The value of sport as an adult

[MikeWaters]

I believe in the value of playing sports. Teamwork, practice, self-improvement, physical fitness, competition, etc. I don't need to hash it out.

But now that I am an old man, how much value is there in playing sport? I've already learned life's lessons re: sport. Now I play for physical fitness, camaraderie, and simply because it is pleasurable. Am I wasting my time?

This goes to the question of how much time we spend on activities that give us pleasure, but provide questionable service to others, and are of questionable legacy value. When I die, will they salute me for the amount of time I played basketball. Or how I improved my jumpshot? "He was a great man-up defender, he blocked out, he was fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals." Will any of that matter to *me*?

Most people who don't play sports are frittering away their time in other ways. It's not like they are doing things that are better, in the eternal sense, than sport. But some are.

"Wow, he did that?" "Well, at least I'm a good ballplayer, he doesn't have that going for him."

Sport is preparation for war, at a certain level. Maybe warriors are always preparing. However, not many of us old-folks are going to be fighting wars. So maybe it is not of great value, but still the arena calls out, and the satisfaction of entering that arena is largely irreplaceable in other facets of life. What can I say? I don't understand it. And am powerless to prevent myself from entering it.