Associatively, that conjurs up in my head: baseball, basketball, and soccer.

Also institutional corruption ([corruptor to potential corruptee]: "if you don't want to play ball, we'll find someone who does.").

So, I voted Does not imply a specific sport.

__________________
Thomas Jefferson:
"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent."
"A coward is much more exposed to quarrels than a man of spirit."
"Banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies."
"Every generation needs a new revolution."