COMMENTARY: Class 6A Playoffs Bomb In Ratings

If Postseason Were Movie, It Would Get Thumbs Down

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

In this space almost a year ago, I ridiculed those who were involved with Arkansas’ Class 6A schools and chose to allow all 16 teams in that classification to earn a state football playoff berth.

I was shocked when I discovered almost half of those schools entered postseason play with a losing record. The sight of a Little Rock Fair team that hadn’t won a single game being in a playoff game left me with barely enough words to put together a column.

I didn’t think things could get any worse than that. I was sadly mistaken.

When postseason play begins Friday night, nine teams — more than half of the Class 6A schools and two more teams than last year — will have fewer wins than losses. This cast of characters includes four from the same conference (7A/6A-South members Benton, Sheridan, Texarkana and Fair), as well as Siloam Springs, Marion, Mountain Home, Little Rock Parkview and Little Rock Hall.

Before anybody brings it up, I realize that Siloam Springs played seven conference games against Class 7A schools. But what about those four teams in the 7A/6A South who don’t have that excuse since they played only one Class 7A team?

If this year’s Class 6A state playoffs were a movie, I’m sure Roger Ebert would give this a big “thumbs down.” With these schools having a combined won-loss record of 66-92, spectators might want to skip the popcorn and soft drinks at the concession stands and opt for antacids.

Allow me to provide the spoiler alert for these viewings. I can find a little bit of almost every genre in this year’s script, but this sequel will be much worse than last year’s original.

Fair reprises its role as the team that enters the playoffs without a single victory, but this time it has met its match. Hall has done the same thing, only in a different conference.

At least Hall won’t have to go far for its trip back home after its first-round trouncing, since it’s less than 50 miles from the school to Pine Bluff. Fair, on the other hand, must endure a 175-mile return trip after becoming the latest mercy-rule victim of Greenwood, which will be about as entertaining as watching “Norbit” or “The Adventures of Pluto Nash.”

Anybody prefer horror flicks? Pick any first-round game out there. It will be comparable to choosing between “Snoop Dogg’s Hood Of Horror” or “Darkness Falls.”

Every one of these games will feature a team with a losing record. The one that stands out the most is the one featuring two teams with losing records — Sheridan (4-6) at home against Little Rock Parkview (3-7).

The scariest part? One of those teams is guaranteed to play another playoff game, only to become the next likely victim to Greenwood’s winning streak.

Those who enjoy a little action, adventure or drama will just have to wait a little while longer for their turns. There will be little to none in the opening week, and the only quarterfinal games that could possibly garner serious attention would be either Pine Bluff vs. Russellville or Jonesboro vs. Lake Hamilton.

The first possible inkling of saving grace could be in the semfinals, where Greenwood — last year’s Class 5A champion — will likely host three-time defending state 6A champion El Dorado. Until then, it’s like picking between “Electra” or “Green Lantern,” or maybe “Step Up.”

And sorry, romance lovers. I searched all over and found none, and that’s “The Ugly Truth.”

Henry Apple is a sports reporter for NWA Media.