Is it even a sport?

[Dirty Apple]

Game: a competitive activity involving skill, chance, or endurance on the part of two or more persons who play according to a set of rules, usually for their own amusement or for that of spectators.

Sport: an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature.

While driving to my Hapkido class lastnight, the radio host I was listening to started the tired debate of who is the greatest athlete of the last 30 years. And sure enough Tiger Woods name kept popping up. This got me thinking, is golf really is a sport? The two definitions at the top of the page were copy and pasted from Dictionary.com. Golf fulfills the requirements of both descriptions, except for the minuscule addition of the word "athletic".

Ok, we'll get this out of the way from the start. I can not do what he does. You can not do what he does. In fact, I've got serious doubts that, on his best day, Jesus with the Archangel Michael as a caddy could do what he does. On top of that, he maintains a healthy lifestyle, works out and stays physically fit. So, I would be willing to concede that he is an athlete. However, for every Tiger woods on the tour you also have a John Daly. Overweight, smoking, drinking mess. Daly may be able to smack the crap out of a ball, but that doesn't make him an athlete.

Of course this opens up new problems. If one were to admit golf into the realm of sport, does that mean darts, bowling, and curling meet the requirement too? I couldn't physically compete with any pro from those groups, but I think calling them an athlete is a bit of a stretch. So, where is the line drawn?

 

[Nivag the Owl]

Well Chess is also considered a sport. I don't really know. I'm gonna say gaming is not not a sport but accept that the line is messed up.

 

[tiredinnuendo]

Note: I don't really believe the below statement, but this is how it works, and I've accepted it.

Golf is a sport because it is and performed outdoors.

Darts and bowling are not because only shut-ins and bar-flies play them.

Truth or not, that's the impression, and thus the language has evolved to fit that impression.

- J

 

[SinfulKnight]

Darts and bowling are not because only shut-ins and bar-flies play them.

Really, Bowling isn't a Sport?
I learn something new every day.

 

[super_smash_jesus]

Curling is in the olympics, so I should hope it is classified as a sport. As for golf, I think it is a load of BS that is could be called a sport. The damn thing is a hobby, and there is very little athletic ability needed to play, although it helps to crack the ball further. I don't know anyone who could work up a sweat playing golf, other than having the sun beating down on them, so I really couldn't constitute it as a sport.

On a related note, how the hell could birdwatching be considered a sport??

 

[tiredinnuendo]

Darts and bowling are not because only shut-ins and bar-flies play them.

Really, Bowling isn't a Sport?
I learn something new every day.

Not really, general consensus would probably vote bowling as a game, rather than a true sport. Movies like The Big Lebowski aren't really helping the image either though.

Oh! Something I forgot. Sports have champions! I'd be hard pressed to name a single professional bowler or pool player or dart hucker or anything like that, but I know who Tiger Woods is and I never ever watch or follow golf if I can help it.

The number of people who would call golf a sport has dramatically increased since Tiger Woods, come to think of it.

- J

 

[Shadow Law]

Curling is in the olympics, so I should hope it is classified as a sport. As for golf, I think it is a load of BS that is could be called a sport. The damn thing is a hobby, and there is very little athletic ability needed to play, although it helps to crack the ball further. I don't know anyone who could work up a sweat playing golf, other than having the sun beating down on them, so I really couldn't constitute it as a sport.

On a related note, how the hell could birdwatching be considered a sport??

You know when I read the title I swear you would be talking about Curling, I would lol so much.

 

[Frank_Sinatra_]

Well if gaming has the MLG I don't think there is a line anymore for what is and isn't a sport.

 

[SLy AsymMetrY]

The problem gets even worse when you make comparisons across sporting disciplines. How would you compare tiger woods to an olympian? Tiger Woods might well be athletic. But is he really an athlete? It gets even more confusing because you then have to consider the type of training they do as well and their whole regime. This sort of question can send you round in circles endlessly.

 

[Clashero]

Curling is in the olympics, so I should hope it is classified as a sport. As for golf, I think it is a load of BS that is could be called a sport. The damn thing is a hobby, and there is very little athletic ability needed to play, although it helps to crack the ball further. I don't know anyone who could work up a sweat playing golf, other than having the sun beating down on them, so I really couldn't constitute it as a sport.

On a related note, how the hell could birdwatching be considered a sport??

Go play 18 holes, and tell me how your arm feels after that. If you don't exercise properly, you'll probably sprain a muscle. Also, it's not a sport because it doesn't make you sweat? Well, I don't know who could work up a sweat Diving (unless you run up the ladder), but it's a sport nonetheless.

