It's not a sport. yes it is. no it's not....

[The Wolf]

this is devoted to those who believe something is a sport when others disagree. here is a list and why. feel free to add, agree or disagree.

Robotic combat: like Battlebots and Robot Wars, when tech-geeks build robots on par with the Military and make them fight each other, it is usualy not regarded as a sport. I believe it is. you have to keep your cool, you have to remain focused, and there is a winner and a loser. it is a sport because it is team against team. a more in-depth description is needed, I understand. possibly someone could elaborate.

Pro Wrestling: yes, I am aware that it is rigged, but a fair ammount of natural athletics is needed, there are a few exceptions, but for the most part, you have to be athletic. Also, in his book, Mick Foley (Mankind, Catus Jack, Dude Love) is quoted as saying "it's 67% Fake" so there is much ad-libbing, and no room for error with some of the stunts these guys pull. just look at Rob Van Dam. you also have to be able to take pain. "woah. hold on a minute, there wolfy. these guys make it safe." you might say. i agree, they have saftey precautions, but then why did Mich Foley lose his left ear in a match against Vader? (not Darth) you have to have skill to preform AND take a Tombstone Piledriver, okay? woah. I got a little riled up there. sorry. It's a sport.

Poker: yes, cards are a sport. the "Celebrity poker showdown" and "World Series of Poker" has catapulted its popularity, and it is the only sport i have a CHANCE of playing and not being laugfhed at. it takes skill, reasoning and the ability to know your opponents. and where else do you get the chance to lose all your money on betting and play the game during it? Quiet down, Pete Rose. anyway, since Curling is a sport, Poker is a sport.

now that i have made this thread destined for ignoring, i'll turn on ESPN 8 "The Ocho". I can't turn that off.

[Snakewater]

i think that spelling is a sport. i've already mentioned this in the title of the Spelling thread, butESPN broadcasts it and you have to be very focused, practice, and there is a winner/loser. I really don't see how it cannot be considered a sport.

[Sweet.Cuppin.Cakes]

According to Answers.com, this is the definition of a sport:

1.        a.Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often
              engaged in competitively.
           b. A particular form of this activity.

2.   An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.

3.   An active pastime; recreation.


Going by that, I'd say that wrestling is, but robot combat and poker aren't.

I don't really have an opinion, but I think a sport should have something physical involved in it. Although, something like poker or building a robot and fighting it take a lot more skill than some of the physical sports.

And another one that I'm not sure about is cheerleading. I can't decide which way to go on that......

[Homestar Golfer]

No, no and no.

Simple's that.

[potthole]

Robotic fighting... eh, I wouldn't really call that a sport.  The most physical activity the humans do is use a controller to move the things... if that's the case, playing video games is a sport too.

Rastling... although 'fake', I would call it a sport, as of all the physical skill still needed.

Poker... game, not sport at all.  Just 'cuz it's on ESPN doesn't always mean it's a sport.  Remember, they did tractor pulls back in the day.  And mini golf world championships.

[The Wolf]

ust 'cuz it's on ESPN doesn't always mean it's a sport.  Remember, they did tractor pulls back in the day.  And mini golf world championships.

That reminds me...

Mini Golf: if regular golf is a sport, then since Mini golf is a version, by association it is a sport. plus, have you ever gon one on one with a windmill? tough as heck. Mini Golf: Sport

Tractor Pulls: not a sport. not trying to defend it. I am not redneck enough to defend this. I classify myself as a redneck, so I can say it.

[Homestar Golfer]

That reminds me...

Mini Golf: if regular golf is a sport, then since Mini golf is a version, by association it is a sport. plus, have you ever gon one on one with a windmill? tough as heck. Mini Golf: Sport

Tractor Pulls: not a sport. not trying to defend it. I am not redneck enough to defend this. I classify myself as a redneck, so I can say it.

Yes to te first one... but what's a tractor pull?

[Eh_Greg]

i would say:

robots: no, not really. all you do is control

wresteling- yeah, cause it takes skill to pull moves like that, though it's obviously fake.


and poker- no because you sit and play cards which takes no physical skill.

[ChocolateMetal]

Robotic combat is SO a sport!!!

And so is cheerleading. We can make fun all we want, but you really do have to be in extremely good physical condition.

[potthole]

but what's a tractor pull?

You don't know what a tractor pull is?  It's when you take a tractor and see how far you can pull a weight!  It's a rootin, tootin good time for the whole family! 




Here's a link to a site about it, just in case you're interested.



