predator X soccer cleats overall have a comfortable fit with a special bit of barefoot feeling when it comes to ball handling.

#3 Tech

What does it take to justify a $200 price point? You got it throw some cool sounding tech in there! In additional to the Taurus leather, friction ridges, and redesign of the laces / lack of tongue, Adidas redesigned the “Predator Zone” tech. They moved it in my opinion in to a better location and increased it’s size in part by moving to the asymmetrical lace design.

The Predator Zone is a triangle of silicon material on the instep of the cleats that allows better ball grip. Using that extra bit of grip makes putting a nice swerve on the ball a lot easier. The traditional memory foam inserts are still a part of the design and allow dribbling to be more controlled.

Adidas Predator X Cleats Top View

Adidas Predator X Cleats with New Larger Predator Zone

The Predator X replaces the tungsten power pulse system with the powerspine. The powerspine firms up the cleats during strikes to make the energy transition between your foot and the cleat more efficient. Think of it as the difference between hitting a baseball with a rubber tire or a baseball bat. Adidas testing showed a 7% improvement over the previous model in energy transmission.

# 4 The Looks….

Well to me these cleats are pretty sharp looking, not to overstated and they have a quality feel to them. They really have a bread and butter feel to them just like the rest of this review. This is the cleat of the guy who goes out to score one for the team.

# 5 The Performance

Adidas has made a great all around set of cleats with the Predator X, for just about any player on the field there cleats would serve. They have the extra bit of oomph when you kick, the extra touch when you dribble and a great overall solid feel to them.

#6 Negatives

11.2oz is just not going to appeal to the sprinters out there. If your game is speed these cleats are not for you.

#7 Price

Current pricing on Ebay is in the $180 range. You can check for yourself from the link.

Adidas Predator X

Summary: Overall this is a very good all around player’s cleat. I wouldn’t suggest it to any speed demons out there, but for everyone else who is putting out the effort the Adidas Predator X cleats are a great choice.

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Nike CTR360 Maestri II Elite Review

Posted on July 10, 2011 by aman

Nike really has taken the lead in creating boots like the CTR360 Maestri II that are tailor made to specific players on the field. Want to be a playmaker? These just might be the cleats for you.

Nike CTR360 Maestri II Elite

Nike CTR360 Maestri II Elite

So what’s the big deal? Nike engineered these cleats to be great for distributing passes, dribbling , receiving, and general ball control. Most of the players on the field can benefit from the CTR360 Maestri II cleats but the ones who really focus on control will see huge gains.

So who is using these and how? Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas among others.

Fabregas has great technical fluidity and controls the match pace. His ability to provide assists is legendary. He is great at creating chances on the field for other players.

Iniesta has passing accuracy and assist ratios that put him in a league of one. He has found a teammate on 90% of his passes!

If you are a schemer like these guys the Nike Maestri II elite cleats could take your game to the next level.

Now those guys get paid a lot of dough to wear these cleats so lets take a look at them for ourselves.

#1 Breaking In Period

These cleats brake in relatively quickly without the danger of blisters. The carbon fiber heel plate does not cause problems. It does in some cleats that Nike makes but it looks like this one may be engineered a little differently. Score one for Nike.

#2 The Tech

Nike CTR360 Maestri II FG Elite boots instep

Nike CTR360 Maestri II FG Elite Boots Instep

The most important part to the playmaker is the passing and receiving pads located on the instep of the cleat. They are black and red in this color way and are designed for ball control.

The black triangular area is designed to cushion a bit of the impact upon receiving and give you better ball grip when passing. This contributes both to accuracy and power when making assists.

The red triangular area on the instep was created to allow top spin to be put on the ball. This can be useful to create the perception of a long shot that then drops suddenly.

Nike CTR360 Maestri II FG Toe Shot

Toe shot with the dribble zones of the CTR360 Maesrti II Elite

The two triangular panels on the front of the cleats were designed for dribbling and are basically pillows tied to your feet! Not really but you get the idea, rather than the ball bouncing off at the slightest touch these give you control to put the ball exactly where you want it.

#3 The looks?

Personally I like them, they have kind of a classic feel with a little bit of pepper. The red color is almost metallic and gives them just that little bit of zing that makes them stand out. I am not a big fan of the extra nike swoop in the front of the boot. I give them a B overall.

#4  The Fit

The fit is very comfortable and exactly the feel that you want in a pair of control cleats. At 8.8oz they are just the right weight to feel solid but not heavy. The overall construction is pretty standard and classic is often best.

