In a world where technology enables easy communication across the globe, there is something else that continues to bring different parts of the world closer together: sports. From baseball and football to golf and even poker: many sports are seeing greater diversification among their participants. The biggest names today are recognized worldwide, such as tennis player Roger Federer or the recently retired Kobe Bryant of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Here at MOVA, we realized the inherent similarities of various sports balls with our MOVA Globes and given the ‘global nature’ of sports, we decided to create another intriguing collection of MOVA Globes called MOVA Sport. This collection features three of the most popular sports in the world: basketball, baseball, and football. Why did we create this collection and what is our plan for the future? Let’s explore each sport design one by one:

Basketball

A often overlooked aspect of basketball is the desired rotation of the ball when it leaves the shooter’s hand. Typically, adjusting your shooting technique to add a stable backspin to your shot yields better results due to greater control. We discovered that the rotation of a basketball is similar to the rotation of a MOVA Globe: slow, constant, and without variation.

With the Basketball MOVA Globe, we have recreated the essence of a basketball shot, as the steady yet silent rotation of the globe creates wonder for every hoop enthusiast watching or dreaming of playing in the NBA Finals. Our basketball design is not only meant to mimic the rotation of the ball; the image features the thousands of ‘dots’ (also known as pebbles) that give a familiar feel to the leather exterior of the ball, while the orange color adds to the authenticity of a standard basketball. This unique globe makes a great gift for coaches or a fun desk ornament for the fan who cannot bear the void of the NBA during the off-season.

Baseball

What the American pastime lacks in fast play or flash, it makes up for in sound. What do we mean by sound? The sound of a 155 km/h pitch hitting a catcher’s glove, the sound of bat and ball connecting during a towering home run, and the sound of the home crowd cheering as the home team player rounds third base in an attempt to score the winning run. For us, creating a Baseball MOVA Globe was a no-brainer, even as our products rotate silently. Nowadays, baseball is becoming increasingly global, especially with the advent of Little League and the hype surrounding the Little League World Series. The American pastime is quickly becoming a worldwide sport.

Our original baseball image certainly caught attention, especially among those looking to give a cool gift to their favorite baseball coaches. But thanks to valuable feedback from you, we knew we could make the graphics even better: more realistic and thus more appealing to both baseball players and fans. The new image, seen below and during the development process, better showcases the stitching of a baseball, giving it a more authentic feel. The stitching is the most identifiable aspect of a baseball in terms of touch. In fact, pitchers primarily use this stitching to create grip for different pitches.

Football

Millions of football fans come forward every four years to advocate for their respective countries at the World Cup, home to some of the most exciting moments in sports history. Even without the World Cup, football is becoming increasingly popular in the United States, as Major League Soccer attracts more and more international superstars to American professional teams. Just like in ice hockey, goals are hard to come by, and therefore every chance is heightened by tension. Can you remember the last World Cup, when you kept your eyes glued to the TV during every corner kick, only to gasp and scream in frustration as a player’s shot hit the post? That is the life of a football fan.

Our goal with the Soccer MOVA Globe was to maintain that thrilling feeling throughout the year with its enchanting rotation. The contrast in the image between white and black and pentagons and hexagons makes it easy to recognize from a distance, but just like with the Baseball design, we want to create a more realistic design. While it is easily recognizable, a football, like any sports ball, has a specific and unique texture, in this case a rubber exterior with small grooves between each line and edge. Stay tuned for updates as we refine and experiment with the football design.

We hope to further expand this new sports line as we receive more feedback and suggestions. The sporty MOVA Globes are just a new step for MOVA Creations, as we combine our technologies with designs beyond traditional world maps.

Do you have ideas for the MOVA Sport line? Fill out our idea submission form or let us know on our Facebook page!