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Notes -
Sports as team building exercise are invaluable. I suspect this kernel of usefulness, having school sports teams that are taken serious by the students, grew naturally into recruiting for them in particular for prestige with students that no longer directly participate in them. I 100% endorse colleges have intermural leagues for their students and taking them somewhat seriously. I also support being a good team member/leader as a qualification worth mentioning and rewarding on college applications. But these things have definitely mutated paste their use.
I have no issue with amateur sports, or students who have been admitted for other reasons then being encouraged to engage in whatever sports they enjoy or are talented at.
Since your proposition is strictly superior to current norms, while I don't entirely agree with it, I won't grumble too hard.
They were always supposed to be amateur, which was the basis for them not being paid. But with serious competition comes pride, with pride comes spectators and people putting your school higher on their list because of the team and with spectators(money) and an edge on recruitment you quickly get what we see today. That and they're just fun, it would be better if they were more amateur but people enjoy the rivalries and school spirit.
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