>>they don’t even stop to think that there is nothing in it for them. <<
There are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of individuals who spend their money that, in part, shows you to be terribly wrong. Just because YOU don’t get anything out of it (or don’t believe anyone would) doesn’t mean others don’t. It isn’t your money, so why are you worried about it? A simple, “I don’t get anything out of sports, so whatever they do is fine with me...” would more than suffice. I don’t have a problem with anyone calling something dumb when it really is, but not liking something doesn’t make it dumb.
OK, so tell me specifically, what does a sports fan, at the end of the season (or game for that matter), have to show for it, regardless of wether “their” team had won or lost?