America's Infatuation With Sports

I'll be the first to admit, I love my sports. As an American, organized sports are a part of my own individual make up. Still, it is a bit moronic to suggest that a guy who catches a football or hits a baseball should make more money than the guy who performs brain surgery or puts his/her neck on the line to save lives on a daily basis. My general question, I guess, is are we (society) a bit confused in organizing our priorities? Not to take away from the individual athletes talents, which are not to be argued wth, but it angers me when a sports star making millions utters the words "I need to feed my family". Americans of all lines of wealth are dishing out tons of money to attend a sports event, so the team owners and players become overwhelmingly wealthy. What ever happened to good old fashioned family fun? This is a prime example of when Capitalism goes too far. Arguing for government interference to curb this is said to be both anti-capitalist and big government socialism. Is there any common ground? I understand that this is also, in many ways, a global issue.