How do you define "sports"?

[simply1]

Would love to see them run up and down the court with NBA players. I would love to watch myself. It would be good comedy.

Even when I was younger and in basketball shape, not fun.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

It's blurry. I can find parallels between being a teammate on a football team and one for a competitive video game team. They're similar besides the athleticism.

 

[WalkingCY]

What about the The Old '96er? Is that a game or a sport? A competition?

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[1100011CS]

One thing I should have clarified that is always brought up in these conversations: sports, competitions, and games aren't different tiers where one category is better or more difficult than the others. I acknowledge things like track, cheer, swimming, dance, etc are extremely physically demanding and difficult, but I don't consider them sports. That doesn't mean I think any less of them or those who compete in them.

If your definition of sport doesn't include track or swimming it's wrong.

 

[cyclones500]

I heard a comedian once define it as having defense. So bowling and golf would not be sports.

I guess I could see that as a dividing point.

What if the "defense" is self-inflicted by the competitor?

Using that as a guideline, in my personal (amateur) experience:
Bowling "defense": The gutters; bowling-alley beer specials.
Golf "defense": Bunkers & water hazards; inability to use a fairway wood in any capacity; club house beer specials.

 

[keepngoal]

Or

 

[ISUTex]

It's blurry. I can find parallels between being a teammate on a football team and one for a competitive video game team. They're similar besides the athleticism.

"Leroyyyyyyyyyy.....A..Jennnnnkinnnnnnnns!!!"

 

[cyclones500]

Or

That jostles my memory of this "sports play-by-play":

 

[Isualum13]

I heard a comedian once define it as having defense. So bowling and golf would not be sports.

 

[Cyclonsin]

If your definition of sport doesn't include track or swimming it's wrong.

Even before that thought exercise all those years ago I never considered those sports. Extremely difficult and physically demanding athletic competitions that I could never excel at? Absolutely. Do I respect the athletes any less? Not at all. But they aren't sports in my mind.

In fairness, at the time I REALLY wanted to find a definition that would somehow exclude soccer to upset some friends of mine but was unable to do so.

 

[pourcyne]

In fairness, at the time I REALLY wanted to find a definition that would somehow exclude soccer to upset some friends of mine but was unable to do so.

It's most definitely a Spectator Sport.

 

[qwerty]

I believe Iowa State won the NCA Cheer and Dance Nationals last year. Off to a rough start this year. A little oops at 1:28

 

[Cycsk]

A sport is any physical competition where you can directly influence your opponent’s performance. In other words, there has to be some kind of defense. Every other kind of competition is a game.

Golf: game
Tennis: sport

I usually consider a "game" to be an event in which the "sport" is played.

 

[Cycsk]

Two concepts that I have associated with "sports" are performance and competition.

Physical is what makes it athletic. At least that is how I tend to use the words.

 

[VeloClone]

I'm not sure I can get on board with the have to have a defense to be a sport thing. I think gymnastics is a sport - it takes incredible athletic ability and skill but there is no defense. As is figure skating. But those who don't like judged sports would say no. Then what about boxing. It has defense, it has athletic ability, but any bout that doesn't end in a knockout is judged. Is boxing not a sport?

I've been thinking about this post. Gymnastics would be so much better if there was defense. Think about a gymnast running down the runway for the final vault and an opponent suddenly flys across the floor exercise mat and totally compliance linebackers her.

They could sell a lot of beer commercials televising that sport. It would also create some opportunities for the "bigger girls" in the sport.

 

[Candide]

If it was listed in the Sports section of this baby, then I considered it a sport:

 

[Cyclones01]

Does "not being a sport" somehow disqualify or decrease the relevance of an activity? The defensiveness over this topic (not in this thread, just the topic in general) has always seemed so strange to me.

 

[dtISU]

I've been thinking about this post. Gymnastics would be so much better if there was defense. Think about a gymnast running down the runway for the final vault and an opponent suddenly flys across the floor exercise mat and totally compliance linebackers her.

They could sell a lot of beer commercials televising that sport. It would also create some opportunities for the "bigger girls" in the sport.

I like the way you think.

 

[qwerty]

Is that good? That seems like it is good . . . .