The biting and frighteningly prescient film "Network" was released 34 years ago and it's utterly astounding as to how truly prophetic Paddy Chayefsky's media and corporate driven nightmare turned quickly into reality. I think even he'd be taken aback by the merging of the commercial, the base and the celebrity grotesque that has both obsessed and characterized our society these last few decades.

This came to mind recently as I reflected upon two current events - the Supreme Court decision declaring that corporations could basically fund and determine election results and the excessive coverage - especially on ESPN - of "College Commitment Day", where high school athletes declare their destination of choice, the place where they'll pursue their dreams of money, fame and sports glory in a most decidedly not-strenuous academic environment.

Now, it's become a cliché to note the veracity of Warhol's overarching and infamous premise that we'd all be famous for 15 minutes. But it seems as if we're crossing that threshold with ever greater and more alarming frequency. It's great that we're all made to feel special or unique but come on - massaging the (mostly) over-inflated egos of high school jocks is not necessary. And the drooling, fawning behavior of our institutes of higher education is truly embarrassing. But hey, we all know that sports is a business so just deal with it - it's so institutionalized now that it seems a cliché to even levy a criticism against it. It's utter jadedness.

After all we award trophies to young kids now for just showing up instead of for merit. The Little League World Series airs on prime time several nights a week every summer where 12 year old boys from around the world are groomed early for performing under the media glare.

But is this really where we want sports to go? Where every feat, league, athlete - no matter how young - and (pseudo)accomplishment is hyper-analyzed. By its sheer omnipresence (or is that omnitopence? many say that it's a great time to be a sports fan. And indeed, in terms of access and variety, the sports fan is obviously blessed as no one ever has reason to miss an event. But there is a downside to over-exposure, that one must be vigilant to protect against. That is, basically a relentless increase in a misplacing of priorities. Sure it's been going on for some time and the complaint that sports - and entertainment for that matter - are given far too much importance in our time has been around forever. But it doesn't make it any less true.

For me, sports should always be a passionate, romantic and thrilling hobby and diversion where humans' displays of physical prowess combine with a rich narrative and are elevated to art - at least that's what sport is at its best . There needs to be a reprioritization so to speak of sports' place in our society.

It is truly getting weird out there. The report this week that stated that USC's coach, Lane Kiffin, had received a verbal commitment from a 13 year old is scary. The story may not be true but the notion that it was taken as a serious story is chilling.

The following will most likely never come to pass ... but you never know ...

ESPN13 January 1, 2017

INTRODUCTION TO NEWBORN DRAFT DAY SHOW, 9 A.M.

Announcer: As many of us are recovering from hangovers and other ramifications from making rather merry last night, the sports fans of North America have been up for hours awaiting the second annual Newborn Baby Draft to see which families get to take home the prized athlete for the college recruit class of 2035. I'm Ryan Seacrest and there's no place I'd rather be than here at Mt. Sinai Hospital Center in New York City - I can't tell you what a thrill it is to be able to ring in the new year at Times Square and then head uptown to this famed athletic breeding ground on this rough and tumble stretch of Fifth Avenue. There's just simply nowhere else I'd want to be.

Last year of course it was Devin Ferry who shocked the world - and his parents - by coming out a long and lean 23 inches and 12 pounds. With that kind of opening display, it's easy to see why their proud parents, George and Debbie, were able to sign him away for an astounding $4.5 million to USC. I guess what was most surprising was the fact that neither George nor Debbie were athletes growing up. In fact, Debbie says she still can't stand sports but their financial windfall has turned her into a strident and relentless advocate on behalf of all expecting parents.

Her now famous stands on abolishing academic standards has made her a folk hero to so many millions. "Moneymaking starts in the womb and don't let anyone tell you otherwise" has been her battle cry. And of course Debbie also led the fight that resulted in Congress passing the Gender Selection Right bill that declared that parents may freely abort a girl as the possible financial benefits are far less than with a boy. And with it the abolishment of Title IX. "Since China owns a sizeable portion of our holdings, I think we should emulate their population strategies. It's the smart thing to do", claimed Debbie.

It seems like centuries ago but it has only been seven years since the landmark finding of the Ameircan Society for the Protectoin of Infant Income that confirmed, after decades of study, that the ideal time to conceive a future star athlete was around April Fool's Day. The researchers found that the onset of spring allergy season created an unusually strong fetus, especially with boys - likely brought on by the prevalence of prescription drugs designed to halt the affects of hay fever. So with the generous help from those benevolent curers of all ills, pharmaceutical companies, we've entered a wonderful new phase in the evolution of the American athlete. Makes us all look back and wonder why we got so upset about steroids in the first place, doesn't it?

So who will the lucky baby be this year? It's hard to say but we all know that the mistresses of Tiger Woods are feeling better these days. After successfully suing Woods' wife for damages by interfering with their liaisons with Tiger that could have produced an imposing male specimen, we've heard little from them ...