Jd_Phillips_Fishin Posted April 3, 2015 Posted April 3, 2015 The other day before class started there was a debate on whether or not Poker could be considered a sport. Some said it was because it comes on ESPN, Fox Sports1, and NBC Sports. But others said it wasn't because you are sitting down and there is no athleticism involved. What do yall think?
Super User Scott F Posted April 3, 2015 Super User Posted April 3, 2015 From dictionary.com sport[spawrt, spohrt] noun 1.an athletic activity requiring skill or physicalprowess and often of a competitive nature, asracing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling,boxing, hunting, fishing, etc. 2.a particular form of this, especially in the out of doors. 3. diversion; recreation; pleasant pastime. According to definition 3, poker would be considered a sport.
Super User jbsoonerfan Posted April 3, 2015 Super User Posted April 3, 2015 These days, everything is a sport.
Super User Dwight Hottle Posted April 3, 2015 Super User Posted April 3, 2015 Should marriage be considered a sport? 6
Super User 00 mod Posted April 3, 2015 Super User Posted April 3, 2015 Should marriage be considered a sport? Mine requires phsical prowess! Jeff 1
Super User jbsoonerfan Posted April 4, 2015 Super User Posted April 4, 2015 Should marriage be considered a sport? If so, I'm 0-1 2
RSM789 Posted April 4, 2015 Posted April 4, 2015 I think too many types of competitions have been labeled "sports". It doesn't mean those competitions don't require some kind of skill, mental prowess or endurance, but those attributes do not make something a sport. Many of these are better labeled "athletic contests" or something similar. In my opinion, to be a sport, the contest must pass all 3 of these tests: It must require athleticism more than basic hand/eye co-ordination or endurance - This eliminates those types of contests like poker, darts, competitive eating or other events that you can do while drinking beer at the same time. Scoring must be done by accomplishment of something as opposed to being judged - Contests like gymnastics or ice skating fall short for me because a 3rd party determines whether you win or not. It also forces boxing, MMA & wresting matches to be decided by one person quitting or being knocked unconscious as opposed to 3 corrupt judges deciding who looked better. There must be the opportunity to play defense - This brings in the will to win, which in sport can be illustrated by stopping a talented opponent from achieving a predetermined goal. This condition makes a 100 meter dash an athletic contest, while a longer mile run, where you can literally block or hem in an opponent, a sport. I know these conditions are insulting to some, but that is what I use to draw the line. Ironically, the 3 things I enjoy the most (bass fishing, bowling & poker), I don't consider to be sports, even though all 3 can attract very competitive and skilled contestants. 1
Super User SirSnookalot Posted April 4, 2015 Super User Posted April 4, 2015 Calling poker or any card game a sport is stretch IMO. What would professional chess be, it's totally person against person with no advantage of getting the "cards".
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted April 4, 2015 Global Moderator Posted April 4, 2015 IMO, there has to be some kind of physical aspect to a sport. Poker takes a great deal of mental concentration and skill, but I couldn't ever recognize it as a sport.
Super User Sam Posted April 4, 2015 Super User Posted April 4, 2015 No, I don't consider poker or any card game a sport. As my goofy friend says, if they are not wearing a j**kst**p then it is not a sport. 1
Super User flyfisher Posted April 4, 2015 Super User Posted April 4, 2015 Not a sport. If poker is a sport based on the definition #3 posted above, then so are video games.
bassinOUT89 Posted April 5, 2015 Posted April 5, 2015 Not a sport. If poker is a sport based on the definition #3 posted above, then so are video games.video games are called "esports" 1
bassinOUT89 Posted April 5, 2015 Posted April 5, 2015 Noo, it's a math game..no, I was refering to video games. I guess it makes kids who just play video games 24/7 sound interesting
Super User Fishing Rhino Posted April 5, 2015 Super User Posted April 5, 2015 I think too many types of competitions have been labeled "sports". It doesn't mean those competitions don't require some kind of skill, mental prowess or endurance, but those attributes do not make something a sport. Many of these are better labeled "athletic contests" or something similar. In my opinion, to be a sport, the contest must pass all 3 of these tests: It must require athleticism more than basic hand/eye co-ordination or endurance - This eliminates those types of contests like poker, darts, competitive eating or other events that you can do while drinking beer at the same time. Scoring must be done by accomplishment of something as opposed to being judged - Contests like gymnastics or ice skating fall short for me because a 3rd party determines whether you win or not. It also forces boxing, MMA & wresting matches to be decided by one person quitting or being knocked unconscious as opposed to 3 corrupt judges deciding who looked better. There must be the opportunity to play defense - This brings in the will to win, which in sport can be illustrated by stopping a talented opponent from achieving a predetermined goal. This condition makes a 100 meter dash an athletic contest, while a longer mile run, where you can literally block or hem in an opponent, a sport. I know these conditions are insulting to some, but that is what I use to draw the line. Ironically, the 3 things I enjoy the most (bass fishing, bowling & poker), I don't consider to be sports, even though all 3 can attract very competitive and skilled contestants. Number 2 presents a problem. Any "sport" that requires a team or individual to play defense brings with it officials who make judgment calls. In basketball, they are called referees. In baseball they are called umpires. In football the officials have more than one title, judge, referee, umpire and linesman. They make calls which sometime effect, and alter, the outcome of a game. In an effort to reduce this likelihood, football created the ability for a coach to challenge what he thinks is a bad call. In this case, they are similar to judges in skating, boxing, diving, or whatever who may err in their judgments. In the end, they are all games. Speaking of coaches, they also have a role in determining the outcome of a game, even though they play neither offense or defense.
