Mediocrity/Parity = Unpredictabilty=Ratings--NY Daily News

• NY Daily News' Bob Raismann says big NFL Ratings come from lack of dynasties:

"The NFL disguises mediocrity by selling it as parity. What league suits are really selling is unpredictability. This has helped the NFL become the only league with ratings heading upward. Even a so-called "superior" team such as the Bears has an attractive train-wreck quality in quarterback Rex Grossman.

• This is what the NFL delivers. There are no true superior teams or consistent play. There are no dynasties or dynasties-in-waiting. The formula for this chaos includes free agency, frequent player movement, the draft and the ever-changing strength/weakness of schedule.

The resulting uncertainty has been confounding to the experts. HBO/NBC/NFL Network's Cris Collinsworth has thrown up his hands, admitting it's impossible to pick games (fortunately for the NFL, the legion of losers who bet games every week still contributes mightily to those TV ratings).

• And NBC's John Madden recently said: "We think we are predicting and we know. But we don't know. We're guessing."

• For the past few seasons, CBS' Phil Simms, on numerous occasions, has reminded anyone listening all that separates any of these teams are "a couple of big plays."

So, why should any team bother embarking on some five-year plan? No need in the NFL. Turnaround is quick."

Isn't MLB on this road? From Bob Raismann's NY Daily News column, 1/11/07

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