In a culture that idolizes athletes in pro basketball, football, baseball and hockey, it's no surprise the emulation starts early. And let's not forget that major league sport is a business, pure and simple, just like our good friends the major record labels. The demise of the smaller (market) teams mirrors the dropping of smaller acts by the labels: huge profits only, please. And despite obscene salaries there's a constant threat of strikes. We have a Junior A hockey team and the city is spending a fortune renovating and expanding the arena, despite the fact that we don't even have a public swimming pool. And as my friend, the former head librarian liked to point out, our municiipal library serves five times the number of people that watch hockey there (never mind play!) yet it's a constant struggle not to lose their existing funding. All of which is to say, yes, it's infinitely better and healthier when everyone plays. Public funds, such as schools, should be spent for public benefit - let pro sports foot the bill for their quasi-farm system.