The Cultural Obsession With Sports

Alex Allen | The New Cultural Narrative

Sports have likely become one of the most popular pastimes in America and around the world. From the NFL's Super Bowl in the early months of the year to the NCAA college basketball tournament in March and April and of course the alternating summer and winter Olympics every two years, sports have undoubtedly become a world wide treasure. But do we have a culture that has become too obsessed with sports?

The history books will date "sports" all the way back to the beginning of people's existence. Many believe paintings on cave walls that date back more than 15,000 years show people engaging in sprinting, wrestling, and other sports. To date, the Olympic Games are still the most popular sporting events and they date back to 776 BC. 

With the history of sports being taken into consideration, I can't really make an argument against sports in general even though I'm not a sports fan myself. Something that has been around since the dawn of civilization must have some cultural significance. I can, however, make an argument against the way sports are used in modern society and the extremes people go to with regards to their favorite sports teams and events.

It's no secret that many people take sports to an extreme level. Riots broke out two years ago In Lexington, KY. after the Kentucky Wildcats won the NCAA Championship game. The riots led to one person being shot and dozens being arrested. Another riot took place after a rival football game in New York late last year. 

As they do with most things, the animated television show South Park has pointed out this "sports extremism" in a humorous way on numerous occasions by having one of the main characters, Randy Marsh, repeatedly ripping his shirt off and getting into fights at baseball games. (watch below)

So why is it that so many people take sports to this extreme level? Should they not just be used for an occasional form of entertainment; a quick escape from the pains of everyday life? My theory is that it has a lot to do with the way sports are presented in society. Sports games are often treated as if they are huge, important newsworthy events when anyone with a little objectivity and reason can see they are not. If you turn on the TV news you're bound to see the anchors putting the same, if not more, time and effort into the recent or upcoming game as they put into the political news and weather. Just a few weeks ago, a local college was hiring a new football coach and I couldn't help but notice how the local news stations were hyping it up as a huge news story, even going so far as to have round table discussions about the coaching position and the potential candidates and outcomes. In addition, we have tons of magazines, newspapers, websites, radio programs, and TV networks that are dedicated specifically to sports coverage and analysis and focus on nothing but sports.

So based on all of this, one can definitely argue that the obsession with sports is by design; that certain interests want people to be oblivious to the things that are happening around them socially, economically, and politically as they are mesmerized by the action of their favorite team playing a game of football or basketball. One could also argue that the obsession with sports is one of the contributing factors to society's downfall. But one question can definitely be asked in this case; is it the cultural obsession with sports that is causing society to implode or is it the implosion of society that is causing the obsession with sports? So, which came first; the chicken or the egg?

This may seem like an odd and pointless question but it's one worth analyzing if we want to do anything about this social problem. Let's face it. The average working class male has a pretty depressing life. As a general rule of thumb (not to say this is the case all of the time) the middle aged man goes to work at a mundane nine to five job to provide for his family. In most cases, he doesn't really enjoy his job. It's just something to put food on the table since he was never able to chase his dreams after being a fresh college graduate with a $100,000 debt and no job in a crappy economy.

So here we have John, 35 years old, who just got home from a job he hates, knowing that he isn't making any more money than he was ten years ago. He plops down on the couch, cracks open a cold beer and turns the TV on to watch his favorite team playing a game. It gives him joy and satisfaction. He feels like he's a part of something. He is quickly drawn in. Unlike life itself, which can be complicated and quite hard to figure out, the game is simple. He can understand it. And he has a clear objective; he wants his team to win. 

It's no wonder the advertisements during sports games are targeted at the average middle aged male consumer, with ads from shaving cream, razor blade, beer, chip, and buffalo wing companies often using big trucks, manly men, and pretty girls in bikinis to sell their products.

So what can be done about this cultural obsession with sports? How can we get people unglued from the television for a few minutes and out doing productive things to improve their lives and communities? Does it begin with the individual or does the responsibility lie with a greater force working to keep people blissfully ignorant? Regardless, it's clear that the obsession with sports in society has to somehow come to an end in order for society itself to start changing for the better. And if we can just encourage one another to practice moderation when it comes to sports, I believe that will be a step in the right direction.