The NFL Is America's True Religion

A list of reasons why we deify it.

Here’s what I’ve got:

• It owns a day of the week, which church used to do for more people.

• It’s the closest thing we have to “gladiators” or “warriors” in the modern age.

• Regional tribalism.

• Gambling.

• Fantasy football. (Which is one of the primary, if only, ways that guys retain long-term friendships across distance and children.)

• We like violence more than we…