Professional Sports isnt an Amatuer or Weekend League. Its an industry that plies entertainment as its primary source of income. With teams as the enterprise and players the attraction. As such there is no one method entertainment can be consumed -- Live, Streamed and Radiowaves.
Whenever an athlete is disgruntled with contract, managment or a multitude of other reasons. None of them do whats right 'by the fans'. If anything they express following whats 'right' or 'best' for their professional and personal goals.
From seasonal lock outs, petulant refusal to appear in training, games and outight refusal to play. These celebrities are disingenous pretending they've never participated in damn near if not empty venues. There's nothing more narcissitic than pretending your star is too great to play in emoty arena -- due to health concerns.
How about flexing that star power and break streaming records? Afterall this is the technological age and viewership numbers = marketability = star power = earning potential. Perhaps Im not versed enough to understand the world of professional sports. Still, these excuses sounds absolute silly.