The Fate of Nations by James Morrow

"The Fate of Nations" is a 2003 science fiction short story by James Morrow. It is about a fan who finally explains to his wife why sports are so important to the galaxy. Non-Spoiler Summary In A Nutshell: "The Fate of Nations" follows the wife of Dennis, a man who is growing more and more addicted to watching all kinds of sports. His wife starts out tolerant, but eventually demands that Dennis see a counselor to help battle his ever-increasing problem. While there, the counselor and Dennis decide to let her in on a major galactic secret involving sporting events. The first signs of trouble were subtle. I'm thinking especially of Dennis's decision to become a Boston Bruins fan and a Philadelphia Flyers fan simultaneously, an allegiance that served no evident purpose beyond allowing him to watch twice as much hockey as before. I also recall his insistence on replacing our coffee cups and drink tumblers with ceramic mugs bearing the New England Patriots logo. Then there was Dennis's…