A Sport Or Not?

[WRB]

There should be no debate that fishing is a recreational sport and tops the list at 42.1 million people enjoy fishing. How many of those 42.1 million anglers are athletes is unknown. Lets say 10% are or were athletic; 4.2 million anglers in the USA are athletes.

Tom

[zewski]

I can tell you this, I am a pro athlete, this summer I was fishing a tournament and the next morning I had to train, my shoulders were tottaly destroyed from casting a spinnerbait all day long, Hey I am not an out of shape dude, I am a pro athlete and it affected me that much! So yes it is a sport.

[Brian Needham]

, Bass fishing is the most popular freshwater fish,

 

actually it is probably Crappie.

[flyfisher]

I can tell you this, I am a pro athlete, this summer I was fishing a tournament and the next morning I had to train, my shoulders were tottaly destroyed from casting a spinnerbait all day long, Hey I am not an out of shape dude, I am a pro athlete and it affected me that much! So yes it is a sport.

Pro athlete for what?

 

And being sore doesn't mean it is a sport.  if you take a football player and have them play soccer or try and pitch a simulated baseball game i can bet they would be sore too.  Just like if i try to run it kills me but put me on a bike and i am good.

[shimmy]

Bass fishing is a type sportfishing. Are bass anglers athetes, some are, some are not. The top tournament anglers keep in good physical condition and would be considered athletes.

Tom

I have played and trained with athletes in "good physical condition". The "physically conditioned" fisherman are not athletes. Yes it is a sport. But athletes...come on. While sure there are some on the tour that have played sports in the past, this does not make them an athlete at the moment. I am not doubting that you have to be physically capable to endure mental exhaustion and physical fatigue of sorts in extreme weather conditions, but come on, an athlete? There is a difference. When i think of athletes, i think of training centered around pushing your physical body to it's extreme, not of Rick Clunn (although, i wouldn't mind being in his shape at his age).

[WRB]

There are different types of athletes and all skill levels. Training should be aimed at perfecting a particular skill set. A top bass pro trains, some have a physical routine including exercise like running, cycling, etc to improve leg strength and stamina to endure standing on one leg while balancing and controlling to the boat in high winds, big waves for several hours for several days, back to back, to back. Both Aaron Martins and KVD train daily, similar to Tiger a woods routine.

Being an athlete in a different sport doesn't change the fact that an athlete can become a bass angler and remain an athlete. Athletic skills can be an advantage to a touring bass pro or weekend angler, increases dedication and physical endurance. Don't forget that not all athletes are champions in their sport, only a few reach the top in every sport, including the sport of fishing.

Tom

[shimmy]

I think what may better define what you are talking about WRB is someone in shape, not an athlete. My grandpa ran the treadmill, did balancing drills with weights, he could handle waves on the water; he was not an athlete, he was in shape. Athletes push their physical body to the extreme. Fisherman who run and gun can be in better shape than others and can train to be able to push themselves harder than others, but they train to be in shape; not to be an athlete. An athlete's athleticism in general greatly influences their skill level and success. Now, every sport has an athlete who is less gifted physically than the competitors but still outperforms the competition, but their is always some level of physical ability that is lightyears ahead of your regular Joe Shmoe (with the exception of a knuckleball pitcher in baseball or something). This same statement cannot be applied to a fisherman. Wisdom will beat the "athletic" fisherman any day. Your physical abilities are not what make you win the tournament.

[Catt]

KVD is no way in the top 20 in all of sports for salaries. I found an article http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/7858863/racing-boxing-highest-paying-sports-espn-magazine

it is from last year but his salary is 700k. Here are some numbers for average salaries for the major sports:

NBA: $5.15 million (2010-11)

MLB: $3.34 million (2010)

NHL: $2.4 million (2010-11)

NFL: $1.9 million (2010)

So if you can assume that 2/3rds are probably below the average and 1/3 are higher with the highest amounts schewing the average more towards the bottom it is safe to say that KVD is probably not even in the top 200 in all of sports. Just the phillies alone have 10 people making more money.

Also notice they don't call him sportsman of the year but outdoorsman of the year. Not to mention ESPN has a vested interest in growing the "sport" as they show the tournaments and can make more money with additional viewers.

ESPY Award: short of Excellience In SPORTS Performance Award!

ESPN Top Salaries in Sports for 2011; Fishing #20 Kevin VanDam $915,500

[J Francho]

Pro athlete for what?

 

And being sore doesn't mean it is a sport.  if you take a football player and have them play soccer or try and pitch a simulated baseball game i can bet they would be sore too.  Just like if i try to run it kills me but put me on a bike and i am good.

 

Boxing.

[Catt]

KVD is no way in the top 20 in all of sports for salaries. I found an article http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/7858863/racing-boxing-highest-paying-sports-espn-magazine

it is from last year but his salary is 700k. Here are some numbers for average salaries for the major sports:

NBA: $5.15 million (2010-11)

MLB: $3.34 million (2010)

NHL: $2.4 million (2010-11)

NFL: $1.9 million (2010)

So if you can assume that 2/3rds are probably below the average and 1/3 are higher with the highest amounts schewing the average more towards the bottom it is safe to say that KVD is probably not even in the top 200 in all of sports. Just the phillies alone have 10 people making more money.

