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What "sports" do you not consider to be sports?
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sport |spôrt|
noun
1. an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.
So, let's reset the discussion, shall we?
noun
1. an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.
So, let's reset the discussion, shall we?
Anyone who thinks pacing around a room with a sack of potatoes isn't a sport should try pacing around a room with a sack of potatoes. At some grocery stores, they sell giant sacks of potatoes you can buy and use for your pacing. If your upper body isn't in great shape, you will be worn out. I can't imagine doing it for several hours straight with several other people pacing the room with a sack of potatoes inches away from you.
(Physical impact alone does not make something a sport. Racing may require someone fit and may tired you out, but to me it's hardly different from video games.)
Figure skating: subjective scoring from judges. Ice hockey: non-subjective (usually) scoring of goals into nets. If nothing else, that sets them apart.
Totally agree.
It depends on how big your basement is...
Confirmed proof that professional wrestling is a sport...!
Great topic! This comes up all the time at lunch where I work. I prefer to describe it in terms of two dimensions: sport vs non-sport (sports can't be subjectively judged; there has to be an objective criteria involved, like time, distance, points scored, etc.), and athletic vs non-athletic (if any out-of-shape slob can take part competitively, it's non-athletic).
So, at the extremes of the two dimensions, you would have examples like:
sport, athletic - ice hockey, basketball
non-sport, athletic - figure skating, diving
sport, non-athletic - golf, bowling
non-sport, non-athletic - dancing, chess
A much simpler argument from some coworkers: if you can get drunk while playing, it's a leisure activity, not a sport.
So, at the extremes of the two dimensions, you would have examples like:
sport, athletic - ice hockey, basketball
non-sport, athletic - figure skating, diving
sport, non-athletic - golf, bowling
non-sport, non-athletic - dancing, chess
A much simpler argument from some coworkers: if you can get drunk while playing, it's a leisure activity, not a sport.
Hmmm, might have to take issue with you.
A round at my club involves a 400ft climb up a hill, in the wind and rain, carrying my own clubs for 5 miles. It's physically demanding! You mention skateboarding is due to the risk of injury, I've injured my knees, thighs and put my back out on the course and I was 2 miles away from the nearest road. Had to crawl down the hill (with my precious clubs). But I understand that fat Americans drive, drink and eat their way around a country club, that isn't a sport!
Look at the condition of the top players these days. Roger Federer, who can run about a court for 4 hours in 100 degF heat is impressed with the shape of Tiggy.
Any form of competition can be argued to be considered "sport". Some are organized, some require physical skill, some require mental skill, some utilize props, some use technology, some are individualized, some are team based, some involve physical contact, some make you wealthy, some will drive you broke, some are considered dangerous, some are believed to be completely safe, some pit the individual against nature, etc. etc.
The point is there's no right answer and thus it becomes a matter of individual opinion. And, in a forum like this it will most likely lead to silly arguments.
That being said, in my opinion, all "sports" fall short when compared to:
rock paper scissors has nothing on Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock:
Not to be an advocate of figure skating but I can barely stand on ice as it is, nevermind doing a few jumps.
If it is a sport then the crew of the Challenger didn't win.
Too soon....
C'mon folks it was 1986. Admit it you snickered.
If it is a sport then the crew of the Challenger didn't win.
Too soon....
C'mon folks it was 1986. Admit it you snickered.
That's bad, lol.
When figure skating becomes full contact then I might reconsider.
Does Tonya Harding ring a bell? Start reconsidering. LOL
I'm sorry, but stating that racing isn't a sport is just plain ignorant. It's is incredibly physical, not subjective, and requires skills that not everyone has (and balls, big balls).
put the words long and island in front of that and then you might be talkin about golf! golf is the top of the "drinking sport" world. nothing like a few cans of liquid aim to help your pin-point accuracy.
I would class them as games myself.
Clearly, there's a lot of confusion and disagreement on this thread about what constitutes a sport and what doesn't. We obviously need criteria, a yardstick if you will, to determine what can be classed as 'sport'.
I reckon that if an individual who partakes has been a guest on jovial BBC quiz A Question of Sport, then it qualifies as a proper sport.
This means that darts, snooker, show jumping, golf and motor racing (Formula One, Superbikes and Rallying) all qualify as sports, while to the best of my knowledge it means that american football, baseball and motor racing (NASCAR) don't. Sorry.
The only way I'd concede auto racing is a sport is if you were to argue the cars are the athletes. And even then, I probably won't classify it as such.
Do you consider horse racing a sport?
I might have to argue that fishing could give golf a good run at being the sport most participated in while under the influence. Case in point, have you ever seen a fishing boat without a cooler? Didn't think so...
If you're using any projectile weapons (guns, bow & arrows, blow darts, throwing knives) then no. If you're just going bare handing or armed with a whittling knife... umm.. no. That's suicide.
If you're armed with a hunting knife, then yes.You've got just as much chance of getting killed as your prey.
Give the animal a sporting chance.