SPORTS ISN'T DYING IT'S ALREADY DEAD.

The State of Play: A Descent into Mediocrity and Predictable Scandals

Let’s be clear: if I wanted fluff, I’d collect dust bunnies. The sports world, as presented by the Associated Press – and therefore, unfortunately, inflicted upon the public – is currently a wasteland of predictable outcomes and embarrassingly transparent issues.

College basketball is now apparently defined by the threshold of 67 points. 67. We’re celebrating offensive efficiency by hitting a number that previously signaled a slow first half. This isn’t athleticism, it's an indictment of strategy and defensive effort. A pathetic benchmark for competition, frankly.

And then there's the eternally festering wound that is illegal betting. Apparently, it’s impacting Major League Baseball still. The shock! The horror! It’s almost as if introducing gambling into the ecosystem was going to encourage, you know, illegal activity. This isn’t a revelation; it's the inevitable consequence of greed masquerading as entertainment. They wring their hands about “integrity” while simultaneously lining their pockets. Disgusting.

Beyond that? The usual parade of manufactured drama. No truly groundbreaking athletic achievements. No display of exceptional sportsmanship. Just the relentless churn of games, points, and predictable scandal.

The AP dutifully reports it all. But reporting isn’t analyzing. It's simply documenting the decline. And frankly, watching this slow-motion train wreck of athletic incompetence is becoming tedious. I expect better. The public deserves better. But expecting competence from this era of sports is, sadly, the greatest fantasy of all.