“Or actors”
Really, if you boil it down, athletes are nothing more than entertainers, just like actors, musicians etc.
They exist to distract us for a short time from the realities we deal with every day.....most of which they are too rich to have had to experience themselves.
And people are more than willing to give them their hard earned money that makes them richer and not think twice about it......that has always baffled me.
Yes, precisely! That line in Gladiator, “Are you not entertained!” was spot on.
The thing about entertainers is that what they do requires talent but not intelligence. Actors can play really intelligent people without having a clue about that intelligence.
That said, I have handed over my money but only to watch that talent on display. In my opinion it was worth seeing.
PS - Some entertainers are very smart and they are interesting to listen to on their own merits.