NationStates Jolt Archive

What is a sport... I like watching Professional Wrestling (WWE) and alot of people profess that that is not a sport.... so here is my question... what is your definition of sport and why do some activites get the title of sport while others don't.
To me Sport requires:
1) Physical Activity is the main event
2) Competition on some level
3) the threat of Injury
4) outcome to the viewers is left in some doubt.


What are your opinions on the term Sport and what is your favorite sport (spectator or participant... doesn't matter.)

1: Physical activity as the main event
2: Competition


To me, that's all an activity needs to be considered a Sport.

That sounds about right, but one thing you left out that I might include is that there must be a set of rules which are followed.

My favorite sport is ultimate frisbee, I love playing it. I don't really enjoy being a spectator of any sport.

1: Physical activity as the main event
2: Competition


To me, that's all an activity needs to be considered a Sport.so do you consider shows like Survivor and the Amazing Race to be sports? just asking...

Physical activity that's no benefit to anyone.

Following your mode of presentation.
To me Sport requires:
1) Physical Activity
2) Competition
3) Skill, Talent, ability, whatever you care to call it has an effect on the outcome.
4) The result of the event is not known to anyone before hand.

The outcome to the spectators being in doubt would allow a soap opera to be described as a sport! (It is physical, there is competition (ratings), there is threat of injury in any physical activity, the viewer does not have the script)

Favourite sport. Rugby Union to play and to watch.

so do you consider shows like Survivor and the Amazing Race to be sports? just asking...


No, because physical activity isn't the main event, really.

I only have one litmus test ...

If you wear shorts as part of the standard uniform, it isn't a sport.

"Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports ... all others are games."



wait...that's not me, that's Hemingway. And I don't aprove of bull fighting. Maybe I should have come up with my own.......

I only have one litmus test ...

If you wear shorts as part of the standard uniform, it isn't a sport.

Tell that to Mohammed Ali.

Tell that to Mohammed Ali.

Boxing isn't a sport.

Boxing isn't a sport.
It's a sweet science...





(sorry-move along, nothing to see here........)

Boxing isn't a sport.

I didn't say it was, I just suggested that there are those who would disagree with you.

I actually strongly disagree with the bit about shorts. Boxing, however I agree with you.

There are many sports where the players wear shorts. Rugby, Tennis, Track and Field, Australian Rules Football, Soccer, Lacross, Basketball, Badminton, Rowing, Surfing? , Cycling. To name a few. Of course you can simply deny that these are sports and claim that stockbroking is (no shorts worn there). But the criterion seems to be a little too eccentric.

It's a sweet science...



'sactly

To me Sport involves
Physical activity
Rules and Regulation
Set time limit
compeition
and 1st 2nd and 3rd place.

I support Hemingway’s perspective. Auto-racing, Bull Fighting and Mountain Climbing. Everything else is for pansies.

There are many sports where the players wear shorts. Rugby, Tennis, Track and Field, Australian Rules Football, Soccer, Lacross, Basketball, Badminton, Rowing, Surfing? , Cycling. To name a few.

None of those are sports.

"Sports" involves commercialization and ad nauseum hype via shoe endorsements and gear sales.

What you've listed are Competitive Events. Far better, but you need cable to watch them. :(

None of those are sports.

"Sports" involves commercialization and ad nauseum hype via shoe endorsements and gear sales.

What you've listed are Competitive Events. Far better, but you need cable to watch them. :(

I slipped Basketball into the middle. I guess you didn't notice. :)

None of those are sports.

"Sports" involves commercialization and ad nauseum hype via shoe endorsements and gear sales.

What you've listed are Competitive Events. Far better, but you need cable to watch them. :(

Um Tennis has a fair amount of commercialization fair amount of hype, shoe endorsements/gear endorsements and gear sales. So does Soccer and Basketball.

I slipped Basketball into the middle. I guess you didn't notice. :)

Oops ... crap. Although, technically, I consider basketball a Game ... a childish, useless Game at that.

So basketball isn't a Sport either. :D

The only Sport worth anything is baseball. Otherwise, give me a rowing tournament or a soccer match any day.

Um Tennis has a fair amount of commercialization fair amount of hype, shoe endorsements/gear endorsements and gear sales. So does Soccer and Basketball.

Yeah, lately, but we learned from Spain (who's keeping Beckham, but the way) that hyped up players don't make for a very good team. One in the eye from true enthusiasts if you ask me.

