It all defends on the definition. If you go with Wikipedia, it's a sport.
Sport is an activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively. Sports commonly refer to activities where the physical capabilities of the competitor are the sole or primary determiner of the outcome (winning or losing), but the term is also used to include activities such as mind sports (a common name for some card games and board games with little to no element of chance) and motor sports where mental acuity or equipment quality are major factors. Sport is commonly defined as an organized, competitive and skillful physical activity requiring commitment and fair play.
Sport is an activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively. Sports commonly refer to activities where the physical capabilities of the competitor are the sole or primary determiner of the outcome (winning or losing), but the term is also used to include activities such as mind sports (a common name for some card games and board games with little to no element of chance) and motor sports where mental acuity or equipment quality are major factors. Sport is commonly defined as an organized, competitive and skillful physical activity requiring commitment and fair play.
Poker is a game. Some games require more mental acuity then others such as, chess is more difficult than checkers. But both are mental activities. Both require some degree of intelligence.
Golf is a sport. Some sports require more physical activity than others such as, football is more physically demanding than golf. But both are physical activities requiring physical coordination.🙂🙂🙂🙂
Golf is a sport. Some sports require more physical activity than others such as, football is more physically demanding than golf. But both are physical activities requiring physical coordination.🙂🙂🙂🙂
You need logic help in your first part about participation = athlete.
You need reading comprehension help for the part about talent.
A lot of you are completely ignoring my example. Which helps hammer home my point about my (read:IMO) definition of a sport.
Lets pretend there was an international competition. Each country had to send 1 person. And the only thing that anyone was told was that the participants were going to be competing in several athletic sporting events. Not one country in the world would send a poker player. They would send football players, basketball players, soccer players, maybe even a sprinter.
Micheal Phelps would not be picked. Tiger woods would not be picked. Lance Armstrong would not be picked. Sorry ladies, but none of you would be picked.
You want to tell me that you would consider picking poker players? lol
Think about who is at the card table with you next time you go to a casino, and then tell me they are athletes. Maybe the 350lb man struggling to breathe sitting on your left. Or maybe the man that reeks of cigarettes to your right. Maybe the 50 year old woman thats 30lbs over weight, whos complaining about not having a napkin with her vodka martini. If poker players are athletes then my 6 year old kid's soccer team could win the Superbowl.
The concept of 'sport' was in usage before it got associated with physical activities.
Hence phrases like "That's sporting of him', or 'Be a sport'. Both implying a willingness to engage in a non-lethal contest.
It may have been the old "Wide World Of Sports" that pushed the physical activity aspect of sports to the fore, but I believe the first televised poker contest was broadcast on WWS.
SO a clear definition of sport is needed before question can get valid responses.
This definition;
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...ne:sport&sa=X&oi=glossary_definition&ct=title
favors physical activity, while this definition
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sport
does not.
In any physical contest that is definitely considered a sport, lets use the 100 yard dash as an example, an element of luck is also involved in say how one gets off the mark, or whether the weather was favorable to any particular runner.
Is real golf a sport if you rent a motorized cart?
And if you fished like General Jack O'Neill would fishing still be considered a sport?
Hence phrases like "That's sporting of him', or 'Be a sport'. Both implying a willingness to engage in a non-lethal contest.
It may have been the old "Wide World Of Sports" that pushed the physical activity aspect of sports to the fore, but I believe the first televised poker contest was broadcast on WWS.
SO a clear definition of sport is needed before question can get valid responses.
This definition;
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...ne:sport&sa=X&oi=glossary_definition&ct=title
favors physical activity, while this definition
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sport
does not.
In any physical contest that is definitely considered a sport, lets use the 100 yard dash as an example, an element of luck is also involved in say how one gets off the mark, or whether the weather was favorable to any particular runner.
Is real golf a sport if you rent a motorized cart?
And if you fished like General Jack O'Neill would fishing still be considered a sport?
Sport or no?
[quote=white_lytning
There is nothing athletic about playing cards.
Well it may not be THE most athletic activity around but if you consider the fact that I pulled a ligament in my hand trying to deal to nine guys, sprained an ankle getting a beer and have suffered numerous concussions banging my head against the wall after a bad beat or because of my stupid play (more the latter than the former), imho it sure comes close. 😉
[quote=white_lytning
There is nothing athletic about playing cards.
Well it may not be THE most athletic activity around but if you consider the fact that I pulled a ligament in my hand trying to deal to nine guys, sprained an ankle getting a beer and have suffered numerous concussions banging my head against the wall after a bad beat or because of my stupid play (more the latter than the former), imho it sure comes close. 😉
white_lytning said:
Sorry but thats pure unadulterated crap...
Have you ever played golf ?
Tiger Woods is as fit as any athlete to compete at the level he does and every golf professional will spend as long in the gymnasium as almost any other sportsman. The amount of physical work they do playing the game is almost as much as any other sportsman.
If thats the best argument you can come up with then sorry, you best go back to the drawing board.
yukoner222 said:
Have you ever had a barracuda on the end of a fishing line...
Try it and tell me its not physical...
Given the choice of running a mile in the olympics and hauling in a full grown barracuda i know which one would knacker me out the most..
i have just checked up the definition of sport, according to a dictionary and it comes in TWO categories
1) A pastime requiring physical exertion
2) A pastime governed by rules and taken part in on a competive nature.
Clearly poker does not fit into Category A because it is not physical. Mental exertion I dont think would count in this case.
However, poker DOES fit into Category 2, as it it is governed by a set of rules and is played for competitively. It all depends on what definition you choose to use.
1) A pastime requiring physical exertion
2) A pastime governed by rules and taken part in on a competive nature.
Clearly poker does not fit into Category A because it is not physical. Mental exertion I dont think would count in this case.
However, poker DOES fit into Category 2, as it it is governed by a set of rules and is played for competitively. It all depends on what definition you choose to use.
It is a sport, they have tournaments just like any other sport, not only that but how much competition is there in poker. I read about someone talk about the physical part, yeah not much physical talent needed, but were else can I play with a pro from the sport, I can not get on the field and go heads up with Randy Moss and have a shot in hell defending him.
Poker is not a sport as there is no significant physical factor. I mean, the Main Event at the world series of poker is grueling due a week of 14 hour days at the table, but even then the your big worry is that you'll make bad mental decisions, not that you'll be physically incapable of playing.
Poker is a game of skill. On a hand per hand basis, there is more luck than skill. But the more hands you get, the more your skill advantage (or disadvantage) manifests itself. That is, the more hands you play the closer the influence of luck gets to 0% on your overall record/bankroll.
Poker is a game of skill. On a hand per hand basis, there is more luck than skill. But the more hands you get, the more your skill advantage (or disadvantage) manifests itself. That is, the more hands you play the closer the influence of luck gets to 0% on your overall record/bankroll.