I honestly don't think that has to do with sports, as much as it has to do with gender roles and conventional norms of masculinity? Which are a whole other kettle of fish, but certainly highly problematic and worth a discussion in itself, because honestly, having such a narrow view of what constitutes masculinity is baffling at best.

For the record, I partially agree with you re. the ridiculousness of how much money and attention sports get. Celebrating that people are good at something is a nice thing, but sports are disproportionately favored in a way that makes me uncomfortable (there are other things worth celebrating, such as using our brains or compassion). Especially when you add incredibly detrimental things like doping to get ahead - it leaves me with the message that apparently, being a good athlete is always amazing, regardless of consequences.