I support Hemingway’s perspective. Auto-racing, Bull Fighting and Mountain Climbing. Everything else is for pansies.

Hey ever raced around a mile to 3 mile track for a few hundreds lap without taking a bathroom break? Its hard.

Hey ever raced around a mile to 3 mile track for a few hundreds lap without taking a bathroom break? Its hard.

Actually they've got external catheters for that problem.

What is a sport... I like watching Professional Wrestling (WWE) and alot of people profess that that is not a sport.... so here is my question... what is your definition of sport and why do some activites get the title of sport while others don't.
To me Sport requires:
1) Physical Activity is the main event
2) Competition on some level
3) the threat of Injury
4) outcome to the viewers is left in some doubt.so you agree with your friends that fake wrestling is not a sport?



I read a Dave Barry article a long time ago where he proves that synchronized swimming is a sport

Pro wrestling doesn't count as a sport because the result is pre-determined.

Wrestling isn't a sport because it's actually entertaining to watch, where as all other televised sport sucks royally. \/\/00+ for wrestling :)

Wrestling isn't a sport because it's actually entertaining to watch, where as all other televised sport sucks royally. \/\/00+ for wrestling :)


You don't watch American Football, do you?

What are your opinions on the term Sport and what is your favorite sport (spectator or participant... doesn't matter.)

The dictionary I have defines sport as:
"sport (spôrt, spōrt), n. 1. a game or other form of pastime involving some amount of bodily exercise and carried on either in the open air, as football, baseball, tennis, hunting, or fishing, or indoors, as basketball or bowling: Of all sports, only mountain climbing, bullfighting, and automobile racing really tried a man...the rest were recreations (Atlantic). 2. any activity providing entertainment or recreation; pastime; diversion: After love, book collecting, is the most exhilarating sport of all (A.S.W. Rosenbach).

It goes on, 13 definitions to be exact. So my sport would be; having my worst enemy kidnapped and turned loose in my private game reserve and I'd get to hunt him...I know this has been done in TV and movies, but I like the concept, even if it is illegal. Kind of goes with my alter ego in NS.

Wrestling isn't a sport because it's actually entertaining to watch, where as all other televised sport sucks royally. \/\/00+ for wrestling :)

God no, that's in like the top 5 of most boring TV sports.

Physical activity that's no benefit to anyone.

Thats unfair sports are benefit to people just not how some would think of it. Sports raises moral and teaches lessons about lossing but comming back stronger and more prepared next time

Anything physical,
Anything competitive,
Anything with a bunch of dumbasses with nothing better to do.

I like snowboarding, but I also like that gatorade commercial with people being flung at football goalposts. *Note: Don't try it, I've tried it, it hurts*

Your definition of Sport.

Am I the only on here that instantly thinks of Wittgenstein?

I'm glad synchronised swimming has been mentioned because other than that there has been a marked lack of debate on some of the more controversial "sports" - gymnastics, competitive cheerleading, ballroom dancing (or dancesport as it's actually called now)...

As a ballroom and Latin dancer I can say that:
1. It's very physically challenging
2. EXTREMELY competitive
3. It is timed - each level of competition has a pre-determined amount of time that competitors on the floor
4. There is threat of injury - mainly sprained ankles but I've seen knockout collisions
5. The outcome is unknown - who knows how the judges will score each couple
6. There is a 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize
7. No one wears shorts!!
By most of the definitions here, it's a sport.

I have an ex-friend who is big into horse riding but believes that cheer leading isn't a sport. Like sitting on a horse and letting it do all the work is a sport!! That's only my argument with her though. People who discredit exceptionally fit people, just because their sport is a tad creative, really annoy me.

I have big problems with sports where the elite competitors can be overweight - cricket, golf, grid iron... Sumo and other wrestling confuses me because I can't quite form an argument there. Again, I think I have to classify all of them as sports...

im of the mind that if it requires the subjective judgement of some referee or other as the only way to ever decide the winner, its not a sport. if part of the points come from "artistic interpretation" its not a sport. figures skating isnt, speed skating is. boxing might be a sport. it might be the quintessential sport.

bull fighting is not a sport. its a spectacle. mountain climbing isnt a sport, there are no "Rules".

sport is a game where people compete against each other or a set of rules. objective judgement is essential. the winner being decided by the competition is essential, pro wrestling is not a sport, its entertainment.

im inclined also to say the competition has to be physical. chess isnt a sport.

ballroom dancing is so much more than a sport that to call it sport is to degrade it.

