My sports fan days are over (They shoot horses, don't they?)

[wooderson]

I think the main criticism of all of the interest in, not just pro sports, but even college sports, is that these activities are simply NOT IMPORTANT in the larger scheme of things.

What is necessary? Food, shelter and safety, right? So the only things in life that are REALLY IMPORTANT are work (to provide food and shelter) and a law-abiding society. Maybe we'll throw love/companionship in there, but some people can take it or leave it.

Painting, music, literature, quantum physics, theology, woodworking, race-car driving, existential phenomenology, etc. et al. - there are really NOT IMPORTANT unless they happen to interest you.

Most of you would probably be unable to tell me who won the (name the sport) championship three years ago, much less four. THAT is how unimportant sports are.

People who are interested in that sport most likely could. Casual fans might know last year, or the last time their team won. Kinda like a casual music fan might know all their favorite band's albums, but not have a wider/deeper appreciation.

People who are uninterested in the sport most likely could not. Just like people who are uninterested in photography couldn't talk about Robert Frank, and people who are uninterested in slide guitar probably couldn't name a Ry Cooder album.

Sports fandom is an entertainment outlet, chiefly - watching the game on Sunday vs. seeing a movie, what's the difference?

You can argue that the lack of physical or intellectual engagement is less healthy (and sometimes it is) - but that's hardly a universal truism. Thinking about and interacting with sport has produced a great deal of written and visual culture, particulary baseball and boxing.