Reading this discussion feels like just as much a waste of time as following sports. I think it's hard and pointless to make any conclusions about the reasons people are stubbornly disinterested in mainstream entertainment. Whether somebody is truly disinterested or trying to be disinterested because they believe they are above the lowly peasants...who really cares?

At least the article itself isn't too difficult to get through. From his list, number 3 is the one that jumped out at me:

"Interest in sports can expand or shrink to fill the time you’re willing to give it"

I'm skeptical about the "shrink" part. The main problem I have with sports is how swallowed up some people and society in general can be. There was a recent discussion on HN about books and how impossible it is to be able to read everything that's important within your lifetime. Now, I don't even read books (yet), and I'm certainly not a good role model for spending my time wisely. But I guess there's no problem with people spending time on whatever makes them happy, and if the time people put into sports makes them that happy, so be it. I think it would be better for everybody, however, if we focused more on improving our lives in the long run. Have some more discipline. On the other hand, I think it's great to be "open minded". Give everything and everybody a chance to be worth your attention. It reduces ignorance.