This is the first edition of a new column I am starting here, titled "Useless Things In Sports." In this column, I will explore useless items that exist in the world of sports. This may include stats, phrases, equipment, rules, or anything else that catches my attention. Today's useless thing is "power rankings."
"Power rankings" are lists created by a group of "experts" to rank teams in the professional leagues from best to worst. They should not be confused with rankings in college sports that actually matter. In college, the various rankings have an affect on post-season play, and also with the perception among possible recruits. But back to "power rankings."
The catalyst that started this realization was seeing a debate about ESPN.com's NFL pre-season power rankings. I listened to a couple "analysts" vehemently debate where certain teams should be ranked, and I realized this was pointless. First, we are barely a couple weeks removed from the NFL draft. (To see my friend's comments on the 2009 mock draft, another useless thing, go to his blog, Beyond The Nation.) Training camps will not start for a couple months. There is no possible way anyone can honestly make a prediction on how players gained and lost in transactions and drafted will affect a team. This is true about any sport before the pre-season starts, not just the NFL.
So, pre-season rankings are useless, but what about "power rankings" that occur during the season? Useless as well. All professional leagues choose their playoff teams, and draft status based on the record at the end of the season. It does not matter if the team is "ranked" first or tenth. Their record is going to determine their status.
In conclusion, "power rankings" for professional leagues could disappear completely, and it would have absolutely no affect on the sport, or your enjoyment of it. So, you have one less thing during Sportscenter to watch. Oh well. Maybe they could take the time spent on discussing "power rankings" and talk about sports that are currently going on, that do not get much coverage.
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