It is a shame that so many kids can't just go out and play a bit in the afternoon before or after doing some homework.
As for the high salaries enjoyed by sports stars, pursuing these is still a bad proposition. Much better to have encourage the child to do well in school, and encourage the child to learn practical skills.
My son is 16 now, but we never did the "organized" team sport thing.
Here was my opinion (just for us, not condemning those that participate in organized sports):
I watched the neighborhood kids get together and play football, basketball, soccer, and baseball (sport changed with the seasons it seemed).
They'd play on the rough of the golf course on our street, or in a driveway or little park in the area.
They'd form teams (kids of all ages playing together), they'd assign positions, they'd decide on rules, then referee themselves.
It seemed to me to develop more realistic ways of coping and socializing in life than going to a field and having a coach tell you what to do and where to go.
Nowadays, my son's friends seem more inclined to come to our house to play pool, but they still form a friendly touch football or soccer game every once in awhile.