Dreams of Middle School Kids

I was recently asked to speak to a middle school about my career as an entrepreneur, model, actor, and writer. I turned it into a conversation about goals and how to achieve those goals. More than 80% of them wanted to play pro sports (which I know is typical of that age group). Hardly anything related to the arts...music, theatre, acting, singing, ect. Considering that is how I make my living (through arts) I was just a tad shocked that most of them had never even given it a single thought. How is it, that sports have such a strong hold on our younger generations? There is nothing wrong with sports, be it playing them or watching them but why are arts not really integrated into young children's minds and curriculum?