In a nutshell, NO.

Reality TV, the word, the concept itself, is a misnomer. By putting a camera on someone's life, house, cat, sports team, whatever, there is an added bias. Look at the news. A person is talking about an accident, birth, some newsworthy event and there are people screaming and high fiving and waving and yelling and holding signs in the background. They are desperate for the fleeting moments in front of a camera. To get paid to do something (or even do it for free) in front of a camera will not net "true" results.

I think sports is perhaps closer to reality TV then say Desperate Housewives of wherever. BUT people act different in front of a camera. Period. On camera they have to appear a certain way as there is literally money on the line. Peyton Manning has to be calm and collected and not cursing up a storm, because that would cost him endorsements. His "nice guy" image makes him more money then a "bad guy" image would.

Can you think of anyone who is a "bad guy" who sells things on tv/other media who you want to buy from?

Compare seeing a pro game on tv versus an amatuer game live. One is PG and the other can quickly turn R rated.

So take this answer with a grain of salt, Reality TV does not really exist in any pure form, and neither do professional athletes (at least those on TV). But it can come close, as long as you, the viewer account for the bias, then it is real enough.

Thanks