The "harm" is far more insidious. America has an unhealthy sports obsession.


Sports are talked about constantly. Some people discuss nothing else. They would be better off reading a book. Sports also serve as a dangerous distraction for more pressing issues in the news.

Parents raise their kids from an early age to play sports, sometimes running these kids into the ground. There is a huge pressure for these kids to perform as their parents selfishly attempt to live vicariously through them.

Athletes (like celebrities) can unfairly get an advantage in the legal system because our country idolizes them. Here's an example of something disturbing to me: when Mark McGwire was questioned by Congress about steroid use, Congress basically treated him better than they would have treated the President 200 years ago.

College (and high school) athletes get numerous advantages over their peers. They are recruited for elite colleges, get athletic scholarships, stipends, and more. Some professors and proctors look the other way when athletes don't go to class at all, or blatantly cheat on tests. On my campus, one day there was absolutely nothing good to eat at the dining hall. There were steaks, but we weren't allowed to have any. "Those are for the football team."

Local and state governments pay for the construction of giant sports arenas.

There is a HUGE consumer culture behind sports, as if we weren't suckered into capitalism enough as it is. Jerseys, books, video games, toys, applicances, food, autographs, and anything else you can think of.

Athletes are generally looked up to by children, and they are not proving to be good role models. Of course there are a few good hearted athletes, but the good apples do not outweigh the bad. It also happens to be the bad ones that are shown the most in the media.


So, to summarize, being a sports apologist is a cowardly cop-out.