#5 Performance on the Field

This is really where the rubber hits the grass. These cleats especially for dribbling really exceed expectation. The control that you get could easily make the difference between losing the ball and keeping it. The passing pads are also a charmer. Putting a nice side and top spin on a long pass can not only drop it where you want it but also keep the other team guessing. Playmakers you are looking at a great investment.

#6 Negatives

Not to much on the negative side, I would like to see Nike jazz them up just a tad in terms of color but that’s just me.

#7 Price

These cleats come in two versions, the Elite reviewed here and the standard. You are looking at about $220+ for the elite version and $180 for the non-elite version. You can check prices yourself here on Ebay.

Nike CTR360 Maestri II Elite

Nike CTR360 Maestri II

#9 Summary

The Nike CTR360 Maestri II Elite is a playmakers cleat no doubt about it. If you have the schemers mindset or are just looking for better ball control this is probably one of the best choices out there.

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Adidas adiPower Predator Review

Posted on July 10, 2011 by aman

The newest version of the Adidas Predator has hit the market, the Adidas adiPower Predator. It differs significantly from it’s predecessors as it feels much lighter with the same kind of power that we have come to expect from Adidas. Of course this new addition still incorporates the Predator Element designed to increase the force of you strike.

So who has jumped on the adiPower bandwagon? Kaka and Beckham have both been very positive on these cleats. Since they get paid a lot to wear them though lets take a look for ourselves.

Adidas AdiPower Predator

Adidas AdiPower Predator - Electric Blue

#1 Breaking In the adiPower Predator cleats – Blisters and other nightmares

The soleplate used in these new shoes is the Sprint Frame, it has the benefit of being lighter weight but it takes longer to break in. Plan on it taking several sessions to break in your new soccer cleats and don’t jump right into a game with them.

#2 The Predator Element

You might have noticed that I called it an element and not the Predator Zone. Adidas decided on a name change so that’s the new it. The principal has not changed; there is a raised silicon ridges on the adiPower surface act like a rebounding spring when the ball is struck giving you just a little bit more power in your game.

#3 The Fit, the Fit, the Fit

You may have noticed that I repeated that a few times. Without the fit you might as well not be wearing a cleat at all. Tech is great but only when it is integrated into a system that works well to begin with. Adidas has gone back to an old standby of a full grain calfskin upper boot. The heel lining is Nubuck and it allows the boot to really offer a great feel around your heel. You can get a custom EVA insole to fit into place if you really want the support, and if you have high arches I would suggest it. The tongue is a straight ankle cut. Overall as a support system I have to give Adidas their due they did a great job.

There is only one drawback, … those of you who have narrow feet probably already know that the standard heel plate in these cleats will make a snug fit difficult for you.

The sizing on these cleats appears to be close to standard so keep to your regular size if purchasing online.

#4 What about how they Perform?

Without a radar gun I probably can’t say that kicking a ball with this cleat is any faster, but my foot sure doesn’t feel as beat up. The Predator Zone technology absorbs part of the force and then releases it back to the ball in the strike. The adiPower also incorporates Powerspine technology to prevent floppy shoe syndrome. The rigid backbone helps them act more like bat and less like a piece of leather and rubber..

#5 But do they look Cool?

Simply YES! Personally I would not mind going to a fancy dress party in them, the rest of guests might have a thing or two to say, but hey I like them.

#6 Negatives

Not to many,… Avoid using them for a game first thing out of the box and watch for blisters the first few sessions. The new heel plate is a bit stiffer than the previous version. You may need more sessions to break them in.

#7  Price

You are looking at about $170 US at the moment for the best pricing I suggest taking a look at Ebay.

Adidas adiPower Predators
And the verdict is…

The new Adidas adiPower Predator cleats are top notch. I personally like their looks and the performance is up to muster. The Predator serves just about any field position well having the toughness for tackles and the ball control for dribbling and strikes. If you get these put one away for me.

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The Swiss A Bit Shortsighted? Corruption in Sports…

Posted on October 26, 2010 by aman

The Fifa scandal is picking up steam much to my dismay and the dismay of soccer fans everywhere, and not to my great surprise. Why? Switzerland the land of lax regulation home of more than 40 sports organization headquarters and no rule of law. The is no law covering corruption for “non-profit” sports organizations. When billions are at stake this makes about as much sense as throwing a snowball into hell and hoping it won’t melt. Yes, even with laws in place I expect that corruption will still take place, but consequences have force.

