America's Pastime?

They say that baseball is America's pastime.  And every October people gather around the TV to watch the baseball play-offs and then the World Series.  For fans of all ages - children through adults - it is a special time of the year, especially if your favorite team is involved.  I can remember watching games as a kid from the time we bought our first TV.  And so this season I've found my way to the TV to watch the play-off games which have run from 3 p.m. to late at night.  But this year I have been appalled - not at the games - but at the advertisements.  It used to be cigarette and beer commercials.  But that wasn't too bad because as a kid I knew that they were wrong.  But now one of the major advertisers of these games - even in primetime - is Viagra.  And the language is vivid - erections, sexual activity, etc. The pictures are very suggestive.  Now, tell me, how does a parent explain these ads to an elementary age child who is innocently watching the play-offs? And thousands do watch.  Call me a prude, tell me I'm conservative and old fashioned.  But, I think a very serious line has been crossed.  But what more should we expect in today's world?  And then there is also another question - why are the drug firms spending all this money on advertising?   When it is costing us about $5,500 for prescriptions a year, out of our pockets, not counting the cost of insurance, I'd rather see them reduce costs rather than spend millions on advertising.  But that is another topic for discussion.  Back to viagra.  At times I begin to question why we still have a television.  The so called situation comedy shows now are boasting about how many gays have their leads and their programs feature sexual content and immoral relationships, right in primetime.  I say that we keep it for the news and sports.  But the news has become so one-sided and liberal that it is getting hard to watch.  Just look at what the media is doing to destroy Sarah Pallin while they anoint the new messiah, Obama.  Now, if your children are watching, you have to even monitor the sports because of the advertisements.  I haven't yet joined the "no TV" crowd, but I understand where they are coming from.  I guess the Phillies, Eagles, Penn State and college basketball keep me watching.  The old days weren't always what we think they were, but at least TV then was clean and moral.   And I miss that.  Is America's pastime still baseball, or is it the glorification of sex?