A little bit is harmless, in fact, it may be even of some benefit. An obsession with it is pathological.

There's nothing wrong with enjoying a game every now and then, or even following a team. I occasionally enjoy watching football and baseball, and you all are aware I love European-style motor sports and blue-water sailing. I enjoyed playing on corporate softball teams before I retired. I often watch sailing and road racing events when they are televised. But these are sports I have personally participated and competed in. I am not a voyeur. And if they were available 24/7 like other sports are I would quickly lose interest.

The American obsession with sports reminds me too much of English soccer hooliganism and Roman chariot racing. There is definitely an air of bread-and-circuses (and aggression) to it I find distasteful, if not dangerous. And I certainly don't care much for the sordid, seedy "business" side of the sports world, the coaches, promoters, owners, journalists, advertisers and other parasites that feed off the frenzy. Its a distraction, it provides an alternative to other, more productive, forms of tribal membership (like good citizenship).

No, I don't find an interest in sports to be "evil" and I certainly don't believe they should be banned. They are not a cause, but a symptom of something ugly and nasty in human nature. And I'm not accusing anyone of being twisted because they follow a team or enjoy a game. Like I said, there's a difference between enjoying the Playboy Centerfold and staying up all night cruising the porn sites.

And I get really pissed when they cancel the national news and replace it with golf.