I've run into this sort of thread too often, and where I used to try my darndest to denounce the sports-ness of Synchronised Swimming and Steeplechase, I now simply don't care enough about the "sports" i don't watch. I watch Football, Soccer, Rugby, Baseball, Basketball sometimes, and a Whole Mess of Hockey. as long as none of those are ever seriously questioned (and they can't be, for the most part), I'm content to let people think what they like.

Wrestling Entertainment? it's staged. But funny. Jury's still out.

1) Physical Activity is the main event
2) Competition on some level
3) the threat of Injury
4) outcome to the viewers is left in some doubt

I say Marching is a sport myself. It is harder than everyone thinks. Having to memorize all that stuff, playing music as you step a certain style to keep your music from bouncing, keeping your lines straight, watching the drum major, staying in time. Thats alot of stuff plus its all those 4 up on top!

1) Physical Activity is the main event
2) Competition on some level
3) the threat of Injury
4) outcome to the viewers is left in some doubt

I say Marching is a sport myself. It is harder than everyone thinks. Having to memorize all that stuff, playing music as you step a certain style to keep your music from bouncing, keeping your lines straight, watching the drum major, staying in time. Thats alot of stuff plus its all those 4 up on top!

You sure? Because if number 3 is a real issue, then you're propbably not in a very good marching band, and if number 4 is in question, then you need a smarter audience. "band goes down the street, and...whoah! around the corner! Who saw THAT coming?"

I only have one litmus test ...

If you wear shorts as part of the standard uniform, it isn't a sport.
That takes away Rugby, Soccer, Basketball.. to name a few off the top of my head.. clearly you need more stringent requirements

What is a sport... I like watching Professional Wrestling (WWE) and alot of people profess that that is not a sport.... so here is my question... what is your definition of sport and why do some activites get the title of sport while others don't.
To me Sport requires:
1) Physical Activity is the main event
2) Competition on some level
3) the threat of Injury
4) outcome to the viewers is left in some doubt.


What are your opinions on the term Sport and what is your favorite sport (spectator or participant... doesn't matter.)

WWE is sports entertainment or soap operas for guys, your choice of terminology

In terms of sports well seriously that can be just about anything though that said for me sports is defined as:

a physical activity that involves the interaction between individuals when colliding in one form or another that produces contact in a most animated manner (meaning someone smucks someone in plain English)...

im of the mind that if it requires the subjective judgement of some referee or other as the only way to ever decide the winner, its not a sport. if part of the points come from "artistic interpretation" its not a sport. figures skating isnt, speed skating is. boxing might be a sport. it might be the quintessential sport.

bull fighting is not a sport. its a spectacle. mountain climbing isnt a sport, there are no "Rules".

sport is a game where people compete against each other or a set of rules. objective judgement is essential. the winner being decided by the competition is essential, pro wrestling is not a sport, its entertainment.

What about ski jumping? There is no "artistic interpretation" component of the score, but the winner is decided totally by scores given by judges.

I think many sporting officials would claim that the judging of their events is not subjective. The judges are supposed to aware points objectively based on a set of defined criteria.

Obviously nothing is ever completely objective but the same could be said for a referee awarding a penalty in basketball or football. There is always an element of grey regarding whether something is an infringement of the rules or not.

id say that if its not "who went farther", "who got their faster" or "who got the most (objectively determined) points" then its not really sport

its COOL, its hard to do, its great to watch, but its not sports if its just opinions. when was the last time someone had a fight over who won a soccer game? the team that got the most goals won. you can fight about other things but not about the official score. when the judges determine who did the same extremely difficult jump the BEST (when they both succeeded in making the maneuver) and thus give one guy more points than the other guy, its not sport.

I think a sport should require:

1. physical activity

2. direct competition between two parties, where one is trying to accomplish a goal with the other trying to stop them.

Well - if we look at the following you'll all see what sport actually is http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=sport and put an end to this. Perhaps it won't change the wiew of what you THINK sport is but here it is what it means .

It's only a sport so far as you're concerned if you're actually participating in it. Those things you sit at home watching whilst getting fat from lack of exercise and excessive consumption of chips are just called 'games'.

I only have one litmus test ...

If you wear shorts as part of the standard uniform, it isn't a sport.

Mockery. Most of the best outdoor sports involve wearing shorts.

The most popular sport, worldwide, is soccer. Players wear shorts.