Why Rankings Mean Nothing
Wednesday, December 7th, 2011
Messenger Sports
Doesn’t matter what sport it is, how old the athletes are, or where the sport is taking place, we love to rank teams. Rankings mean absolutely nothing. Everyone, including myself gets caught up in them, but rankings are nothing more than a distraction. It is the really good teams that can play with that distraction week in and week out.
In high school we always wait to see where our team is ranked, and how they sit compared to this team or that team, but it really doesn’t matter. The game is played on the field, court, pitch, wherever. If games are played on paper then LSU has already won the BCS National Title, the Green Bay Packers have won the Super Bowl, and the Miami Heat are NBA Champions.
There is a reason we play the game. It gives a chance to the other guy to pull the upset, or a random team to fly under the radar. Rankings create drama. Rankings create more drama than an episode of the Bachelor. Just look at college football right now and the stink over the BCS. The teams are ranked according to, as crazy as it sounds, other people rankings. Now a team is being left out whether fans like it or not for another very good team, which brings a rematch that most people don’t want to see.
That problem is neither here nor there; this is a problem with rankings and the headaches they cause. If any sports fan watches ESPN at any point over the next month, they will hear about rankings and how they need to change. The BCS rankings have been out for two days and I’m already sick of hearing about it.
That is one thing that makes high school athletics so great. Yes there are rankings throughout the season, but those rankings have no bearings come playoff time. In the football playoffs right now, the majority of the top ranked teams in the state are sitting at home watching other teams playing for a championship.
Rankings can build confidence, they can build egos, but they do not win games, and that is why they don’t matter. I retract that statement. There is one ranking and one alone that matters, and that is the ranking at the end of the season. When all is said and done, being ranked number one at the end of the year can mean everything.
Right now five area teams are ranked in the area. Those teams are the Lovelady Lady Lions (#8), Slocum Lady Mustangs (#12), Kennard Lady Tigers (#12), Crockett Bulldogs (#3), and Grapeland Sandies(#14). It is great to talk about, but until mid-March when the season comes to an end, none of these rankings will mean anything.
That is all there is for this week, check back in next Thursday’s edition of The Messenger for more rants and ramblings. Until next time, take it easy.
Remember to follow The Messenger on Facebook and check out our website at www.messenger-news.com. Chris Boothe can be reached at cboothe@messenger-news.com.
Doesn’t matter what sport it is, how old the athletes are, or where the sport is taking place, we love to rank teams. Rankings mean absolutely nothing. Everyone, including myself gets caught up in them, but rankings are nothing more than a distraction. It is the really good teams that can play with that distraction week in and week out.
In high school we always wait to see where our team is ranked, and how they sit compared to this team or that team, but it really doesn’t matter. The game is played on the field, court, pitch, wherever. If games are played on paper then LSU has already won the BCS National Title, the Green Bay Packers have won the Super Bowl, and the Miami Heat are NBA Champions.
There is a reason we play the game. It gives a chance to the other guy to pull the upset, or a random team to fly under the radar. Rankings create drama. Rankings create more drama than an episode of the Bachelor. Just look at college football right now and the stink over the BCS. The teams are ranked according to, as crazy as it sounds, other people rankings. Now a team is being left out whether fans like it or not for another very good team, which brings a rematch that most people don’t want to see.
That problem is neither here nor there; this is a problem with rankings and the headaches they cause. If any sports fan watches ESPN at any point over the next month, they will hear about rankings and how they need to change. The BCS rankings have been out for two days and I’m already sick of hearing about it.
That is one thing that makes high school athletics so great. Yes there are rankings throughout the season, but those rankings have no bearings come playoff time. In the football playoffs right now, the majority of the top ranked teams in the state are sitting at home watching other teams playing for a championship.
Rankings can build confidence, they can build egos, but they do not win games, and that is why they don’t matter. I retract that statement. There is one ranking and one alone that matters, and that is the ranking at the end of the season. When all is said and done, being ranked number one at the end of the year can mean everything.
Right now five area teams are ranked in the area. Those teams are the Lovelady Lady Lions (#8), Slocum Lady Mustangs (#12), Kennard Lady Tigers (#12), Crockett Bulldogs (#3), and Grapeland Sandies(#14). It is great to talk about, but until mid-March when the season comes to an end, none of these rankings will mean anything.
That is all there is for this week, check back in next Thursday’s edition of The Messenger for more rants and ramblings. Until next time, take it easy.
Remember to follow The Messenger on Facebook and check out our website at www.messenger-news.com. Chris Boothe can be reached at cboothe@messenger-news.com.
