30 Hidden Struggles Men Face Insights They Rarely Share (6/30)

Sports culture, from recreational leagues to professional arenas, has become deeply problematic in many ways. Parents often display extreme aggression toward teenage referees, setting a terrible example for young kids. Youth athletes are pushed to the limit, with some playing year-round without time to rest, and in extreme cases, undergoing major surgeries like Tommy John surgery before even reaching adulthood. Teenagers are overburdened with late-night practices and the pressure to balance academic work. Family time, like meals together, gets sacrificed for sports commitments.

In schools, some kids make it through not because of their academics but due to their athletic abilities. On a broader scale, sports loyalty can turn toxic—people treat each other terribly based on which college or team someone supports, and make personal sacrifices, like missing family events, to watch games.

Sadly, this devotion can escalate to violence—there have been incidents of people being physically attacked because of their allegiance to a certain sports team. The obsession with sports even leads to poor decision-making in daily life, like showing up to work hungover after staying up late watching games, or prioritizing a game over critical personal obligations like paying child support.

I’ll never understand the depth of worship that sports can receive. While I can enjoy watching games and cheering on my kids, the toxic behavior, such as berating referees or fighting over injuries, is deeply disturbing and out of proportion to the joy that sports can bring.