It's the buzz word in the NFL in 2010: parity.
In general, the author of this blog refuses to admit that sports journalism merits any less scrutiny as an object of literature than the best journalism of the New York Times. Perhaps the relative education level of the whole of professional sports journalism will suffer in comparison with that of the political columnists at the Washington Post, but it is inherently no less complex an issue to cover or for which to provide commentary. The stereotype of the dumb jock, broadly applicable or not, does imply poor writing any more than corrupt politicians dictate morally suspect evening news anchors.
Yet there seems to be a problem of vocabulary among the NFL writers who cling now to parity as the 2010 season's controlling theme. I would suggest mobility as a much more accurate label, both for the 2010 season as well as for that ideal in American society which professional football has managed so well to embody in general. In 2009, the Indianapolis Colts played only 14 meaningful regular season games in in a season in which a lot of teams' fates were decided on the final weekend. Two years ago, the Lions played 16 games without managing to win even a single game, the same year the Patriots were an undefeated team until the last few minutes of the Super Bowl. For a game that produces drama by allowing the single play, the single game, or the single season to generate new paradigms every other minute, a situation resulting from the smallest of small sample sizes as they appear in professional sports, the lack of a truly elite team in 2010 may have convinced some that the playing field has been leveled. In truth, the predominant dynamic of the NFL is the sudden emergence of 2009 bottom-feeders the Buccaneers, Lions, Rams, Seahawks, Redskins, Raiders, Bears and Titans as contenders. Just as the Falcons and Dolphins managed instant reversals of field two years ago, and just as in the same year the Ravens suffered a dramatic fall from grace, the reality in the NFL--as in the socioeconomic structure of the US--is not the proximity of the elites and the paupers but the ever-apparent American dream of the instant millionaire and champion.
