Gaming

Why we play and Jane McGonigal's views on gaming have many similarities. For one example, in Why We Play, it is stated that people like games because of the goals, challenges and rewards. Solving puzzles, and sparking curiosity is a major part of human life. Answers to puzzles or solutions to situations is a large motivation for why we play games. And Jane is a game designer that designed a game to help people feel better. After setting small goals and achieving them, your mood goes up. Completing that task and feeling a reward of physical or social resilience is what keeps that game going. It feels good to accomplish something. She also notes the creativity that is required to get through various games and how it transfers to real-life scenarios. 

Why We Play also points out the different chemicals that are released when playing games. Norepinephrine and serotonin are both released in the brain when people encounter novel situations, as well as video games. These chemicals help regulate our emotional responses to situations. These  chemicals are used to treat depression and ADD/ADHD. Jane agrees in the sense that she points out various studies that have shown playing games can treat anxiety and depression more than pharmaceutical drugs. She was very depressed and suicidal and the game she made helped her, as well as many others, through the difficult time. 

Sports Culture in America

Purpose of sports would probably be between the players that have a passion for playing it and the fans that enjoy watching it. Benefits of huge focus on sports is it gives someone a hobby. Something to enjoy outside of school or work. Something to be passionate about, maybe something you're good at and gives you confidence. Also being active in this country is something that's becoming more rare among our society, so being active and healthy is a great benefit to those that are playing sports. Drawbacks of sports being so huge is the extremists. I hate seeing parents that are pushing their kids to practice practice practice, and giving the kid the idea that their only source of achievement comes from their performance in sports. Or parents liking their kid playing the sport more than the kid enjoys playing the sport. Also people watching their favorite sports teams and getting over the top. 
If there was anything I think needs to be changed about sports it would simply be the players that are getting in trouble for domestic abuse, drinking and driving, or any other criminal charges that are still being allowed to play or getting a small amount of time off... I think that's bull. It should be treated more seriously and not looked at in terms of how that player benefits the team. Other than that I don't know much about sports.