Hello, fellow Oddballer!
This edition of Oddballs is about that… balls that are odd. Real creative, I know. Still, there’s some interesting stuff in here! My favorite is the airless basketball. What’s yours?
If you haven’t already subscribed, please do so by clicking the button below now and start receiving Oddballs in your inbox.
As always, links are in bold and underlined. Have fun with those. So, without further ado, here are five oddballs for your eyeballs!
Wilson’s airless basketball
Wilson’s Airless Prototype is the weirdest and most ingenious basketball ever, in my opinion. Granted, I haven’t tried it, but I love the idea for several reasons, not the least of which is its futuristic look.
This ball replicates the size and bounce of a regular basketball yet never has to be inflated. Air can flow through the ball as well which may make it have a wiffle effect - could be fun!
Costa Rica’s Mysterious Giant Spheres
Remember when Indiana Jones was being chased down by a giant boulder? Well, they’re real and they exist in Costa Rica! There’s no real way to date them so no one knows how old they are.
What were these used for? Why were they made? There’s no documentation from for creators and we can’t figure out how they even made them; outside of speculation. What do you think these spheres were used for?
Beltz Mystery Sphere
Back in 1974 (my birth year!) the Beltz family of Florida found what they thought was an old cannonball. They brought it home and found that it had some strange qualities; that it resonated when it heard music and even moved on its own… according to them.
According to Wikipedia, the sphere was a ball check valve and some guy was transporting some of them on top of his Volkwagon Bus when some happened to fall off. No mystery there. But, for a time, the Beltz family must have thought they were in the midst of an alien contraption. The short-lived mystery is more fun than no mystery at all, I reckon.
Madballs endure
Do you remember Madballs? Guess what… they’re still around! Behold the Madballs Wave 1 - Oculus Orbus!
This is just one of many options. Here’s the kicker: these go for around $40 each! Who knew there was a market for Madballs in this day and age and that they would be so expensive? It truly is a mad, mad, mad, mad, mad world.
It’s odd because it’s not so odd
If you’re like me, you ponder things like, “What’s the world’s roundest object?” Well, I have the answer! It’s this super smooth, super spherical ball below!
It was created by a company called Heason. The oddity is made out of a single crystal of silicon and, according to their website, “…the purpose of the sphere is to help define the kilogram, the longest-running problem in measurement.” And here I was thinking that we all knew what a kilogram weighed. Silly me.
Thank you for reading. Please share this post with friends on social media.
The best way to support my work is to become a premium subscriber. By doing so, you’ll get my handmade stream-of-conscious zine “Oddballs” sent to you directly. It’s fun, odd, and could be yours every month!
But that's not all! You'll also get early access to my "Behind the Zines" videos where you can watch me draw and hear my open thoughts.
Until next time, stay oddly beautiful!
Jason
I’m fascinated with the airless basketball. It would make a great gift for any guy! Wonder what they cost and who sells them? My research for today.
You’re giving this old brain things to ponder. Thanks!