On a more serious level I think people are confusing sports (exercise based games) with sports (organised large scale leagues) that's muddying the waters. Enjoying a kickabout with your mates is no worse than playing D&D with them, it's once you've got fanbases that the problems develop - just look at how ads are working into many D&D shows.
Please don't give WotC more fucking ideas
On a more serious level I think people are confusing sports (exercise based games) with sports (organised large scale leagues) that's muddying the waters. Enjoying a kickabout with your mates is no worse than playing D&D with them, it's once you've got fanbases that the problems develop - just look at how ads are working into many D&D shows.