The latest Gallup data shows public devotion to America’s sports industry has collapsed in the last year.
According to Gallup, the sports industry has a negative image among U.S. adults: 30 percent see the sports industry positively, compared to 40 percent reporting a negative image–a 30 percent decline from American views on the sports industry a year ago.
Interestingly, support from non-white citizens dove more steeply than did white Americans. White Americans now express a net-negative 22 percent sports rating while non-white Americans hold a 16 percent net-positive.
Americans have lost respect for sports athletes. Once you lose the respect of an American, you will never get it back. You disrespect America, America shuts you off.
The times of great strife in American history when professional sports brought us together more than it tore us apart were good. But for now, at least, those times are just a memory.
Note: Not one NBA or NFL player ran into the burning towers on 911.
This is a giant miscalculation on the part of the sports complex. Professional sports are not essential goods. It is a luxury, boutique item. What this pandemic has taught us is that in a world of vast amounts of entertainment, if the entertainment isn’t there, folks will go elsewhere.
The vulgar show of athletes at Thursday’s NFL opener in KC, locking arms in support of racial justice, was met by booing from the crowd. Yes, in Kansas City, which has the most loyal fans in the NFL, they booed the athletes who were making fools of themselves and a mockery of the game itself. Good on the KC fans.
This is why the NBA, which prances around in Black Lives Matter shirts during warm-up, doesn’t allow fans into the arena.
Faith in sports will continue to freefall. Many of us are realizing what Seinfeld said is true. What are you doing? You’re: you’re rooting for laundry.
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Well said!