Agreed. I think the answer is the return to a meritocracy.
Scrap affirmative action, return self-esteem to the realm of achievement rather than the current feelings-based "everyone is a winner" system. Yes, we should stress - even celebrate - good sportsmanship, but not at the expense of the winners.
Eddie Willers would have also been at home in Galt's Gulch. Not because he was a giant in his field, but because he understood how the game should be played. He applauded - without resentment - the winners.
I argue with a lib friend on a regular basis. We came to the role of government to be like football. The rules committee is the legislature, the referees are the executive branch and instant replay is judicial. I pointed out to him that, unlike what government is doing these days, the rules set the boundaries within which the game is played but are not devised to favor one team over another. The referees are on the field, but are not players.
We found about 30 parallels... I will spare you a recitation. Bottom line, you comparison to sport is right on.