NCAA Ejects Leather Basketballs

During games, the Houston Rocket power dancers often wear shirts with animal rights messages on them. Great news! After PETA sent the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) information on the horrors of the leather industry, the NCAA voted unanimously to permanently bench leather balls in favor of better-performing, synthetic basketballs, already in use by many major universities and conferences. As a thank-you, PETA sent the NCAA a package of vegan chocolate basketballs along with a note saying, “Thanks for moo-ving away from leather!” Now, we’re asking the NBA to follow the lead of the NCAA and Women’s National Basketball Association, which has also disqualifed leather and started shooting with pleather. One cow is killed for every four leather basketballs produced. The cows suffer from confinement, crowding, branding, unanesthetized castration, tail-docking, dehorning and cruel treatment during transportation and slaughter. Although most leather comes from cattle and calves, it can also be made from horses, sheep, lambs, goats and pigs who are slaughtered for their flesh, as well as from dogs and cats killed in Asia for their skin and meat.

Playing Around With Animals’ Lives
Even though the NBA’s Official Outdoor Ball, Official All-Surface Ball, and Official Indoor/Outdoor Ball sold in stores are all made from synthetic materials, the NBA’s Official Game Ball, sadly, is still made of cowhide.

PETA urged NBA Commissioner David Stern to give synthetic balls a shot. On PETA’s behalf, the WNBA also encouraged the NBA to pass on leather balls. NBA representative Matt Bourne assured PETA that the NBA is interested in switching to synthetic but that it will take time.

Time means suffering. To help speed things up, PETA will be meeting with Commissioner Stern, accompanied by PETA supporter and Houston Rockets owner Nanci Alexander, to discuss what we can do to get the synthetic ball rolling. Nanci has long cried foul over the use of leather basketballs. Her Rockets donated an autographed synthetic-leather basketball to be given as a prize to the winner of PETA’s upcoming online quiz on vegetarian athletes.

You Can Help-Kick Leather Out Of The Game

• Urge the NBA to throw leather balls into the hoop of history and switch to synthetic balls. Contact: David Stern, Commissioner National Basketball Association Olympic Tower 645 Fifth Ave. New York, NY 10022 Tel.: 212-407-8000 • Purchase only nonleather sports equipment. Spalding Sports (425 Meadow St., Chicopee, MA 01021-0901; 1-800-225-6601; spalding.com) carries synthetic basketballs as well as volleyballs, softballs, soccerballs and footballs. Contact PETA for our free shopping guide to nonleather products. • Visit CowsAreCool.com for more information on leather.