Sport demands an almost innate appreciation from humanity I think. You might wonder why NFL players get paid hundreds of millions, despite a huge entertainment industry, I just think it's something we naturally appreciate and respect (maybe that's why it's so popular). Child athletes always want to be pros, adult athletes want to watch the pros. It's what we invented a long way down the road to have fun, be social, be competitive yet work together—before fun was so easily accessible.
Now, today, you have professional athletes who have a grasp of that fun but in a much more inspiring and professional manner than it use to stand for. It embellishes hard work, determination, pain, happiness, and ultimately fun. It stands for someone doing something they love and making it. To see someone relishing within that and suddenly ripped away is truly tragic.