What Defines A "Sport?"

from JoeUser Forums
This is a debate that people have tossed around for years. Exactly what defines a "sport?" To me, this is how I define them and some reasons why other activities and competitions are not included in my list of sport.

1) Sports must have 2 sides. Offense and defense. And both sides must have equal opportunities. The roles can change throughout the compettion, but both sides must have an opportunity to be both offense and defense.

****this negates hunting, fishing and other activities (that may be indeed athletic at times) that involve the capturing or killing of animals. The animals never get to play offense, and are hardly n an equal footing with someone and their high powered gun or othre implement of destruction.

2) All participants in the sport must always play to win. Even within anything that is defined as a sport, if one side "tanks" or plays not to win, for whatever reason, that individual contest would not be a sport at that moment.

*****this eliminates auto racing. as especially on the larger circuits like nascar, where drivers make deals to block and such. the best example of this (off the top of my head) is when a driver let dale jr. win a race right after his father's death. also, winning isn't even emphasized so much in nascar as is points gathering which makes it more of a game than a sport. Horse racing also gets eliminated here, and similar competitions where jockeys or the person in control will throw a horse off stride cause the odds are bad or for whatever reason.

3) a ball is not necessary.

******that means hockey is a sport. that means boxing is a sport. that means curling is a sport. all have offense and defense. all play to win.

Other things that do not qualify as sports in my mind....

1) equestrian competitions (no defense)
2) bowling (no defense)
3) golf (again, no defense)


Now, when I say that these things do not qualify as a sport. Many take that as an insult. Especially golfers, hunters and nascar fans. Understand that by them not being defined as a sport, that does not qualify them being put-down in any way. Most of the things that wouldn't qualify as sports in my mind, I would call 'athletic competitions." And some of them are more demanding than some sports. For example, hiking up a mountain is probably more strenuous activity than a 1st baseman will see in a typical game. And you probably have to be fairly strong and skilled to knock a golf ball 300 yards vs how strong a basketball player needs to be to get a basketball up a mere 10 feet.

Bowling is tough. To be a really good one takes a lot of practice and skill. I'm guessing it takes more practice and skill to do that than to pummel another into the canvas. Some might argue with that, but I believe I learned how to punch someone a lot easier and earlier than it took me to get my 1st strike on the lanes.

So again, please don't take me calling something an "athletic competition" or "game" or "contest of skill" as an insult. As some are extremely gruelling or take some time and skills to master. But they are still not a sport. And if something is a sport, it has no inherent superiority to things that are not. Just a different definition."
5,057 views 18 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
You missed the best example for number 2.  Cycling.
TouchTasks - Access tasks with ease on Windows touchscreens.
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
That's one of the better definitions I've seen, although I think that a lot of people would disagree with any definition that didn't include track events as a sport. Overall, though, I pretty much agree with this definition.
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
I think that a lot of people would disagree with any definition that didn't include track events as a sport.


track and field...no defense. athetic competitions are a better definition.
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
track and field...no defense. athetic competitions are a better definition.


So the definition of an athletic competition is basically any competitive physical activity?

Also, would you say that there is any physical component in the definition of a sport?
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
would you say that there is any physical component in the definition of a sport?


If not, Unreal Tournament would be a sport. Wii pingpong would be a sport. Hell, poker (which for some unknown reason shows up on ESPN, forever damaging their reputation as a "sports" network in my book) would be a sport.

No.

None of those are sports. Sorry. Does not compute.
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
would you say that there is any physical component in the definition of a sport?


i think that's a given.

