What makes something a "sport"?

[KornGeek]

I got this idea from something I heard on the radio yesterday. They were creating a rules list for defining what makes something a sport. Being a morning radio show, they weren't taking it very seriously and the rules were designed to produce the results they wanted. (Rule 10 was that it can't be something they consider "stupid".)

There are activities that are easily defined as "sports", such as baseball, basketball, football (of any sort), etc.

There are activities that some consider "sports" while other's don't, such as figure skating, diving, race car driving, hunting, etc.

There are activities that generally aren't considered sports, but have been known to be lumped in with them (in television programming and such), such as poker, spelling bees, eating competitions, etc.

There are activities that are considered sports to few people if any, such as playing video games, stamp collecting, writing SQL queries, etc.

How do we determine if something is a "sport"?

 

[MicroZealous]

Given cjelec's definition from the Stanford dictionary, the US Presidential campaign qualifies as a sport, if we define the US voter as "a solid, inanimate object". Plus, we have screaming, rabid fans.
Discuss.

 

[SantaMufasa]

I think that Wiki's definition above posted by rjoubert is pretty darned hard to argue with.

Upon re-reading the Wiki-def, I'll have to agree with both Thadeus and RJoubert.


Unless anyone can identify one or more flaws in the Wiki-def, I unilaterally declare it the winner. <grin>

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I provide low-cost, remote Database Administration services: www.dasages.com]

 

[mjldba]

I think that for any event to be called a sport, the action that you'll see will involve a high level of skill.

them - diving
me - cannonballing

them - playing hockey
me - falling down

them - PGA pro
me - f-o-o-re

them - Boston Marathon
me - I thought this was a 1K

My ex-brother-in-law is a hunter (shotgun)and he made hunting sporting by taking only two shells with him, the 2nd only to be used if the first was not a kill shot.
There's the "skill" component.

 

[SantaMufasa]

...the 2nd only to be used if the first was not a kill shot.

Wow ! Your ex-brother-in-law certainly takes his hunting seriously...In how many other sports is a participant willing to "do himself in" if his first attempt is a failure? <grin>


Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I provide low-cost, remote Database Administration services: www.dasages.com]

 

[mjldba]

good thing he's not a bow hunter

 

[Ladyazh]

How about chess and checkers? I think as long as 1 muscle in your body is put pressure on - SPORT!

I am struggling with a cheerleading for years. I am trying to prove it is not a sport but it is more and more everywhere and I had lost! Was that a sport if I played and lost?

 

[mjldba]

My daughter is a cheerleader & she's a flyer (gets thrown in the air) so I can testify to the skill and athleticism components.

Cheerleading on the sidelines during a game is not a sport, entertaining though it is.

However, cheerleading at a competition is a whole other story. Incredible stunts, imagination, and creativity on display by teams (some all-girl, some co-ed) who practice 2 to 4 hours a day to learn their routines and ramp down to 1 to 2 hours a day to refine and tweak the routines.

The judges can be brutal (the flyer wasn't smiling enough, she looked scared) but they're charged with determining trophy placements so how else can they draw distinctions between excellent teams. Usually the difference between 1st place and 3rd place is less than 5 points.

You can see this type of cheerleading at the college level on ESPN or you can go to youtube.com or ifilm.com and search for competition cheerleading.

Competition cheerleading is definitely a sport.

 

[donbott]

How about "A physical challenge taken on for recreation or competition"?

DonBott

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts."
--Bertrand Russell

 

[Thadeus]

My father-in-law is a Philadelphia Mummer with the Ferko String Band. It's definitely a physical activity and competitive. When one considers the number of seniors making this trek on New Year's Day, with the weight of the costume and an instrument (like a banjo), it is no question more than a stroll. The scoring is intense and many of the top bands put in as much as $500,000 into trying to win.

I hesitate to call it a sport...

~Thadeus

 

[Ladyazh]

Thanks mjlb,
my daughter is compeating. We won Regional this year.
I am still unsure about it's 'sport' quality because cheerleading utilizing whatever kids already possesed.
I do not see anyone succeeding in it unless they came with gymnastics and dancing skills. Girls in our team who had never done a cartweel still can't do it. Those who are gymnasts and dancers on a side - those are flying and tumbling and all. Am I wrong?

 

[mjldba]

Ladyazh: congrats on your daughter's success at Regionals.

My daughter's team (15 girls) came in 3rd place at Sectionals when 4 girls were dropped from the team 10 days before Sectionals when they were caught drinking at a party.

I still qualify it as a sport because of the skills involved, whether they come to cheer with a gymnastics backround or if it's developed/honed in-house, the physical nature of the activity, and, when there are competitions, there are winners & losers.

At her school they give letters (for jackets/letter sweaters) for cheerleading, none are given for drama club, glee club, etc ...

 

[Ladyazh]

glee club?

 

[mjldba]

ha, ha!!! made ya smile.

I was pressed for time & feeling a bit verklempt ... glee club was the most underserving-of-a-letter school club I could think of.

 

[SantaMufasa]

Perhaps Ladyazh was wondering about the term, "glee club":

a chorus organized for singing usually short pieces

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I provide low-cost, remote Database Administration services: www.dasages.com]

 

[mjldba]

thanks for the assist, Dave

 

[LadySlinger]

How about:

Any activity in which the spectators are allowed to drink alcohol?

 

[KornGeek]

LadySlinger,

That would make karaoke a sport.

 

[ascotta]

If it has artistic impressions then its art not sport.

Simple.

Motor sport is a sport cos you go faster, further, or cross the line first.


Re-cap.....anything girlies like is not sport. (horses gymnastics and skating etc.)

anything boylies like i.e. with balls is a sport.



[blue] A perspective from the other side!![/blue]

Cheers
Scott

 

[Thadeus]

I received my letter for participation in the competitive Marching Unit.

Competition was tight... down to the hundredths of a point.
There were music judges, but there were also marching and formation judges.

As far as physical goes, watch a drum and bugle corp practice in July and August...

~Thadeus

 

[snuv]

How about

An activity that has a competetive element.

The movement of an object must be involved (Human, projectile etc (both in the case of dwarf-throwing)).

Some physical prowess should be involved. Throwing a dart needs a lot of coordination and self control as does firing a rifle. Moving a chess piece isnt that difficult, its knowing where to put it that's tricky.

Finishing place should not, normally, have a significant long-term effect on the human competitors other than financial. E.G. The winner of a marathon may be more exhausted but richer than the person who comes second.
This doesnt include failure or stupidity (Killing yourself by trying too hard to win comes under the heading of stupidity (imho))

"If it could have gone wrong earlier and it didn't, it ultimately would have been beneficial for it to have." : Murphy's Ultimate Corollary