This Isn't Competition. This is War.

Men are expected to take an intense liking to sports.  If they don't they're masculinity may be questioned.  When discussing what can be considered if a male does not want to participate in sports Ralph Donald states, "The alternative, say the mainstream voices of American socialization, is too dreadful to consider: life as, at best, an un-manly male, or at worst, a suspected homosexual." (From "Knockout Punch" to "Home Run": Masculinity's "Dirty Dozen" Sports Metaphors in American Combat Films)  When men do participate in sports they are expected to behave violently and seriously.  As Ralph Donald's article discusses, they learn violence early and the language they use is similar to what can be heard on a battlefield.  This is evident when most of the terms used in football could directly link the players with being soldiers.  We as a society keep promoting sports so strongly to men because they're masculinity is so significant to us.  This is why perhaps people will go so far as to question they're sexuality if they lack interest.