Comments on: What defines a sport?

By: Swinging Mallets and Breaking Beers: An Intro to Extreme Croquet

Swinging Mallets and Breaking Beers: An Intro to Extreme Croquet — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:34:46 +0000

[...] What defines a sport, anyway? var ids = new Array; ids.push(4264); Tagged under: croquet, extreme croquet, Extreme Sports, funny sports [...]

By: TimR

TimR — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:10:10 +0000

One rule I have is: if you can smoke or chew tobacco while doing it, it’s not a sport. So neither golf nor baseball are “real” sports, while ice dancing and the half pipe 100% certainly are (that’s major cardio involved for those). Think about it: some overweight guy in left field with a wad in his mouth is playing a sport because there’s a score, while Shawn White isn’t? No way. I don’t think so.

By: Matty

Matty — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 02:12:28 +0000

In sports such as snowbarding and ice skating (Yes, I’m calling them sports), there is not so much subjectivity, contrary to what you may think. There are a great many strict standards for the types of tricks which must be completed during the run and the level of complexity in the combinations is gauged. Also, judges should have a keen eye for ‘style’, which is really just technical prowess and how well (graceful) a person can land. This is how points are rewarded.

Regardless, I think you’re thinking about it too much. Sport is sport, and when you break it down, it’s all highly organized, competitive, and athletic.

By: Adam Roy

Adam Roy — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:41:53 +0000

Wow, had no idea this was going to be such a heated discussion!

For me, the issue has always seemed to be how to define what kinds of competitions are sports. Track and field is definitely a sport, and competitive concert piano playing is definitely not a sport. But what about everything in between? What makes us more willing to accept ice dancing as a sport than, say, ballroom dancing? It’s an interesting question, and one that I certainly can’t answer.

By: Eva

Eva — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:51:59 +0000

I think it’s because, though JoAnna hasn’t done that here, the follow-up to “X isn’t really a sport…” is usually “…and so it has no business being in the Olympics.” Most of the discussions I’ve seen on this topic over the years have been an effort to exclude some events/athletes – that’s why people get touchy, I think.

By: Megan Hill

Megan Hill — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:03:14 +0000

I’m fascinated that people take offense to something being defined as “not a sport.” Just because something isn’t a sport doesn’t mean it’s devalued. Figure skating may not be a sport to some, but it’s freaking cool.

Thanks for starting this convo, JoAnna!

By: JoAnna

JoAnna — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:00:54 +0000

Hi Eva ~

Thank you for your comments.

I certainly don’t deny anything you’ve said, especially this part:

“I guess I think there’s no clear way to define these things – and I’m just as happy not to worry about. Sport or pretty display of athleticism, either way I look forward to watching it every two years.”

I don’t really think it matters how we define sports. I just think it’s an interesting discussion because of the incredible variety of activities that *may* be considered sport-related. I also think it’s interesting to note how riled up become over the topic. Let me tell you, those cheerleaders and dance team members at my high school could have taken those football jocks out flat the day the guys claimed the girls didn’t participate in a sport. Heck, they may have been able to take them down any day for that matter.

By: Eva

Eva — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:44:49 +0000

“But it’s also a game of strategy.”

So is the marathon…

By: Eva

Eva — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:40:37 +0000

Figure skating tends to get all the attention when we talk about whether judged sports belong in the Games, but think about what else that theory could be applied to: If we cut judged sports, we’d lose all the gymnastics, equestrian and diving events, boxing, all the martial arts, and several skiing and snowboarding events along with the figure skating. That’s a huge number of events that a) most people can agree qualify as sports, and b) most people want to see in the Games. (When I was in Beijing, gymnastics and diving were far and away the most popular tickets.)

I also think the line between objective and subjective judging isn’t as clear as it might seem. JoAnna wrote:

“I also believe that an activity that can be judged objectively has more validity as a sport than those that require subjective judging. There is no question about which speed skater crosses the finish line first…”

But speed skating judges have played a huge role in the medal results in these games, and the South Korean short track team, that got DQ’d after a gold medal win last night, would certainly argue that it was a subjective call that got them eliminated.

I guess I think there’s no clear way to define these things – and I’m just as happy not to worry about. Sport or pretty display of athleticism, either way I look forward to watching it every two years.

By: JoAnna

JoAnna — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:24:02 +0000

About that curling thing … I’ve also played and it definitely takes some muscle work. But it’s also a game of strategy.

There’s an event in July every year for the world championship of chess boxing. Yep … chess boxing. It’s 3 minutes of boxing followed by 4 minutes of speed chess for 11 rounds. Champions are decided by checkmate, exceeding the time limit, retirement of an opponent or the referee’s decision. So what’s that? Sport or leisure activity … or just confusion?