Darts and bowling are not because only shut-ins and bar-flies play them.

Really, Bowling isn't a Sport?
I learn something new every day.

Oh! Something I forgot. Sports have champions! I'd be hard pressed to name a single professional bowler or pool player or dart hucker or anything like that, but I know who Tiger Woods is and I never ever watch or follow golf if I can help it.

- J

Just because you don't know any players doesn't mean there aren't any, or that it isn't a sport. Can you name any professional polo players? Javelin throwers? Greco-Roman wrestlers? Field hockey players? That doesn't mean they're not sports (then again, you may know some names, but my point is still valid)

 

[Goldbling]

Physical prowess COULD involve reflexes

 

[Dirty Apple]

I just had a look golf is on the IOC's recognized sports list, but so is life saving, chess, orienteering, and bridge just to name a few of the more oddball ones. Apparently, yo get on this list all you have to do is ratify a standard international rule set and maintain a drug testing policy. That's right drug testing for chess and bridge.

 

[Clashero]

Physical prowess COULD involve reflexes

As well as coordination, which is essential if you want your golf ball to go further than 200 yards.
It seems people consider "Physical prowess" to be synonim with "Hulking tower of muscle"

I just had a look golf is on the IOC's recognized sports list, but so is life saving, chess, orienteering, and bridge just to name a few of the more oddball ones. Apparently, yo get on this list all you have to do is ratify a standard international rule set and maintain a drug testing policy. That's right drug testing for chess and bridge.

Never believe that list. It's a well-known pile of BS. How could life-saving be considered a sport? Are you really competing against the others to see how fast you can bring life back to a poor drowning man?

 

[tiredinnuendo]

Just because you don't know any players doesn't mean there aren't any, or that it isn't a sport. Can you name any professional polo players? Javelin throwers? Greco-Roman wrestlers? Field hockey players? That doesn't mean they're not sports (then again, you may know some names, but my point is still valid)

Your point would only be valid if I had said that in order to qualify as a sport, a champion was required. I didn't.

I'm saying pulic peception of a game tends to raise it to the level of "sport" if there's some sort of iconic athlete to associate with said game.

I believe the technical definition of sports versus games is that sports require more physical activity, but like it or not, that's not the perception. The perception of sports versus games is that sports are for cool people and games aren't. And language evolves to fit perception. It doesn't matter if it shouldn't be that way, that's the way it is.

- J

 

[Clashero]

Just because you don't know any players doesn't mean there aren't any, or that it isn't a sport. Can you name any professional polo players? Javelin throwers? Greco-Roman wrestlers? Field hockey players? That doesn't mean they're not sports (then again, you may know some names, but my point is still valid)

Your point would only be valid if I had said that in order to qualify as a sport, a champion was required. I didn't.

I'm saying pulic peception of a game tends to raise it to the level of "sport" if there's some sort of iconic athlete to associate with said game.

I believe the technical definition of sports versus games is that sports require more physical activity, but like it or not, that's not the perception. The perception of sports versus games is that sports are for cool people and games aren't. And language evolves to fit perception. It doesn't matter if it shouldn't be that way, that's the way it is.

- J

I see what you mean about the champions. I stand corrected.
And I suppose you're right, even if it sucks that "what people consider" becomes the new definition. I thin that, perhaps, the manner is which something is played makes it become a sport or a game. For example, I like to bowl. I am decently good for my age, able to get about 190-200 points per game. I still wouldn't consider myself a sportsman, however. Nevertheless, when I see the people who play profesionally, I'll be ready to call that a sport at any time.

 

[ward.]

On a related note, how the hell could birdwatching be considered a sport??

Try it some time, it's hard work trying to chase an eagle around with binoculars just to tick him off your list.

I think golf is a sport because it requires pretty heavy muscle use (well lots of muscles get used anyway), although I wouldn't press the issue.

 

[SsilverR]

yeah dude i know what you mean .. i'm a boxer and i mingle in vale tudo .. after all the training i get put through i'm insulted when i'm put in the same league as chess players or midget tossers -_-

 

[white_salad]

If hunting is considered a sport, so is golf. I don't see how standing in one place, praying deer will show up then shooting it really counts. If it was bow and arrow yea, but with a gun no.

 

[CaptainPommby]

Is playing Wii Sports considered a sport?

hmmmmmm?

 

[Zac_Dai]

Greatest athlete Tiger Woods?? nah

When I think athlete and indeed greatest athlete I think of Michael Phelps.