You’re right. Sounds like a lot of latent homosexuality bound up in that whole thing. I’m sure a shrink could have a field day with it.
Teenage boys don’t have to have homosexual tendencies to hurt each other in a game - and what’s the worst pain they can imagine?
In a modern society when we give most boys (the exceptions are those engaged in rigorous sport or challenging activities like tradtional scouting) so few chances to experience real physical challenges and have no manhood rites to allow boys to endure and show how tough they are, they make up their own.