Jimmy,
Good post. Are you familiar with the writings of Noam Chomsky? He wrote about how people who can't balance a checkbook or take the trouble to learn skills that would elevate their lives spend endless hours pouring over, analyzing and discussing the meaningless statistics of baseball and football, the detailed performance of players and the politics of the teams, as if this was the real world. He considers sports (and the media circus in general as you describe) the greatest waste of human energy on the planet. I agree. You said it very well in your first paragraph.
Great graphic at the top.
Thank you, i havent read much from chomsky. ive listened to him talk and a few of debates, and although i dont agree with a lot of what he says (his commie leanings) i would agree with his analysis on the bread and circus as you describe it.
I would also agree that its the greatest waste of energy on earth. Thats a great way to say it.