To the extent compensation reflects moral priority (It does so only in part, of course, non-normative factors in the mechanism of markets play a role, certainly), a pattern of compensation which values the ability to run a around with a ball or to drag your fellow man to the ground or to bounce or kick a ball or to skate after a rubber disk over other far more important and honorable undertakings is worrisome. We want our bread and circus, arguably we need such relief from our burdens, but when we express with our dollars that we value these above more worthwhile accomplishments, there is every reason for concern. In comparison with any number of other sorts of human endeavor, sports is trivial, and those who do not realize that are simply decadent and irresponsible. When I was a kid, I used to go to the local dirt track for the demolition derby, but even as a kid I realized it was a trivial diversion. I feel the same about football. I am not ashamed to enjoy it, but I would be ashamed to fail to recognize its comparative insignificance, and as a society we ought to be ashamed of priorities which place a value on it which is unwarranted.