Dear God, are they kidding? If the author finds this "hard to see" he isn't looking. Every military and police veteran in the audience is at least a little angry. This demographic is composed principally, but not exclusively, of adult males with enough disposable income and leisure time to be fans. Let us look at the NFL's target demographic. Voila! Principally, but not exclusively, adult males with enough disposable income and leisure time to be fans. Let us subtract a significant portion of demographic 1 from demographic 2. What do you know? Viewership is down!
This isn't difficult, although quite a lot of money is spent on market research that states the obvious. We neither need nor desire political instruction emanating from privileged millionaires, whether they be players, coaches, or commentators. If that's what we get, we turn it off. If they shut up and stick to football, we don't.
The only way ostensibly intelligent people such as the author can maintain this obtuseness is to be in jaw-tightening, anus-clenching denial of the obvious. That's a personal problem we just can't help him with.
I love your phraseology....