Michel Zen-Ruffinen

Michel Zen-Ruffinen (right) and president Sepp Blatter (left)

The Swiss need to get their act together. I am sure that they love the money that flows through their banks, but when it comes down to brass tacks they are creating an  environment of corruption that will bite them back. Fifa I am sad for you and I hope the World cup bid of the good old USA will stand above this mess.

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47 and 0 at Home and The US Women’s Team Rocks

Posted on October 3, 2010 by aman

The US women’s team crushed China at a home game, so sorry China you may be gaining on us in everything else but in women’s soccer we are the bomb!

Megan Rapinoe

Megan Rapinoe lead off the game with a beautiful goal and Heather O’Reilley follow with one of her own. On offense we have an absolutely beautiful game, defense  is a big unknown with a new keeper stepping up, Jill Loyden. She let one in but saved two others. I guess we’ll have to see how things go in Wednesday’s game against China, another win will send us in with a boost to World cup qualifiers later this month in Mexico. The women’s world cup is in June and as the #1 ranked team it should be a fun ride. It is so much more fun to watch us WINNING.

Here’s a little data to wet your appetite,

U.S. Women’s National Team Match Report

Match: U.S. Women’s National Team vs. China
Date: Oct. 2, 2010
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Kennesaw State University Soccer Stadium; Kennesaw, Ga.
Kickoff: 6 p.m. ET
Attendance: 4,759
Weather: Clear, sunny – 75 degrees

Scoring Summary:      1          2          F
USA                             2          0          2
CHN                            1          0          1

USA – Megan Rapinoe (Heather O’Reilly)                   21st minute
CHN – Qu Shanshan (Wang Yihang)                         33
USA – Heather O’Reilly                                            37

Lineups:
 USA: 24-Jill Loyden; 16-Ali Krieger, 6-Amy LePeilbet, 3-Christie Rampone (capt.), 26-Rachel Buehler (14-Stephanie Cox, 46); 9-Heather O’Reilly (13-Kristine Lilly, 62), 7-Shannon Boxx (11-Lori Lindsey, 46), 10-Carli Lloyd (4-Yael Averbuch, 62), 15-MeganRapinoe; 12-Lauren Cheney (8-Amy Rodriguez, 56), 20-Abby Wambach
Subs not used: 2-Heather Mitts, 18-Nicole Barnhart
Head Coach: Pia Sundhage

CHN: 18-Huang Luna; 3-Yu Fan, 5-Weng Xinzhi (14-Li Danyang, 46), 20-Zhou Gaoping, 26-Zhang Nan; 4-Xu Wenjia (17-Pang Fengyue, 46), 7-Sun Lisha (6-Zhang Na, 82), 19-Qu Shanshan, 24-Gu Yasha (15-Sun Ling, 61); 9-Wang Yihang (8-Xu Yuan, 53), 11-You Jia (13-Ma Jun, 46)
Subs not used: 1-Zhang Yanru, 2-Liu Huana, 12-Zhang Jieli, 16-Wang Dongni, 28-Zhang Yue, 35-Hou Xuecheng
Head Coach: Li Xiaopeng

Statistical Summary: USA / CHN
Shots: 20 / 6
Shots on Goal: 13 / 3
Saves: 3 / 11
Corner Kicks: 9 / 6
Fouls: 3 / 4
Offsides: 5 / 5

Misconduct Summary:
None

Officials:
Referee: Meredith Hackett (USA)
Assistant Referee: Melanie Johnson (USA)
Assistant Referee: Patrick Baker (USA)
Fourth Official: Amy Mahan (USA)

ussoccer.com Woman of the Match:
Megan Rapinoe

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US Soccer is About to Get Kicked Where it Hurts

Posted on September 27, 2010 by aman

US Soccer collected $2.9 million last year for sanctioning both professional and amateur games. The sanctioning fees come in the form of gate receipts for matches and 5.25-15% of all monies collected go straight to US Soccer.  A federal judge has called into question whether US soccer has the right to collect any fees for pro matches.

Manchester Vs. USA in Atlanta

USSF had argued for years that Fifa and the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act gives it power to collect fees from all games including pro games. The judge it seems took a look at that and decided USSF did not have a leg to stand on. Paraphrasing the judge “If that were the case USA Basketball could collect fees from the NBA”. His ruling basically stated that US soccer could only collect sanctioning fees from promoters if the games purpose was to qualify athletes for the Olympics or similar events.

US Soccer losing it’s authority in one fell swoop over all the pro teams is going to hurt not only in the pocketbook but also when it comes to dealing with Fifa and the world cup bid. We have to act as a nation united but who is going to end up with the authority to do so?

