Since such feelings cannot simply be wished away, it is better to allow for their ritual expression, just as fears of death, violence, and decay find expression in religion or bull fighting. Even though some football games have provoked violence, and in one case even a war, they might have served the positive purpose of containing our more savage impulses by deflecting them onto a mere sport.
但体育运动能释放原始情感的事实并不是谴责它的理由。 因为这样的情绪不可能消弭于无形，因此最好给它们提供一个仪式化的发泄出口，就像宗教或斗牛之于对死亡、暴力和腐烂的恐惧所达到的效果。 尽管某些足球比赛曾经激起暴力，甚至有一次引发了战争，但它们可能已经通过转移注意力，抑制了我们更加野蛮的冲动。