Regarding sports I think the Ivies get it as right as can be. They are not sports factories yet their athletes can and do complete at or near the highest levels. I think the U.S. Military Academy (West Point) gets it right, too. [For a good example, see Yale men’s hockey.]
I don’t think sports should be banned at the Ivies or at any University. To put in short hand, I am a believer in the mind / body ideal at the university. I do however have a problem with many Division I university sports teams which are in fact pro / Olympic feeder programs. I think it’s gotten out of hand. I believe these universities, even Stanford, to some degree compromise their academic mission and standing by attaching these multi-million organizations to their universities. And, most important, the athletes in these programs are often short changed by being forced to take majors which don’t require labs or which do not conflict with the very time consuming practice / travel schedules.