Also notice they don't call him sportsman of the year but outdoorsman of the year. Not to mention ESPN has a vested interest in growing the "sport" as they show the tournaments and can make more money with additional viewers.

ESPY Award: short of Excellience In SPORTS Performance Award!

ESPN Top Salaries in Sports for 2011; Fishing #20 Kevin VanDam $915,500

[flyfisher]

ESPY Award: short of Excellience In SPORTS Performance Award!

ESPN Top Salaries in Sports for 2011; Fishing #20 Kevin VanDam $915,500

The article you are referencing isn't a list of the top earners in all of sports it is a comparison of the top earners in each category where he does rank 20th.  But like i said before he wouldn't even make the top 10 on many baseball teams.

 

http://espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=6391391

[Catt]

The article you are referencing isn't a list of the top earners in all of sports it is a comparison of the top earners in each category where he does rank 20th. But like i said before he wouldn't even make the top 10 on many baseball teams.

http://espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=6391391

Never said he did, just provided facts that ESPN considers fishing a sport!

[Montanaro]

in my opinion an "athlete" is anyone capable of handling the physical requirements of multiple sports and activities.

[J Francho]

The article you are referencing isn't a list of the top earners in all of sports it is a comparison of the top earners in each category where he does rank 20th.  But like i said before he wouldn't even make the top 10 on many baseball teams.

 

http://espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=6391391

 

A million bucks to play darts, lol.

[Felix77]

ESPY Award: short of Excellience In SPORTS Performance Award!

ESPN Top Salaries in Sports for 2011; Fishing #20 Kevin VanDam $915,500

 

http://www.topendsports.com/world/lists/earnings/espn-sports-2011.htm

 

and #11 goes to the Poker Player!  

[bostonsox2904]

While I may agree that competitive fishing is a sport, just because something is physically demanding doesn't make it a sport, and just because there is competition doesn't make something a sport. Is monopoly a sport? Is hiking a sport?

[JT Bagwell]

_{Wow I am gone for a few days and this thread goes crazy.  lol}

 

 

_{Very interesting opinions (as I assumed there would be).}

 

_{Keep it going.}

[The Commodore]

It is a sport by media and entertainment standards when done in competition.  Everything else is just opinion.  We can get very technical about all the sports of the world.

[WRB]

While I may agree that competitive fishing is a sport, just because something is physically demanding doesn't make it a sport, and just because there is competition doesn't make something a sport. Is monopoly a sport? Is hiking a sport?

A good comparison is golf and fishing, both enjoyed by weekend participants, both have amateur and professional levels of competition and both are considered sports, recreational sports, by nearly everyone.

The debate about the participants being athletes depends on the individual.

If an Ironman athlete is playing a round of golf, he is still an athlete, same is true if he is fishing. This doesn't mean all golfers or fishermen are athletes. My point is some pro bass anglers are athletes that bass fish, they may or may not be world class athletes.

For example I consider myself to be an athlete as a all around gymnast competing at the NCAA level 50 years ago. At some point in time my athletic skills diminished, however I still bass fish. Just because I bass fish doesn't erase the fact I was an athlete and if younger and competing in tournaments, I would still be considered an athlete.

Tom

[flyfisher]

Maybe the better conclusion to make is that being a pro fisherman or whatever does not require one to be athletic at all, just like golf or pool or any other games out there.

[awefvawervwae]

For me it is as after every tournament my back and sholders a sore. But then again I'm out of shape any ways

[BASS959]

Hmmm,  I wonder why what we do is called SPORT FISHING? 

[Fishing Rhino]

Hmmm,  I wonder why what we do is called SPORT FISHING? 

 

It's called sport fishing as opposed to commercial fishing.  I think we run afoul of the definition of what constitutes a sport by linking athlete with it.  It's in the post which started this thread.  Is fishing a sport?  Are fishermen athletes?

 

For me, I think activity more accurately describes fishing.  Yet, some forms of fishing don't involve much activity.

[Fishing Rhino]

ESPY Award: short of Excellience In SPORTS Performance Award!

ESPN Top Salaries in Sports for 2011; Fishing #20 Kevin VanDam $915,500

 

I don't understand how ESPN placed KVD in 20th place.

 

Luke Guthrie (never heard of him) came in number 83 in PGA golfers earnings from purse money won (2013).  No endorsements.  Not including appearance fees.he earned 991,901.90 

 

83 Luke Guthrie 27 $991,901.90            

 

For 2011, KVD didn't show up in the top fifty on this list from ESPN.   Chris Bosh at number 50, with 14,500,000 in salary/winnings.

 

The 50 highest-earning American athletes

50

Chris Bosh Miami Heat (NBA) Last Year's Rank: NR

1. $14,500,000     salary/winnings
2. $1,000,000       endorsements
3. $15,500,000     total

 

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/specials/fortunate50-2011/index.html#ixzz2khpeueRD

[Catt]

Ok guys go to Google, type in: ESPN Top Salaries in Sports 2011.

If you don't type the exact words you will not get the exact list.

Now we are reading the same list, why so many list I don't know but feel free to argue with ESPN.