Is sports overhyped?

Since it is Olympic season this might sound odd, but I have been thinking, what exactly is the purpose served by sports.

Overhyped, as in receiving excessive publicity? I would say, yes.

Sports and sporting events are big business and influence the economy. That much is not debatable. What is also not debatable is that if you play sports, it would improve your physical health and fitness.

Analysts would tell us that sports also have a significant impact on team building as well as have a significant impact on the political and cultural relationships between regions and countries. Either you get into the "psyche" of the things to verify the veracity of their statements or just take their word for it since they are the professionals.

In the final analysis, can we "live" without sports? To me, that question is the same as asking "can we live without entertainment?". I would think so because there are always other alternatives to entertainment, to team building and to improving upon "political and cultural relationships" between regions and countries.

Originally posted by: K.Universe.

To me, that question is the same as asking "can we live without entertainment?"

Originally posted by: souro

Moreover, when I think about the practicality of these sports, I see none except for a minuscule few. What exactly is the practical application of extraordinary skills in kicking a ball in a net or hitting a ball with a wooden plank? None in my opinion. Skills in traditional sports like swimming, sprinting/ running, archery are more practical but still not that much where you will need to pull a 50m freestyle sprint in 21 secs flat.

Star swimmers and medalists could potentially serve as lifeguards but I doubt they will.

I wholeheartedly agree that pretty much all major sports have no utility value.

I will join the discussion if someone posts a markedly different viewpoint.

Sports provides people a constructive outlet to hone their skills and bring out their talent and gain appreciation. If not for sports we could have had the shooters hired for illegal activities and boxers, wrestlers as bouncers!? It woulnt fetch them the glory that sports does. Sports is a good outlet for pent up energies that could get misdirected to unacceptable activities.

Entertainment serves to keep people engaged and happy. Happy and content people means less frustration and violence in society. Some communities who consider entertainment as a sin did manage to drive their youngsters towards "more purposeful outlets" such as guns and grenades to blow themselves and others out of their own bored existence.

Sports overhyped? Yes , just the way a lot of other things are. The amount of money that goes into it does seem astronomical but then its a market driven demand and supply game. Lot of people gain in the process.

Could the people be diverted to more useful engagement instead? Depends whether it would be as gratifying. If the returns are less the incentive for peak performance could be lost.

Some sports are overhyped, not all. Not every sport has billions of adoring fans, multimillion dollar endorsement and a media circus that follows.

Originally posted by: return_to_hades

Human accomplishment should be celebrated. Whether intellectual or physical, the hardwork and discipline required to accomplish certain feats should be recognized. Faster, higher, stronger may not enrich society directly in any way; but it definitely serves as an inspiration for what can be accomplished with dedication. Perhaps the media circus is not ideal, but we do need a spotlight on all human accomplishments.

What are the parameters for drawing the said inspiration? What is a good accomplishment and what is a bad accomplishment ? How does, say, cricket, compare to, say, a pie eating contest in this context? Is scoring a century in 37 balls more inspirational and more of an accomplishment than eating 11 pies in 30 minutes?

Originally posted by: _Angie_

Sports provides people a constructive outlet to hone their skills and bring out their talent and gain appreciation. If not for sports we could have had the shooters hired for illegal activities and boxers, wrestlers as bouncers!? It woulnt fetch them the glory that sports does. Sports is a good outlet for pent up energies that could get misdirected to unacceptable activities.

Entertainment serves to keep people engaged and happy. Happy and content people means less frustration and violence in society. Some communities who consider entertainment as a sin did manage to drive their youngsters towards "more purposeful outlets" such as guns and grenades to blow themselves and others out of their own bored existence.

Sports overhyped? Yes , just the way a lot of other things are. The amount of money that goes into it does seem astronomical but then its a market driven demand and supply game. Lot of people gain in the process.

Could the people be diverted to more useful engagement instead? Depends whether it would be as gratifying. If the returns are less the incentive for peak performance could be lost.

Originally posted by: K.Universe.

Originally posted by: K.Universe.

RTH, if my counterpoints are tipping to the negative end, how are your original points not tipping to the positive end?

You say "playing a sport helps people stay physically fit". I say "it could lead to physical injuries".

You say "Sports reduce stress and put people in a positive mood". I say "that is only true as far as the winning side is concerned. To the losing side, sports is nothing but heartburn and mental trauma"

You say "society benefits from players performing at the highest level". I say "we are losing productivity watching the likes of Steve Smith bat for 5 days in test cricket followed by watching the likes of Phelps in Olympics for about 2 weeks, followed by watching Mike Trout in MLB, during playoffs, followed by..."

Seems to me that one of us have to prove that the tipping happens to one end more.

Also, if we can show alternatives to sports that are a) equal if not better at improving fitness b) at reducing stress and putting people in a positive mood c) benefiting society, then would you agree that there is no real need for sports then?