The soccer thing is easy since soccer is the most played sport in the US at junior level with both genders with huge participation rates it is only at professional level where it falls away.
The suicide point could be about Joel's mental state after Sarah was killed and how low he got because a large part of the story is about Ellie and Joel's relationship that changes Joel from cold and closed off from life with no real reason to live, to some one who has a purpose again.
Research shows Video games help make you smarter, so why am I an idiot







