What makes a sport a sport in your mind?

oneeightyseven · Jun 24, 2009

Originally Posted by lakewolf

+1

A sport is a physical activity, so Moto and Auto racing doesn't count in my book, true, it requires skill and competitiveness, but I don't qualify it as real sport because the driver is carried by the machine as opossed to cycling where the rider carries the machine.

Competitive horse jumping is an exception to that, true, the horse does the running and jumping, but the rider has to be also fit and synchronised with the horse to be competitive.

Some are games, like chess, pool, snooker etc.

I read somewhere that F1 drivers have to workout specific muscles in order to compete and must follow extreme dietary regiments. They must also be able to cope with fluctuating body weights as each race causes them to lose weight due to perspiration. I'll look it up for you.

EDIT: fount it. http://www.f1technical.net/articles/1125

I also found this which compares a car racer to a long distance runner http://www.f1tribute.com/f1-news/f1-driver-fitness.htm

Ambulance Chaser · Jun 24, 2009

A sport requires (1) physical exertion, and (2) an opponent that is directly impeding you from reaching a goal. Everything else is at best a skill.

lakewolf · Jun 24, 2009

Originally Posted by Ambulance Chaser

A sport requires (1) physical exertion, and (2) an opponent that is directly impeding you from reaching a goal. Everything else is at best a skill.
agreed, but the opponent is not necesarilly another competitor. It could be a natural challenge. when I ride alone and cycle up a hill, the hill gradient is directly impeding me to reach the top. when you run 50 km alone, is your own fatigue that is impeding you from reaching the goal.

Mark from Plano · Jun 24, 2009

I hate this friggin argument because it never goes anywhere. Everyone has their preconceived ideas about what is and isn't a sport and tries to craft a definition around it. Including me.

Don't want golf counted? Make it something to do with being able to play when you're old or be out of breath or something. Don't want figure skating, ice dancing or synchronize swimming included? Make the definition involve objective scoring.

It's all bullshit, really. And in the world of bullshit, it's pretty meaningless bullshit.

kwilkinson · Jun 24, 2009

Originally Posted by Mark from Plano

It's all bullshit, really. And in the world of bullshit, it's pretty meaningless bullshit.

I might just quote this post into every thread that has ever existed on this site.

whiteslashasian · Jun 24, 2009

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

I might just quote this post into every thread that has ever existed on this site.

Haha, how about applying it to most of life as well?

Mauby · Jun 24, 2009

Originally Posted by gdl203

If there's an engine involved, it's not a sport.

Usually I agree with this, but damn MotoGP is badass. NASCAR, drag racing, etc..I agree with you 100%.

Texasmade · Jun 24, 2009

I can't tell you what is a sport but for me if you can drink beer and/or smoke while performing then it isn't a sport. This rules out golf, poker, chess, and bowling for sure.

Mark from Plano · Jun 24, 2009

Originally Posted by Texasmade

I can't tell you what is a sport but for me if you can drink beer and/or smoke while performing then it isn't a sport. This rules out golf, poker, chess, and bowling for sure.

Also rules out bicycle racing and baseball, both of which had people who smoked and played in the old days. Hell, Dock Ellis pitched a no-hitter on acid.

Here's a pic of some TdF racers passing a ciggy back and forth:

Chiaroscuro · Jun 24, 2009

Originally Posted by lakewolf

+1

A sport is a physical activity, so Moto and Auto racing doesn't count in my book, true, it requires skill and competitiveness, but I don't qualify it as real sport because the driver is carried by the machine as opossed to cycling where the rider carries the machine.

This made me laugh.

You try to muscle a 200+ pound piece of metal thats moving in excess of 120 mph around a turn while holding off another rider that is trying to pass you. That requires skill, physicality, and intelligence. The same applies to other high speed motorsports even NASCAR which I dont like. Ever seen a fat superbike rider?

ryoneo · Jun 24, 2009

Originally Posted by whiteslashasian

Sport is an activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively. I'll just leave that here...
+1 I think there are different degrees of sports. There are physical sports: hockey, football, soccer. And then you have your non-physical sports: golf, swimming, Nascar. But if it has some degree of competition and has rules involved, then I would declare it a sport.

Rambo · Jun 24, 2009

Baseball, Football, Soccer(Football), Basketball, Tennis, Hockey, and Rugby. That's it.

Prada_Ferragamo · Jun 24, 2009

Originally Posted by ryoneo

+1 I think there are different degrees of sports. There are physical sports: hockey, football, soccer. And then you have your non-physical sports: golf, swimming, Nascar. But if it has some degree of competition and has rules involved, then I would declare it a sport.
Swimming is not physical？ It's not a contact sport, but it definitely is physically demanding. NASCAR in my book is definitely not a sport.

Jokerman · Jun 24, 2009

pretty much the basics like basketball, hockey, soccer, etc. But not golf. Golf is not a sport.

Mark from Plano · Jun 24, 2009

Originally Posted by Rambo

Baseball, Football, Soccer(Football), Basketball, Tennis, Hockey, and Rugby. That's it.
Honesty! Finally! No false constructs, just arbitrary edicts. I like it. A woefully inadequate list, but at least it's honest. :thumbsup:

What makes a sport a sport in your mind?

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