[Petey]

As the much maligned "ball breaker" of Team 1073--I'm so hiring Johnny Cochran--I agree with Neil.

So, the ball that our team got the kit of parts is the one that was made in China, says CHAMPRO across the front, and is noticeably lighter than the other kind that was described in the post with the pictures a few posts previous to this one (we bought some of those PG13 balls too).

Did anyone else receive the "other" type of ball in their KOP?

Looks like FIRST has gone the low-budget route. For those who don't check the Q&A system often--I wish I didn't have to, given how abysmally awful it is, but that is one of my jobs--this was the latest that FIRST had to say on the subject o' the balls.

Section:
3.2
Status:
Answered
Date Answered:
1/20/2004




Q:
Please tell us which type of small ball will be used. The red balls from Palos Sport are quite different from the yellow Tachikara balls. They are the same size but the Tachikara are noticeably stiffer and heavier than the red ones.




A:
See Team Update #02, page 3. The yellow balls that we displayed at our Manchester Kickoff were NOT Tachikara balls, they were the red ball in yellow.

Other posts on the subject include

Section:
4.3
Status:
Answered
Date Answered:
1/21/2004




Q:
We recieved the Champro PG13 (small red) ball and, when full inflated, it is 15 in. But the manual says to inflated it to 13, which leaves it very floppy. Are we working with a 13 or 15 in. ball?




A:
13" ball. Inflate to size.

Q:
We need to purchase balls. Is there a vendor for the balls?




A:
They are listed in the Kit of Parts in the manual. Palos Sports for a 13" red playground ball (part #10089); call Jessica at 800-233-5484. SportFun for a yellow 34" (inflate to 30") ball; call SportFun at 888-386-8998, Marcy at x116 or e-mail Marcy at mwatters@sportfun.com.

However, it seems that part #10089 is not the required part...at least judging from pictures posted above...

I was thinking about posting on the FIRST Q&A system about this. I will be limited by the question space, but at least I can direct them to this thread. Is anybody else in the process of doing so? Even if FIRST screwed up--as it seems they have done--I don't want to unintentionally inundate them.




--Petey