non-Sports on Sports Channels

[pjreid]

Ok, I just have to rant about this. I know it's not new, but it continues to bug me.

SINCE WHEN DID POKER BECOME A SPORT!!

Thank you, I feel much better.<g>

from http://www.sbed.gov.bc.ca/SportBranch/Glossary.htm:

Sport is a physical activity involving large muscle groups, requiring strategic methods, physical training and mental preparation and whose outcome is determined, within a rules framework, by skill, not chance. Sport occurs in an organized, structured and competitive environment where a winner is declared.

Tell me then why both RSN and TSN are covering poker tournaments. Even billiards is a stretch to me; I'd say it's more a "game" than a "sport".

Technically, this also applies to pro "wrestling" (it's not a sport it's an entertainment, and even (in my mind) to auto racing--it's competitive and requires skill, but it's not "a physical activity involving large muscle groups".

What's next, bridge? Chess? I realize that there are times when live sports programming may not be available, but then they either need to replay some classic sports events, or they need to add more sports commentary/news/etc. shows.

Ok, rant done. Feel free to comment/flame

[buritto]

Poker, meaning Texas Hold'em is the newest fad...so that's why

[catrain13]

That seems to me to be a very poor explanation to what sports are.

Curling would be a good example. It can be played on a competitive levels or a very non-competitive level. It can be very physical or very lax.

I know what you mean though. I have never considered cards to be a sport. Wrestling certainly cannot be called a sport, since it has a predetermined outcome, although these people are great atheletes.

Just for the record, I am a professional casino dealer.

LOL....does this make me a professional athelete?

Ummmm.....wait. Since I don't really "play", maybe that would make me more like a professional ref.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by pjreid

and even (in my mind) to auto racing--it's competitive and requires skill, but it's not "a physical activity involving large muscle groups".

While I agree with what you said about Poker, auto racing is a sport. It is very physically demanding. The driver has to maintain control of his car for hours on end with almost no break; while the car is pushing his body with a couple of G's of force.

IHMO, Poker, pool, and darts have no place on sports channels. I wonder if we could launch a complain to the CRTC; that they are broadcasting outside of the scope of their license.

[rpokane]

Are Spelling Bees physically demanding?

[JesseJ]

"a physical activity involving large muscle groups".

You're telling me your heart and lungs aren't large muscle groups? Do you know what the physical stressors are involved with auto racing? The constant load placed on the body? And that just the heart...what about the legs and arms? And neck?

[pjreid]

Originally Posted by JesseJ

You're telling me your heart and lungs aren't large muscle groups?

That's exactly what I'm saying.

Do you know what the physical stressors are involved with auto racing? The constant load placed on the body? And that just the heart...what about the legs and arms? And neck?

These are all side effects that the driver has to counterbalance. The _car_ is what's doing all the "work". I just don't see how one can call a race car driver an "athlete". Why isn't auto racing an Olympic event?

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by pjreid

Why isn't auto racing an Olympic event?

Ok, then by your reasoning the following aren't sports either:

Football (Not soccer)
Rugby
Cricket
Lacrosse

These are all side effects that the driver has to counterbalance. The _car_ is what's doing all the "work".

Once again, why are these olympic sports then:

Sailing
Equestrian

Don't get me wrong; I agree that Poker is in no way a sport. But for racing to not be considered a sport is where we disagree.

[brown]

Auto racing, especially the road races (F1, rally, etc) are very demanding on a driver. Those guys workout plenty.

Definition of sports with point based system: http://sportnonsport.com/sport2.htm

[pjreid]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Ok, then by your reasoning the following aren't sports either:

Football (Not soccer)
Rugby
Cricket
Lacrosse

My reasoning wasn't that because a sport isn't in the Olympics, that it isn't a sport. I guess I was looking more for reasons why it _shouldn't_ be in the Olympics, from people who do think it is a sport.

[CommieCowboy]

I consider poker, bridge, chess, backgammon, and go to be sports, as they are as mentally and physically taxing as sports that involve physical exertion.

Even for those of you who do not consider poker a sport, at least accept the fact that poker is far more macho and jockish than your average intellectual pursuit or non-athletic game, making a channel like TSN or Sportsnet far more suitable for airing poker than the GameShow Network, which incidentally also airs it. Furthermore, as long as a sports network is airing competitive events that can be demonstrably catering to its audience, I do not see any CRTC license violation, although I am neither a lawyer nor an expert in broadcast technology.

[marko]

Originally Posted by CommieCowboy

I consider poker, bridge, chess, backgammon, and go to be sports, as they are as mentally and physically taxing as sports that involve physical exertion.

As physically taxing as sports that involve physical exertion???? You're kidding right? Is there anybody who's body can't tell the difference between a game of chess and a game of hockey? How big ARE these chess pieces anyway? C'mon, everybody knows that poker is not a sport. If poker were on any other channel other than the sports channels we wouldn't be having this conversation. It probably belongs as much on TSN as it does on the Outdoor Life Network. The place it really belongs is on GSN. I can't believe that people actually watch poker anyway. But then again, I watch curling so what do I know.

[ColdWinter]

You know it takes a lot of energy to lift those cards.