No One knows something until they learn or relearn it
Second. I watch the games myself and it is without a question that it is bitul torah and thus being an avirah on its own right.( It just so happens that Chazal equate bitul torah to avodah zara... )
And yes if something is rooted in Avoda Zara I would specifically try hard to avoid it. A example of this is valentines day. It is rooted in avoda zara and because of that I will specifically not take part in any way.
At the same time I am not saying that wishing someone hppy V day is avoda zara...