Euro 2020 football competition in progress, brings two more examples.

Commentators talking about how beautiful and artful some players abilities to consistently foul their opponents just enough to stop play, but without getting a yellow card. Players who cynically dive, roll around on the floor acting at every opportunity, or honestly try to claim a corner / throw in should be theirs even when they’re clearly the last to make contact with the ball before it goes out of play.

I only vaguely remember a time when calling it “the beautiful game” didn’t seem ironic.

The need to win at any cost has become paramount and pervasive.