Springfield Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 So I'm sure we can all agree that games like football, baseball, hockey, basketball and soccer are all sports. What about things like auto racing, golf, tennis, curling, table tennis, cheerleading, etc. They are all competitive in nature and require a certain level of skill. Are they not also sports, or are they not? Surely this is something that this forum can answer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDoyler23 Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 Don't know if it nullifies it as a sport, but I think less of one in which 100% in determining the winner based on a judge's opinion. Like 90% of the Olympic events seem shaky to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Springfield Posted February 21, 2016 Author Share Posted February 21, 2016 Don't know if it nullifies it as a sport, but I think less of one in which 100% in determining the winner based on a judge's opinion. Like 90% of the Olympic events seem shaky to me. Interesting point. One could consider referees in the major sports as judges that determine the outcome, although not 100%. Say, the home plate umpire in baseball. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malapropismic Depository Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 What makes something a sport? Poker on ESPN I always found a really odd scenario. Another question, somewhat related : Is a punter an athlete ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BornaSkinsFan83 Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 Where do video games fit in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dont Taze Me Bro Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 sport spôrt/ noun 1. an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment. By definition, all mentioned in the OP are sports. I consider them sports too, including Nascar (though that will be debatable by some). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhead36 Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 1. Has to require some form of stressful physical activity(i.e. has to make you sweat or sore or something along those lines). That eliminates poker and scrabble and all that crap. 2. Has to have some form of competitive structure. So you can't just say mowing your lawn is a sport because it makes you sweat because you aren't in any form of competition. Basically, you have to be trying to beat someone else. 3. Can't be predetermined or scripted in anyway. Theoretically anyone should be able to win. This eliminates wrestling, which is entertainment and not a sport despite fulfilling the first two criteria. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malapropismic Depository Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 sport spôrt/ noun 1. an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment. That's the first thing I thought of too : Webster. I guess people are trying to re-define sport now ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bliz Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 Golf, darts, bowling and auto racing are games of skill. I think superior strength, speed, size or athleticism needs to give you a measurable advantage for it to be a sport Tennis is a sport Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Springfield Posted February 21, 2016 Author Share Posted February 21, 2016 That's the first thing I thought of too : Webster. I guess people are trying to re-define sport now ? Some would like to say that nascar isn't a sport, among others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinfan2k Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 i would say card games are a form of sport Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malapropismic Depository Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 Some would like to say that nascar isn't a sport, among others. Well, if we going by Webster's standards, nascar most definitely is a sport, without a doubt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhead36 Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 Golf, darts, bowling and auto racing are games of skill. I think superior strength, speed, size or athleticism needs to give you a measurable advantage for it to be a sport Tennis is a sport Golf and auto racing I'd put as sports, because both fulfill my criteria #1-they do require physical exertion. Darts and bowling are not sports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dont Taze Me Bro Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 Bowling is absolutely a sport, imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malapropismic Depository Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 If it involves physical skill, it's a sport. It it does not involve the physical, and just involves cerebral skills, then it's a game. Though, technically a sport is also a game, as well of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redskin4ever Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 In college we used to say that a sport is any competetion that can be enhanced by steriods. So out goes things like poker, spelling bee, scrabble, chess, auto racing, etc. (I was trying to think of all the things ESPN has put on the air through the years) I'd also add that anything where something other than a human is doing all the work is not a sport. Horse racing is a prime example. I'd throw auto racing in this too, but the first one covers eliminating that as a sport. They are still races and events, just not sports. Anything whose entire point is to be scripted is also not a sport. So WWE wrestling, not a sport. Greco Roman wrestling in the Olympics is a sport. Finally, a sport must involve a clear winner based on objective results on the field. Subjective determinations by judge seem to take the sport out of it. Gymanstics, Diving, figure skating, etc are all amazing skills and people like the competitions, but the face that judges decide the entirety of the event makes it not a sport. As for boxing, I hate boxing matches determined by decision. Fight until someone drops. That's been my opinion. Probably has holes in it. Probably biased. But it's what I've always thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tshile Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 To me if otherwise-unathletic people can excel at it then it's not a sport. It's a competition. So I love golf but it would not be a sport to me. There are a few people that make question whether baseball is a sport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btfoom Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 ES Mods - if they say it's a sport, then it is so. If not, sorry. That means Yes to Beer Pong and No to NASCAR. Too bad, folks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momma There Goes That Man Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 NASCAR is not a sport, come at me rednecks, lets battle to the death... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoony Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 If you have to ask it is not a sport Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DButz65 Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Darts and bowling are not sports. Bull****! How does bowling NOT require physical exertion? Sure going and throwing a game with friends is way different than league, tournament or PBA bowling, do you know what kind of shape those guys have to be in to bowl over 75 games a week? or more, not a sport, please! Even league bowlers practice a lot, especially the tournament bowlers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BornaSkinsFan83 Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 To me if otherwise-unathletic people can excel at it then it's not a sport. It's a competition. So I love golf but it would not be a sport to me. There are a few people that make question whether baseball is a sport. How are we defining athleticism? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tshile Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 How are we defining athleticism? The same way SCOTUS defines porn. You know it when you see it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corcaigh Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 So I'm sure we can all agree that games like football ... Stop right there. Exhibit #1: Albert Haynesworth. For me a sport is any competitive activity which involves a physical element. Even chess grandmasters do better when they pay attention to their physical condition as long tournaments take a toll. But there's no doubt that for some endeavors it may not be a big inhibitor to performance. Quite a number of top darts players are morbidly obese. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BornaSkinsFan83 Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Competitive eating? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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