Is Poker really a Sport?

[Kane52630]

i think its so ridiculous that ESPN and other networks is covering Poker, i think its not a sport

 

[NewYorkSpider]

It's a mind sport. So, yes, it considered a sport.

 

[StorminNorman]

While yes, they are mind sports, I find the difference between Chess and Football to be greater than the difference between NASCAR (and other motor sports) and Football.

When I think "sports", I associate physicality.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

I always considered things like Poker, Chess, Billiards and Bowling sports. They don't involve physicality like you said, but they do have a mental acuity to them. I'm not saying they're HUGE sports, but they can be considered sport due to their competition.


There was a thread about marching band being considered a sport last year. I remember that

17,00th post

 

[Addendum]

Poker is more of a sport than spelling bees

 

[Wiseman]

well seeing as though for a lot of people sports are really about gambling, why not have a game about gambling be considered a sport

 

[Iron Mandarin]

Not a sport. It's a game,like monopoly.

 

[Matt]

No. I love poker but its not a sport. It is a skill. Like chess, and NASCAR it is a skill, not a sport.

 

[Wiseman]

No. I love poker but its not a sport. It is a skill. Like chess, and NASCAR it is a skill, not a sport.

Then why is there a NASCAR thread with your name on it in the sports forum?

 

[SuperFerret]

Poker, bowling, billiards, and chess are games, not sports. I'd through golf in there, but I'd be pounced upon by people who'll demand a reason, and I can't give one aside from "it's just not a sport".

 

[Matt]

Then why is there a NASCAR thread with your name on it in the sports forum?

Because Badger made that thread directly following a heated debate where I proclaimed NASCAR to be a pseudo-sport

 

[BlackLantern]

I consider Poker a competition, not a sport

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

It's not a sport. Poker is a game. LOL @ "mind sport"

All sports are games and competitions, but not all games and competitions are sports. In order for something to be a "sport" there has to be some physical quality to it and there has to be a set of rules for "play" and a way to define a "winner."

Football, soccer, ice hockey, tennis, etc. are all sports

NASCAR and most other forms of racing are competitions

Poker, Black Jack, etc are all games.

 

[Go Web Go!]

No, it is not a sport. Neither is golf or NASCAR. If you're going to consider poker a sport then you have to consider every ****in' board game on the market a sport too.

 

[SuperFerret]

No, it is not a sport. Neither is golf or NASCAR. If you're going to consider poker a sport then you have to consider every ****in' board game on the market a sport too.

I'm an athlete, I play Dungeons and Dragons. I tell you, I almost go DM's Elbow from rolling too many d12's at once.

 

[Immortalfire]

Hell no. There's a difference between a sport and a game, poker is a game. Ditto golf.

 

[Darthphere]

No, it is not a sport. Neither is golf or NASCAR. If you're going to consider poker a sport then you have to consider every ****in' board game on the market a sport too.

I'm pretty sure ESPN covered the Scrabble Championship last year.

 

[Go Web Go!]

I'm pretty sure ESPN covered the Scrabble Championship last year.

I would watch the National Operation Championship.

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

Golf is a sport. It hits all the criteria of physicality, rules of play, defined winner, etc.

 

[Darthphere]

These kind of threads are an attempt to start drama for no reason. No one has ever called Poker a sport. The fact that it's on ESPN2, doesn't make it a sport, they're just covering it. Just like MTV doesn't play music anymore and G4 doesn't talk about video games anymore 90% of the time.

 

[Go Web Go!]

Golf is a sport. It hits all the criteria of physicality, rules of play, defined winner, etc.

Nothing says "sport" like frumpy, middle-aged, large breasted men who smoke cigarettes between holes and have someone carry their equipment for them.

 

[Ion Kenshin]

These kind of threads are an attempt to start drama for no reason. No one has ever called Poker a sport. The fact that it's on ESPN2, doesn't make it a sport, they're just covering it. Just like MTV doesn't play music anymore and G4 doesn't talk about video games anymore 90% of the time.

 

[Kane52630]

These kind of threads are an attempt to start drama for no reason. No one has ever called Poker a sport. The fact that it's on ESPN2, doesn't make it a sport, they're just covering it. Just like MTV doesn't play music anymore and G4 doesn't talk about video games anymore 90% of the time.

i remember hearing ESPN calling it a sport

 

[Darthphere]

Hearsay is no good, I need proof.

ESPN2 shows everything from poker, to bass fishing to lumberjack competitions.

 

[Addendum]

And when ESPN first started they aired frisbee competitions and tractor pulls