ESPN,


remember what ESPN stands for...Entertainment & Sports Premium Network. that's how poker ends up on there. and any competition, athletic or otherwise, can be described as "entertaining", at least to someone.
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top

i think that's a given.


it really ought to be given explicitly in the definition, since a lot of non physical competitions have taken to using the word sport to describe themselves.
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
If it's decided by a judge, sorry, it ain't a sport. Thus boxing gets the boot ('cept when they win by knockout...then I'll call it a sport).
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
If it's decided by a judge, sorry, it ain't a sport. Thus boxing gets the boot ('cept when they win by knockout...then I'll call it a sport).


interesting concept. worth considering. but the points system is more for safety reasons. i don't know if i can begrudge em for that. but it is a valid point. hmmmm...got me thinkin
Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
If it's decided by a judge, sorry, it ain't a sport. Thus boxing gets the boot ('cept when they win by knockout...then I'll call it a sport).


What about something like MMA, though, where there is a judged system, but matches are just as often won by other means that have nothing to do with the judges decisions. (ie submission, knockout, etc)
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top
What about something like MMA, though, where there is a judged system, but matches are just as often won by other means that have nothing to do with the judges decisions. (ie submission, knockout, etc)


If they win by kicking the other dude's arse, it's a sport. If a bunch of suits behind a table toss up numbers, it ain't! LOL!
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top

this eliminates auto racing. as especially on the larger circuits like nascar, where drivers make deals to block and such. the best example of this (off the top of my head) is when a driver let dale jr. win a race right after his father's death. also, winning isn't even emphasized so much in nascar as is points gathering which makes it more of a game than a sport.

I disagree with this even though I'm not a huge Nascar fan.  Every driver is out there to win.  And above that, they have teams that they want to win.  The points come secondary so that they can be in the "playoff" at the end.  Drivers usually only make deals with other team members so that they can either better their track position or stay in the points top ten to make it to the playoffs so that they can get the ultimate win.  I thoroughly doubt that you can find a driver who isn't out to win the race. "a driver let dale jr. win a race right after his father's death"....huh?  Where did that "fact" come from?

Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
"a driver let dale jr. win a race right after his father's death"....huh? Where did that "fact" come from?


I think it came from Tony Stewart. And I think he was referring to the officials, not other drivers.
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top

track and field...no defense. athetic competitions are a better definition.


of course there's defense. Offense too. Many are defending their titles when they toe the line. So you think running the Boston Marathon is not a sports activity? If you were going to go by sweat alone, it would be the #1 sporting activity out there.

Actually competitive running does fit your criteria as given.

As a tomboy, I've played many sports in my life, and none were more strenuous than running a race. There is no break. There is no sitting out on a bench. You don't stop until you reach the finish line. Try running a marathon sometime.

In Athens running was the ONLY sport out there in the first Olympics. Running is considered the oldest sport with all others coming after that.

–noun 1. an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc.

Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top
of course there's defense. Offense too. Many are defending their titles when they toe the line


twising the word and definition doesn't count. there is no active defense in running. interfering with another runner in many running events is considered a foul. it's all about offense...getting across the goal the fastest.

sorry, "defending a title" doesn't count. hell, that would make a spelling bee eligible.

i think you are confusing not defining something as a sport as some sort of put-down or putting it on a level lower than a sport. that is not at all true.

Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top
think you are confusing not defining something as a sport as some sort of put-down or putting it on a level lower than a sport. that is not at all true.


no I understand what you're saying. I'm not taking it as a put down. I just disagree. I would definitley call competive running a sport. Like I said, it's been considered a sport long before basketball, football or any other. Foot racing has been around like forever.

As far as defense in running I would say there is. Have you ever run a competive race? For many who are serious there is strategy involved. When you have your main competitor (no matter your age) behind you, you try to keep it that way. If they are ahead, you try to get them before the finish line. Believe me, we all keep track of our competition knowing quite well if we are behind or ahead of our most serious competitor. I have a collection of trophies to prove that I beat my competition ....at times.

A spelling bee doesn't involve any physical activity and I would have to say that physical exertion would have to be the #1 criteria for a sport.

For the first Olympics also called Ancient Olympic Games starting in 776 BC you'll see that it only held "foot races."

WWW Link
Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top
i understand that others can define it differently, and i appreciate your input kfc,,,you make a good case. unfortunately, not with my definition. but my defintion is by no means 'definitive."