There comes a moment in every crisis when our culture gathers to declare solemnly that sports are not “important.” And let me join the chorus here in saying that this week, right now, and probably for quite some time ahead, sports are, indeed, not “important.” But behind that pro forma, though very genuine, declaration lies a deeper and more complex truth: The impact of sports on the daily lives of many Americans (and far beyond America, but let’s keep it domestic for now) tells the story of an institution that sure looks like something important from a distance. Millions attend games and many millions more consume those games remotely.
Sports crystallized coronavirus for America; now we adjust to life without them
