Sports Are Going Soft—And It's A National Disgrace!

The State of the Game: A Look at What's Happening in Sports Today

Folks, let’s be honest, it feels like sports are changing faster than ever. Not necessarily for the better, mind you, but changing nonetheless. A lot of folks are complaining, and I’m here to tell you, they’ve got a point.

The NFL, as always, dominates the headlines. The Kansas City Chiefs, despite some early-season stumbles, are looking strong – though I still maintain Patrick Mahomes gets away with too much on those scrambles. The referees seem to be afraid to call holding against him, and that just isn't fair to the defenders. We're seeing a lot of these young quarterbacks come into the league and immediately get preferential treatment. Back in my day, you had to earn respect.

Over in baseball, things are…well, they’re trying to fix what isn’t broken. All these rule changes – bigger bases, pitch clocks – it’s just watering down the game. Baseball is a deliberate sport, a thinking man’s game. Now it’s just a race to get through nine innings. And don’t even get me started on the designated hitter. It takes away from true athleticism.

Basketball is…loud. A lot of flash, a lot of dunking. Skill still matters, of course, but it’s often overshadowed by the theatrics. I appreciate a good, solid team with fundamentals, but it's getting harder and harder to find one amidst all the one-and-done players and constant player movement. It’s not building loyalty, it’s building a revolving door.

Hockey, thankfully, remains a relatively stable sport. Good, hard-nosed competition. Physical. Though I worry about the increased emphasis on "safety." A little contact never hurt anyone, built character, if you ask me.

But honestly, the biggest story in sports isn't on the field, it's off of it. All this political activism. I understand players wanting to speak their minds, but it feels like every game is turning into a platform for something other than sports. Sports should be an escape, a place where folks can come together and forget their troubles, not be reminded of them. I worry where all this is headed, folks. I really do.

It’s a different world now, and not always for the better. We need to remember what made these games great in the first place: competition, skill, and good, honest sportsmanship. Let’s hope we can get back to that, before it’s too late.