I consider myself sort of athletic. I played various sports all through junior high, high school, and college, and I still run and work-out. So I truly respect the skills of great athletes, but I just can't get into professional sports any more. It just seems like more celebrity-style nonsense to me. Maybe it's the 24/7 Twitter access of all the athletes. And the non-stop analysis by ridiculous talking heads on TV and the internet. Plus must you celebrate after every play?! Oh, and did you get "disrespected?" I'm so sorry...
And I think it is just plain silly for an adult to wear a professional athlete's jersey. (You did say unpopular, right...)