[Elspode]

Football = Ritual Combat. We watch because we don't have actual gladiators anymore, and we aren't up to actually going out and getting into a fight with someone; we're weak suburbanites, now, not manly warriors.

Hockey = Ritual Hunting. We no longer have to chase after fleeing prey in compettition with our other tribe members, but we have a racial memory of it, chasing the prey into a net in cooperation with our immediate clan.

Baseball = Competition in lieu of battle (i.e., football), wherein we still use our tools of war (club, rock), but instead of actually trying to kill each other or something else, we hone our skills in amicable competition with neighboring tribes.

Golf = See baseball. A narrower area of skill, but still practicing with clubs and rocks.

Basketball = No one has any clue, but I love it anyway.