What do you consider a Sport?

[CF DolFan]

I agree with Cheerleading not being a sport, because the main purpose is to entice the fans to cheer for the sport being played.  Their once a year competition is just an ancillary part of the activity.

However, I would consider gymnastics to be a sport, even though there is subjective scoring.

Darts & video gaming also are NOT sports, they are games.

If you consider gymnastics a sport then you have to include competitive cheer. Competitive cheer has nothing to do with the rah-rah of the sidelines and everything to do with the tumbling of gymnastics, stunting and also dance. They also are in the top for serious sports injuries. At many high schools they "compete" but it isn't anywhere close to what the competitive teams are doing.

Being a football guy I had no clue but one of my daughter did it all the way through high school so I saw how tough their practices were and intense their competitions were.  It was really eye opening for me.

[Dave Gray]

To me, golf is definitely not a sport.  It's a game.

[CF DolFan]

To me, golf is definitely not a sport.  It's a game.

Have you ever played? If so, have you ever walked the course and played? There is definitely a physical and mental aspect to playing golf.

[Dave Gray]

I have played golf.  Not a sport.  No defense....you can play it by yourself.

[Sunstroke]

I have played golf.  Not a sport.  No defense....you can play it by yourself.

I can play basketball by myself...

Golf is a sport.

[Phishfan]

For the golf is a sport crowd, is billiards a sport?

For the record, I call golf a sport but not billiards. I'm just curious where your lines are because the most physical thing I see isn't very physical in either. I'll counter any argument on the physical aspects of golf with the name John Daly.

[Sunstroke]

For the golf is a sport crowd, is billiards a sport?

For the record, I call golf a sport but not billiards. I'm just curious where your lines are because the most physical thing I see isn't very physical in either. I'll counter any argument on the physical aspects of golf with the name John Daly.

You ever break a sweat playing Billiards?

[Dave Gray]

This discussion always seems to sound like I'm insulting things that I don't consider sports.  I'm not.  I think that there are plenty of cool, worthwhile, fun, athletically challenging things that aren't sports.

Like golf.
Or surfing or weight lifting or gymnastics or running or whatever.

You cannot play basketball by yourself.  You can shoot hoops by yourself (practice).  You can play HORSE (a game) or you can play 1 on 1 (a sport).

[Phishfan]

You ever break a sweat playing Billiards?

Yes.

[Pappy13]

You ever break a sweat playing Billiards?

I break a sweat standing up. Just sayin' 

[Pappy13]

What I find interesting about this discussion is that most competitive video games at least hit the other points that have been made about there being an offense and a defense for example its just that it's digital rather than physical. They all are governed by a well known set of rules. There is obviously a LOT of skill involved in competitive video games and of course it does require *some* physical exertion (I have seen people sweat profusely playing video games). So while I'm not sure they should be called sports either, I think the distinction is rather pointless. It's a competition that people pay money to go sit in a stadium to watch the pros play. That seems pretty much like Baseball, Football or Basketball to me. Don't really see why we shouldn't call it a sport. Why does there need to be a distinction? The fact they are calling it an eSport is distinction enough in my book. If movies are to be believed all sports will be eSports at some point.

[BuccaneerBrad]

You ever break a sweat playing Billiards?

Golfers have to do calisthenics, running and weights as part of their training.  Billiard players do not.

[Tenshot13]

Golfers have to do calisthenics, running and weights as part of their training.  Billiard players do not.

John Daily says, "Hi."

He does curls though...curls that 12oz golden nectar to his lips.

[CF DolFan]

John Daily says, "Hi."

He does curls though...curls that 12oz golden nectar to his lips.

Guess Vince Wilfork isn't an athlete either.

[Dave Gray]

re: e-sports

I just don't grant that they're athletic in nature.  Sure, there are physical components that require skill, but I think it's a far reach to call that athletic.  I suppose it's up to interpretation, though.  I could see some form of VR possibly being considered a sport, though.