The N-B-A didn't want them, but 100 new basketballs will probably make some hoopsters in the Philippi area very happy.

The N-B-A donated the rejected, synthetic, microfiber balls to
World Vision, an international Christian relief organization for
children. The charity is distributing the basketballs, known as the
Orange Roundie, to schools and nonprofit organizations in the
Philippi area of Barbour County and in the Bronx, New York, area.

Bridgett Snider is office manager of the World Vision Appalachia
storehouse. She says she isn't sure why the Philippi group was
chosen, but the charity was more than happy to take the basketballs
off the N-B-A's hands last month.

Snider says N-B-A players may have hated the new basketballs,
but kids will love them.

N-B-A players didn't like the balls because they were difficult
to grip, bounced erratically and were slippery.

Last fall marked only the second time in 60 seasons the N-B-A
had changed its game balls. The league reverted to the old leather
balls on January First.

Snider doesn't know which specific groups will get the balls or
when they'll be parceled out.