If ever there was an example of television's success as a medium of conveying images, it is in the sports arena. There is however, a price to pay. Football, as a game is played with opposing sides poised to take the other's land. Players are trained to be hard hitting. They drag, knock or otherwise tackle their opponent to the ground.
Territory is taken.
The opposition's defense requires neutralizing. One only need to read the sports column headlines to realize that teams annihilate, drum, beat, pulverize, overpower, smash, demoralize, liquidate, demolish, destroy, overpower, overwhelm, etc., the opposition. In the movie Little Giants , the underdog team even resorts to placing Alka Seltzer in their mouths to psyche out their opponents, having them believe that they are uncontrollable, violent players, foaming at the mouth. While humorously portrayed, this is hardly the underpinnings of civility. I have observed adults, youngsters, family members as they watch a football game.