The king is dead long live the king.

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Free Kicks – Spinning it In

Posted on September 27, 2010 by aman

Note: Do NOT  practice with a Wet Ball this will NOT Work!!

Ever wanted to curve a free kick a  like Roberto Carlos? Here is a little tutorial on his technique and a few things that were left out.

Wet Balls do not Rotate Enough Coming off Your Foot! Do not Practice with a Wet Ball you will screw up your technique.

If you have a video camera that you can put on a tripod you should start recording your kicks. Why?

  • You can get a better look at where you are striking the ball by putting the camera to the side of where you are kicking focused on the ball. Technique is everything to get this to work.
  • You can put the video camera behind you about 3m (10 ft) and to the side of you to watch the number of revolutions that you are getting per second on the ball and the direction of spin. (You may need to use colored magic markers to be able to tell one panel from the other to get an accurate count). If your camera is standard it records at 60 frames a second (check your user manual). You can use a cheap program to review the recorded film frame by frame like http://www.frame-shots.com/ (Use at your own risk certified by CNET.) and count the revolutions. You need about 8-10 revolutions per second to get the ball to curve. (That’s a revolution every 6 frames). You need to also take a look to see if you are putting on to much bottom spin. Side spin makes the ball curve, bottom spin makes the ball float, right over the goal if you are not careful.
  • Start kicking with the ball offset like in the video if you are right footed you need to offset it in the opposite direction as Carlos. You should be about 30m (100ft) from the goal and you will be trying to kick it about 3-4m (10-13ft) outside the goal.
  • If you have got the spin right but the ball is curving to much then you are not kicking it hard enough, it should take only about 60 frames (1s) to reach the goal from your foot. This will depend on altitude and a bunch of other stuff so kick it a bunch of times and see what works! Then figure out how to repeat it again and again. I won’t bore you with all the details (see here if interested) but if you do this right about a third of the way to the goal (just beyond the defenders) the ball slips out of turbulent into laminar flow. That means that those first 10m (33ft) it goes almost straight until just after the defenders then it starts curving in. If you mark the field that you are using you should be able to see this happening the 10m (33ft) mark.

The real beauty of this strike is that it looks like it is coming in hot and to the side of the goal (missing the defenders)  until that last half of a second. It fools keepers because our minds expect something that was going straight shouldn’t start curving. Use this I love to yell Gooooooaaaaallll.

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Jabulani A Disaster, So Where is Our Debrief Fifa?

Posted on September 27, 2010 by aman

There are many fans of the game who will never forget the lost goals and easy saves missed because of a soccer ball that has a mind of it’s own.

jabulani soccer ball

The Nemesis Larger than Life

Like the Delorian in Back to the Future when the Adidas Jabulani hits 44mph something strange happens it begins to bob and weave like a drunken sailor. Strike it hard enough to get it past a goalie and all hell breaks loose. In baseball we call it a knuckle ball in soccer it is virtually unheard of, after 100 years what does baseball think of the knuckleball?

“Like some cult religion that barely survives, there has always been at least one but rarely more than five or six devotees throwing the knuckleball in the big leagues… Not only can’t pitchers control it, hitters can’t hit it, catchers can’t catch it, coaches can’t coach it, and most pitchers can’t learn it. The perfect pitch.” ― Ron Luciano, former AL umpire

“I always thought the knuckleball was the easiest pitch to catch. Wait’ll it stops rolling, then go to the backstop and pick it up.” ― broadcaster and former catcher Bob Uecker

“They say you don’t want to have a knuckleballer pitching for you or against you” – Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda

“Throwing a knuckleball for a strike is like throwing a butterfly with hiccups across the street into your neighbor’s mailbox.” ― Hall of Famer Willie Stargell

“If it’s high, let it fly. If it’s low, let it go.” ―Common saying describing how to approach hitting the knuckleball.

“I never worry about it. I just take my three swings and go sit on the bench. I’m afraid if I ever think about hitting it, I’ll mess up my swing for life.” ― All-star first baseman Dick Allen

In baseball everyone hates the unpredictability it’s hard on pitchers, batters, and catchers sound familiar? How many passes were missed, goals went high, and saves were missed? If we want the talent of a Pele to be eclipsed by the ball he is using then by all means lets keep the Jabulani around. In the mean time I still wonder how much Adidas paid to have their ball used…. Seems like they might have put a tiny fraction of that money to having the ball tested before it actually made it to the field.

Oh and Fifa, how about that debrief that you promised us for September?

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