• Wall Street Journal , Friday, July 9, 2010 10:40 AM

It was showman George M. Cohan -- that's Cohan with an "a" -- who said, in another century, "I don't care what you say about me, as long as you say something about me, and as long as you spell my name right." The marketers at Adidas are saying basically the same thing about their controversial Jabulani-themed World Cup soccer ball.

Adidas says it has tested the ball using robots, wind tunnels and other technology and claims it is the most perfect sphere in soccer history with tiny grooves that improve flight accuracy as well as other innovations. But U.S. reserve goaltender Marcus Hahnemann reflects the feelings of many players when he points out that technology isn't everything. "Scientists came up with the atom bomb, doesn't mean we should have invented it," he observes.

But all the moaning hasn't affected sales, Laura Stephens reports -- thus far, about 13 million units are being kicked around fields and backyards and lots worldwide. The ball "is huge for us," says Antonio Zea, director of soccer for Adidas America. "It's the icon for the tournament." So forgive Adidas if it's indulging in a bit of Jabulani -- Zulu for "to rejoice" -- over all the controversy.

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