Proof Poker is not a Sport

Comments

1. jereme says:

   June 2, 2008 at 2:02 pm

   This guy wouldn’t understand poker to cheer for it though.

   Also this is an example of a team sport where poker would be an individual “sport”.

   I don’t think anyone gets that excited about any one individual player of any sport. Team sports are selling the city/state pride and the hysteria that ensues.

   My definition of sport is simple.

   1. A game.

   2. It is competitive.

   I don’t think athletics are pertinent for a game to be a sport.

   Ping Pong is an olympic sport.

   Reply
2. Blake says:

   June 2, 2008 at 2:07 pm

   So then Monopoly is a sport?

   I think part of a sport is that it requires some kind of physically based skill in order to be successful.

   Ping pong definitely requires this. It is harder than basketball if you ask me. It defies logic.

   Poker requires absolutely no motor skills at all.

   Seeing dudes so drunk they can’t talk play cards in Tunica seals the deal.

   Reply
3. jereme says:

   June 2, 2008 at 5:00 pm

   Well you are talking about bush league stuff. Guys go and play football on the weekends and I wouldn’t consider them athletes.

   They are enthusiasts.

   If monopoly is competitive then yes. Winning has to mean something which it doesn’t in monopoly. Now if you had regional monopoly teams competing for a coveted title then that would define it being a sport.

   Strategy is a huge part of competing.

   Strategy is a different kind of competition then athletetisism.

   That is why most football coaches are fat old dudes who know how to play the game but are not able to compete in the game themselves.

   Poker is pure strategy and is very competitive because money is at stake.

   We could debate all day and not see each other’s point of view though..

   Reply
4. Blake says:

   June 2, 2008 at 5:04 pm

   Yeah, it’s pretty hard to stand one way or another.

   I think my major rule: if you can do it and drink a beer at the same time, it’s not a sport.

   Reply