Were organized sports not a major cultural part of communist and socialist nations? Is there something inherently fascistic about "professional", for lack of a better word, athletics and organized sporting leagues, as in the best in their class coming together to form teams and compete against each other for plaudits and the entertainment of spectators?

A lot of people are arguing against sports, or at least organized sports, in general here. Many in here are upset with the cultural assumptions put on them by conservative, patriarchal societies through sports and using this to attack sports in general and the people who enjoy them. The term "sportsball" is not an attack on the capitalist model of professional sports, it's way to infantilize people who enjoy a specific form of entertainment.

Those are valid feelings and valid critiques, but I believe they are attacking symptoms and not the cause.

And I do still feel it is best we don't fall out of touch with the working class, which generally is fond of sports.