The professional sports leagues are corrupt. Too much money. Too much attention. Like a spoiled child, they have been raised for failure.
Yet, in every imperial, royal and tyrannical court in almost every human society from China, to Europe to native indigenous people, there have been mysterious entertainers... some acting as jesters and comedians - and some as magicians and necromancers. In most cases, a tragic figure.
Like the royal whipping boy (intended to spare the misbehaving king of physical abuse, while supposed making guilt the gift that keeps on giving) these people have kept their entertainers around.
I'm not sure we should dismiss the entertainers so quickly. They have their uses. Are they important? Perhaps... perhaps not. When they are smart enough, and clever enough, and creative enough you soon have an emperor that has no clothes....
But... should we take their contributions to life seriously, especially in areas where they have no skill or responsibility? I think that tragedy is just characteristic of a modern age with too much information and too little skepticism.