It's interesting that you refer to sports as a safe place. I am a lawyer, and there were times in my career I would sit at an NFL game and be thrilled with the fact that for three hours nobody could bother me. So I get that side of things.
I also see, however, how sports may be for change. Jackie Robinson, Mexico City Olympics, and Billie Jean King. I'm with you to the extent that you wish that we can just talk about football watch football on Sunday and not think about anything else. I guess maybe this is another one of those sports/culture convergences. And I also guess it's what I signed up for when I start living and dying with sports. Somewhere, sometime, I was going to have my Jackie Robinson, Mexico City moment etc.