politics is entertaining but i still prefer when it’s boring

surgeon, technologist, writer, humanist. read.pourteaux.xyz 

This is one of the historically common justifications of sports - that it's an opportunity for pure tribalism and craziness and entertainment that acts as an outlet for those energies, draining them away from pursuits where they might do more damage if they interfere. The challenge of course is that this is unstable: enough people are inherently more interested in things that "actually matter"

Yes and sports can go beyond an outlet and become a public good. Eg, teaching the civics of good sportsmanship, gracefully conceding losses and graciously accepting wins, opting into the authority of the referees, reinforcing meritocratic principles where hard work results in more victories…