RSM789 Posted April 5, 2015 Posted April 5, 2015 Number 2 presents a problem. Any "sport" that requires a team or individual to play defense brings with it officials who make judgment calls... Good point. We have gotten use to professional & amateur sports where the rules are enforced by officials as opposed to the contestants themselves (which occurs in the schoolyard or neighborhood). While inappropriately enforcing of rules can lead directly to an outcome, I wasn't addressing error or incompetence. Rather, I was speaking of the judging where the actual outcome is determined by people who are not participating. Not influencing the outcome, but deciding it. Human judgement in enforcing rules of a contest or sport can be maddening, especially when it seems like there are fouls or penalties being called non-stop. While it would never be changed, I had a simple suggestion that would not only reduce the number of penalties in football, but also reduce the number of major injuries. Allow any player to tackle any other player at any time anywhere on the field. No holding calls, no pass interference calls, all those judgments are no longer needed. Collisions would most likely be at lower speeds because rare would be the time that anyone could get anywhere unmolested. To make baseball more interesting, I suggest moving the fences back to 600 feet at the lines. Every line drive in the gap becomes an exciting play at 3rd or home. And please, oh please, automate the strike zone!!
Matthew2000 Posted April 6, 2015 Posted April 6, 2015 The thing with my age group is cheerleading being a sport. Oh haw I could just go on and on about that one.
Super User SirSnookalot Posted April 6, 2015 Super User Posted April 6, 2015 The thing with my age group is cheerleading being a sport. Oh haw I could just go on and on about that one. Cheerleading a sport why not, it's competitive and athletic. An event that is internationally popular, competitive, athletic and skilled is ballroom dancing. These dancers are incredible athletes, gets my nod being sport. 1
Super User Catch and Grease Posted April 6, 2015 Super User Posted April 6, 2015 Poker is something I enjoy watching, it definitely takes alot of skill and practice but call it what you want.
Super User buzzed bait Posted April 6, 2015 Super User Posted April 6, 2015 If NASCAR is a sport, then poker is a sport.... each require long stretches of sitting and paying attention.
Super User Catch and Grease Posted April 6, 2015 Super User Posted April 6, 2015 If NASCAR is a sport, then poker is a sport.... each require long stretches of sitting and paying attention. Being part of a NASCAR pit crew is definitely worthy of being called a sport!
Matthew2000 Posted April 6, 2015 Posted April 6, 2015 Cheerleading a sport why not, it's competitive and athletic. An event that is internationally popular, competitive, athletic and skilled is ballroom dancing. These dancers are incredible athletes, gets my nod being sport. I see it as a repition thing. There is nothing another team can do to mess you up or take points away from you. I can practice jumping in the air high on a trampoline, does that make it a sport? No. I feel sports should be a team vs team competition or person vs person, with no judges. Officials, refs, and umps being excluded from that as they are there to keep the peace. And the arrogance of some of the girls who cheerlead is unbelievable. They commonly use cheerleading is harder than football, and how they are so much more athletic then everyone else. How in the actual heck do you think cheerleading is harder than football? I bet football players could do what cheerleaders do but cheerleaders couldn't do what football players do. Incredible athletes I don't think so, I am in gym class with some of these girls and they cannot even run around the gym for 5 minuets. 4 girls lifting 1 90 pound girl isn't very hard either. That's 22.5 pounds per person. If you can't do that then you need some help. 1
Super User Catch and Grease Posted April 6, 2015 Super User Posted April 6, 2015 You should look up some national cheerleading competions, not saying one is easier than the other but there is some very competive "cheerleading" outside of highschool. 1
Matthew2000 Posted April 6, 2015 Posted April 6, 2015 You should look up some national cheerleading competions, not saying one is easier than the other but there is some very competive "cheerleading" outside of highschool. That's the stuff I'm talking about. They go around and do competitions, and all that good stuff.
Super User SirSnookalot Posted April 7, 2015 Super User Posted April 7, 2015 I see it as a repition thing. There is nothing another team can do to mess you up or take points away from you. I can practice jumping in the air high on a trampoline, does that make it a sport? No. I feel sports should be a team vs team competition or person vs person, with no judges. Officials, refs, and umps being excluded from that as they are there to keep the peace. And the arrogance of some of the girls who cheerlead is unbelievable. They commonly use cheerleading is harder than football, and how they are so much more athletic then everyone else. How in the actual heck do you think cheerleading is harder than football? I bet football players could do what cheerleaders do but cheerleaders couldn't do what football players do. Incredible athletes I don't think so, I am in gym class with some of these girls and they cannot even run around the gym for 5 minuets. 4 girls lifting 1 90 pound girl isn't very hard either. That's 22.5 pounds per person. If you can't do that then you need some help. Couldn't disagree with this appraisal more. An event is not compared in difficulty to other events, it's people doing the same exact thing. Based on your thoughts would bass fishing be a sport if it were compared to the NFL or NBA? Probably the heaviest thing you lift is a 5# fish and how many times a day do you do that. You can sit and rest at will but liken yourself as being in a sporting event, if so I find it hard to diminish cheerleading as not a sport. If officials are only needed to keep the peace you may want to try golf, might be the only sport where the individual calls penalties in themselves. On the college level there are usually no caddies, carry your clubs up and down hills in the hot sun and see how easy that is.
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