These days, while it is considered entertainment, it is actually much more serious than that. People live and die vicariously through their home teams, professional athletes are routinely stalked and the personal lives of these superstars are infringed upon with the regularity of Metamucil. I know that the reprioritizing of society is strictly a pipe dream, but it's a wonder how we allowed the state of our civilization to get so out of hand. On the surface, athletics serve no constructive service to the common citizen. Upon further review, however, sports are an outlet - an outlet to let go of frustration, to convey emotion, to bond with one another, share tears of joy and the agony of loss.
Sports are productive - to a certain extent.
When people cross the fine line between fan and fanatic, that's when sports are brought into a new dimension. That's also when the business side of this entertainment approaches the spotlight. Even if it means sleeping in the snow for a week to get tickets or taking a road trip cross-country in the '72 Econoline to see their team in the postseason. These fans are so engrossed in their team that they do not mind the lack of loyalty shown by many athletes. Sports are not worth it.