I think sports are more important than ever to American culture.
Sports are commanding massive, obscene amounts of money in media rights. Movies? Not interested. Episodic series? Hit and miss. Video games? Yeah, that's 2nd best thing. Sex? A distant third.
But not only are sports entertaining and exciting in and of themselves, they have an added feature: you can make money from sports. That is, gambling.
Sorts gambling is much more accessible than Wall Street gambling. Lower entry points, etc. And everybody is an expert! No special training required.
So it's the best and worst of times to be an athlete.
Best, because the money and fame are insane.
Worst, because the on-line abuse is despicable.
Try being a WTA tennis player. Your life is easily hellish if you let your vigilance slip the slightest bit.
I was watching the Ucla Cal game tonight. And I was annoyed at the constant refrain from the announcers making excuses for Donovan dent's performance. But then I realized how many effing whack jobs there are out there who lost money tonight, money that they couldn't afford to lose, and they want a pound of flesh from a scapegoat. Dent is the most obvious target.
I've also heard/watched a lot of excuse making recently related to brick Purdy, jj McCarthy and shedeur Sanders. And I'm sure those broadcasters are trying to avoid fanning the flames.
Which is too bad. Being gaslit while watching sports, at a time when we've endured a decade of disgusting gaslighting, and are getting even more of it now, is making the current environment even more unbearable.
How do you feel?