What do think drives the human interest in and obsession with sports?

[Anonymous]

[MrOracle]

Sports are just a modern and less violent version of combat contests, which have existed for thousands of years.

Life on this planet has always been competitive, with people fighting over resources or simply just for power. We know that, at the very least, the ancient Greeks and Egyptians had formal sports competitions that were much more directly derived from military skills.

Actual sports are only going to be able to be developed in places that have long-term safety and stability,, which is why our major modern sports came from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Anyway, there has always been a desire to have "gladiators" competing and demonstrating peak skills for the crowd. It's just that now, we have TV, so you can follow the action without having to travel to the stadium.

[lorenzomichael]

Competitiveness. Remember when you would race your friends on the elementary blacktop to see who’s was the faster runner? That’s why.

[Kori1236]

We’re a predatory species by nature. Which makes us competitive and chasing after a ball or playing keep away engages our prey drive.

[Anonymous]

It's probably a natural offshoot of survival skills and competitiveness humans needed to have.

[exitseven]

Money. Everyone wants their kids to go to the pros. Parents scream at pee wee football coaches when their kid does not get enough playing time because how are they going to get a scholarship?

It used to be that most pro athletes had to work an off season job to make ends meet. Even the great Roger Maris was a sales rep for Budweiser in the off season. Now the make millions of dollars.

Then there is the whole gambling thing. People can bet on just about anything right from their phone.

[HawkPerception]

I've never actually cared for sports 😂 And I was naturally talented at them.

When my teammates asked me if I watched the games, I always said nope. I never cared to watch. I'd rather play than watch other dudes run around and play.

Now to answer the question. Sorry to rely on AI, but I didn't know the answer so here's what AI gave me

[AviatorTom]

Mother Nature built a "survival of the fittest" into us all. In times past, that meant killing your enemy. In modern society, that's frowned upon, so humans invented sports... the "safe" (and legal) equivalent of killing your enemy and proving superiority.

[OneViewpoint]

It's a way to act out aggression and violence (combat) safely. Some not as safe as others but better than armed combat. Humans are an aggressive species. We love dominating each other.

[TalkWithoutSpeaking]

- competition

- distraction from real world issues

- rivalry with opposite team

- comradarie with others that are on your team's side

[Xoirwinkan]

People used to fight each other a lot. War bands, tribes, nations - tribal in group preference and the urge to win a physical contest have been translated into sports for modern people, mostly men since we tend to be more competitive.

[RavVid]

It is quite akin to tribal war and usually not fatal.

[DrPepper12]

Competition. Rivalry. Entertainment. Commerce. Culture. Ego.

[LiamJHayden]

It's like the gladiators of old. A way to placate the masses.

[Anonymous]

Probably hormones.

[robocop666]

they like playing and seeing freak athletes

[Anonymous]

Competition (which used to be things like war)

[jahaims]

It's not

[Katrina5]

Competitive nature.