swede316 Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 Sport...A literal definition: 1. Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively. 2. A particular form of this activity. An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively. Zero Physical activity involved in poker.
MattyT Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 i think for it to be a sport, the other player has to, in some way, effect your play.golf you are playing yourself. (and whoever beats themselves the best wins), and bowling is the same. 384036[/snapback] This logic eliminates most track and field events. Not sports?
nick in* england Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 Ok Nck...I consider sports hunting, rugby, football (American and and that gay ass soccer), baseball, etc...Games (entertainment) are monopoly, cards, chess. Athletic competition is sport...games are entertainment. 384033[/snapback] OK - but I still question whether televised Card Games can be classed as entertainment... NEXT ON ESPN: Garry Schevchenko battles it out to become world SOLITAIRE champion!!
ch19079 Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 This logic eliminates most track and field events. Not sports? 384043[/snapback] yep. you are competing agenst yourself. not other people.
swede316 Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 (Nick) OH...I think I may have misread your sarcasm...If I read you right...Poker is neither Entertainment nor Sport?
nick in* england Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 OH...I think I may have misread your sarcasm...If I read you right...Poker is neither Entertainment nor Sport? 384052[/snapback] We have a WINNER!
swede316 Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 Well playing poker can be entertaining..but it is no sport.
Dan Gross Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 yep. you are competing agenst yourself. not other people. 384051[/snapback] That's only partially true. In any of these events (bowling, golf, track and field, swimming, etc) personal bests are nice but you are generally playing to be at least 0.00001% better than the #2 guy. Think someone who wins the Olympic Gold Medal in the 100M is upset if he doesn't get his personal best time? Think Tiger's upset winning the British Open if he doesn't have his best score ever? Look at Swede's definition....
ch19079 Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 That's only partially true. In any of these events (bowling, golf, track and field, swimming, etc) personal bests are nice but you are generally playing to be at least 0.00001% better than the #2 guy. Think someone who wins the Olympic Gold Medal in the 100M is upset if he doesn't get his personal best time? Think Tiger's upset winning the British Open if he doesn't have his best score ever? Look at Swede's definition.... 384060[/snapback] im just saying, IMO, if the other players your competing agenst dont, in some way, effect or hinder your performance, than its not a sport. football, baseball, basketball, pool, hell..even chess, all have competing players doing their best to hurt the other players game. and i know it sounds strange, but i think you can be an athlete, but not participate in a sport. the track and field runners... hell even bowlers can be consitered athletes, but that doesnt mean they are sports. (atleast in my mind).
LabattBlue Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 How about the #10-12 guys on NBA teams who only see the court during warm-ups... http://www.hoopshype.com/salaries.htm
Pete Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 Punter isn't a bad choice. Unless Bledsoe's on your team, in which case you're underpaid for the amount of work you do. 383853[/snapback]
Arkady Renko Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 if poker players are athletes, what about NASCAR driversget into car move right foot turn wheel get out of car make a couple mil 383985[/snapback] I don't know... a long trip on a highway can be stressful and draining. I know I feel tired at the end of the day. Now I imagine actually having to race and deal with strategy and do that at almost three times the speed might be pretty hard and exhausting to do....
Astrobot Posted July 18, 2005 Author Posted July 18, 2005 NASCAR is more sport than game, I'll give you that, but it's the cars that are engaging in the sport. The guys (and Danika) are just turning left.
kasper13 Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 All starting pitchers in MLB. They "work" once every five days and get paid as much as position players. Take for example, Randy Johnson and A-Rod. The Big Ugly gets $16 million dollars for the 2005 season. Barring injury he will make 33 starts. That's almost $485,000 per game he plays in and he gets that regardless if he wins or loses, pitches 2 innings or a complete game. A-Rod gets $25 million for the 2005 season. Barring injury he will play in just about every game. Based on the 162 game season, he gets $154,000 per game. Starting pitchers are the most overpaid players in any sport.
Pete Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 How about the matchup middle releiver. You know- the Graham Lloyds and Mike Stantons of the world. Every couple games they come in and pitch to one batter(who usually smacks the sh-- out of the ball) then the matchup "specialist"s workday is over. Punter on the Colts is pretty easy as is any 12th man on a basketball team
MattyT Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 I realize that they don't make a whole lot, but here's my case for bullpen catchers anyway.... So close, yet so far away..... Highlights from the article: "Aron Amundson comes to a major league ballpark every day, dresses and showers in a major league clubhouse, wears a major league uniform, and catches major league pitchers for living. Yet, he has the same chance of appearing in a major league game as that middle-aged guy in the upper deck with a bad back and beer gut. Such is the life of a bullpen catcher -- so close, yet so far away." "I went in for an interview the next day and they gave me the job." Remarkably, Amundson had never caught before. During a well traveled college career, that included stops Eastern Oklahoma State, Oklahoma University, and the University of Minnesota, Amundson had split time at first and third base as well as pitcher and designated hitter." While he is not officially a member of the team, Amundson does enjoy some major league perks; he travels on the team charter, stays in five star hotels, and receives the same travel per diem as the players. "(The meal money) helps out a lot at home," he commented. "We hang out all the time," the North Dakota native said. "Every once and awhile, we'll being going back the hotel and someone will say 'hey, let's go get something to eat' that kind of stuff. They are great guys." "During the game, I am down there (in the bullpen) for three hours with those guys, and baseball gets kind of slow at times. We play little games down there and get to chatting about a little bit of everything." "My number is 75 a bigger number some fans don't really realize that I am not a player," Amundson explained. "They think I am just one of the guys. They seem to rip me about my number, one guy told me I looked like an offensive lineman I just said 'hey, what's your number buddy?' and he shut up." His home park is particularly perilous, "In the Metrodome, the fans are right on top of you, the background is really bad," he explained. "The pitcher is throwing a white ball right out of white T-shirts. That is probably the most stressful part of my job." "Before batting practice, most of the time I catch the starting pitchers, who are throwing on the side. That can be anywhere from 15 minutes to a half hour of throwing. I do 75% of my work before batting practice even starts." Despite the intial frustration, Amundson never lost sight of how fortunate he is. "I love my job," he said with a smile. "I get to come to a ballpark everyday, and I get paid to play catch for a living."
Astrobot Posted July 18, 2005 Author Posted July 18, 2005 This guy catching for the pitchers in practice is right up there. But take Mike Sweetney for the Knicks. Georgetown player, benchwarmer. Making 2.1 million this year, 2.7 mill the next, and will probably see the front views of opponents once or twice a season for 20 minutes of PT, tops. $105,000 a minute.
OGTEleven Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 I'll go with a golfer that could shoot 72-72-124-109 = 377 and still pocket $20,000 at a PGA event. He has no risk of any 250 pounder physically touching him, gets to play on the world's best golf courses, picks and chooses when he wants to work, doesn't have to deal with management and contract negotiations, doesn't really need an agent, doesn't have to endure any type of training camp whatsoever, and makes some solid money on the side just by wearing a Titleist or Taylor Made baseball cap on the course even though he'll never be on TV... 383751[/snapback] The guy shaves off 15 shots in his Sunday round and you're giving him grief?
Kelly the Dog Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 Have to be a baseball player, IMO. They make the most money and do very little that is strenuous activity. Even a 12th man on a pro hoop team has to run hard in practice, and takes a bunch of elbows. I would say a middle reliever or a back-up OF that makes millions a year and barely breaks a sweat, doesn't really have to do anything off the field like study film and rarely puts their bodies on the line. A pro bowler can makes some bucks though.
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