I think it's a bit of both really

Chuds are drawn to sports because MAN BALL YELL BEER SLAM and it's profoundly easy to get people to agree with you on sports opinions because all you have to say is "Coach Brockmire should be fired because Roy Panklemeer juked when he should have jived! This would never happen with Box Marshall in charge!" and they'll hoot like a pack of trained seals