[rant]I really cannot understand the ridiculously outsized role sports play in our society and especially the mindset of 'the fan'.

I get the appeal of playing sports, but there is nothing more insufferable in my opinion than sitting around watching other people play sports. And yet so many people are so completely wrapped up in 'their' team that it becomes their lifestyle, their defining identity. So much time, energy, and money is wasted in the hope of winning transient championships that have no effect on anyone's lives except those directly involved with the team. I mean why does it really matter who wins x,y, or z championship? I hate coming into work and hearing the 'fans' talk about how 'we' did, as if they had anything at all to do with the outcome of the latest meaningless game. IMO, sports are a great distraction for boring people living boring lives who can only live vicariously through the achievements of others.

And its gotten so crazy that universities are spending very limited funds to build new facilities and stadiums and hire more staff for the team while raising tuition and letting classrooms deteriorate. My university just spent millions to build a specialized tailgating parking lot so the idiots can sit around for hours before the game in anticipation of sitting around for hours at the game. Violence over team rivalries is now common. And corruption in getting the best players is just as common. And now we are all hearing about the absolute insanity that went on at the highest levels of Penn State to save the reputation of the football program. These were grown men who decided that a game was more important than stopping a pedophile. The rioting is just the icing on the cake - the ultimate expression of a society with its priorities completely off kilter.[/rant]

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