Yeah, cheerleading is a sport too.  Didn't used to be, but ever since competitive cheer caught on, it's become one.  One of my friends did a lot of cheer in high school... I've seen how physically and mentally tough it can be.

[Homestar Golfer]

In that case, Tractor pull may or may not be a sport. If the equipment is stock and any Tom Bill or Harry can climb behind the wheel and try, then it 'taint a sport. But if there are competitions and tractors can be modified to get the most traction and torque out of them, then it is. Sorta like NASCAR.

And Cheerleading is a sport as well. Competition is extremely stiff, and you gotta be in tip-top shape to compete, even at the most basic level. A sport by any means.

[potthole]

In that case, Tractor pull may or may not be a sport. If the equipment is stock and any Tom Bill or Harry can climb behind the wheel and try, then it 'taint a sport. But if there are competitions and tractors can be modified to get the most traction and torque out of them, then it is. Sorta like NASCAR.

Oh yeah, you can modify... some dudes will throw like 4 engines on their "charriots."  I'd almost call it the 'Uber Redneck Sport.'   

[Stephen Stills]

According to Answers.com, this is the definition of a sport:

1.        a.Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often
              engaged in competitively.
           b. A particular form of this activity.

2.   An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.

3.   An active pastime; recreation.


Going by that, I'd say that wrestling is, but robot combat and poker aren't.

I don't really have an opinion, but I think a sport should have something physical involved in it. Although, something like poker or building a robot and fighting it take a lot more skill than some of the physical sports.

And another one that I'm not sure about is cheerleading. I can't decide which way to go on that......

Get ready for an essay, people.... (made in to spoilers to save space)

[spoiler=First definition]First, we consider the first option, particularly the second part. While the first part of it says "Physical", couldn't robot combat be considered a form of wrestling? While not quite as three demensional, it still has similarities. However, that doesn't help Robot combat's case if we throw the "often engaged in competitively" in to the mix. Wrestling is scripted, and thus the wrestlers get paid the same whether they win or lose the match. There's no compitition in that, but there is in Robot combat. So by this definition we have:
Wrestling-no
Robot combat-yes
Poker-no
Cheerleading-yes
Spelling-no
Mini Golf-yes (As a form of golf, this Definition says yes)
Tractor pull-no (not physical)[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Second definition]Sure, but what about training/preperation? That takes a toll on you, physically. That's where the second definition comes in. It says it "involves" physical exertion, it doesn't say during the activity. Building robots, customizing tractors, practicing wrestling moves, and studying spelling (It's seriously tiring) can all take a toll on you. However, the most you can do with poker is, um,  learn to card count or something, I dunno. And Mini Golf takes an absolute minimum of physical exertion.so:
Wrestling-yes The exetion in training outweighs the"competitive" part of this Definition)
Robot combat-yes
Poker-no
Cheerleading-yes
Spelling-yes
Mini Golf-no
Tractor pull-yes[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Last definition]Now Let us take a look at definiton #3. It states that a sport can be defined as an active pastime or recreation. Now, the word "active" is key in this. It could mean:
A)Physical, a pastime that takes a lot of exercise.
or
B)Participation,  something where lots of effort is needed to win/perform.

So, going by A, we must say:
Wrestling-yes
Robot combat-no (Not much activity during a match)
Poker-no (no exercise)
Cheerleading-yes
Spelling-no (not physical)
Mini Golf-no (not physical)
Tractor pull-no (not physical during a race/match or whatever)

However, option B says:
Wrestling-yes
Robot combat-yes (I'd like to see YOU build a robot)
Poker-no (You just need to know the rules, no effort needed)
Cheerleading-yes
Spelling-yes (lots of effort)
Mini Golf-no (not much effort, just good aim)
Tractor pull-yes (like H*G said, you need to know how to modify it, and do so.)[/spoiler]


So that's my thoughts. All we can tell is that Poker's not a sport, and cheerleading is. It all depends on your point of view. Sorry for the long post, I guess I had a lot to say.

[Snakewater]

*looks a the post above him*

wow. someone put a lot of thought into this. knowing you, that's probably the longest essay you've every wrote! (j/k!) but yeah i agree with what you said at the end except to say that Spelling is a sport because it takes lot's of talent, competitiveness, and preperation. other that that, yeah.

[Stephen Stills]

Thanks. And, spelling is counted as a sport, unless judged on the amount of physical activity happening DURING the compitition. If I messed that u[p somewhere, you can point that out and I'll fix it. However, if anybody wants me to change something, make sure it's because of the definition, not because of your opinion.