Sweets

I don't think taking away the post whoring would work, people need a forum to just goof off in, that being said, you need to find members willing to help post sports related threads, and as PJ said the mods of the sports' area should be putting more effort into posting news etc. of their respective forums, try games that are related to whatever sport you want pushed, have your friends join up if you can and help you out. The football area will get busier as the season gets closer and hopefully we will have enough members that love football to talk about the games in the game day threads but for now the off topic is at least keeping people here and posting.

Try affiliating with other sites, that brings in new blood.