Midwest sports are the lower end of the spectrum of humanity because there aren't enough other fun things to do, so they pretend that's important in the grand scheme of things. I guess it's better for the kids than going to field parties and getting drunk and pregnant.
I'm not a hater of sports, was an athlete in a couple + back in the day, as well as attending a few midwest field parties. Both are like a cattle call for idiots. It's nice to party but when you let the average inhabitant of the area in, things devolve.