Poker IS a sport!

[wardkaew]

..or atleast it should be. DUCY?

[Skallagrim]

If chess is a "sport" then so is poker.

[DrewOnTilt]

[ QUOTE ]
If chess is a "sport" then so is poker.

[/ QUOTE ]

If poker is a "sport" then I'm the Jolly Green Giant. I love this game and all that, but this is no sport.

I don't even consider golf to be a sport, just a difficult, challenging game that makes me want to pull out my hair since I suck at it. Hey, just like poker!

[DMoogle]

[ QUOTE ]
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 lWEANERS penis osing), but the term is also used to include activities such as mind sports and motor sports where mental acuity or equipment quality are major factors. Sports are used as entertainment for the player and the viewer.

[/ QUOTE ]
By wikipedia's definition, poker is indeed a sport. Why does this matter again?

[oldbookguy]

OK, but by tomorrow that could be edited by anyone and it will not be a sport.

Wik is NOT a valid source for information.

Websters:
noun 1. an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc.
2. a particular form of this, esp. in the out of doors.
3. diversion; recreation; pleasant pastime.
4. jest; fun; mirth; pleasantry: What he said in sport was taken seriously.
5. mockery; ridicule; derision: They made sport of him.
6. an object of derision; laughingstock.
7. something treated lightly or tossed about like a plaything.
8. something or someone subject to the whims or vicissitudes of fate, circumstances, etc.
9. a sportsman.
10. Informal. a person who behaves in a sportsmanlike, fair, or admirable manner; an accommodating person: He was a sport and took his defeat well.
11. Informal. a person who is interested in sports as an occasion for gambling; gambler.
12. Informal. a flashy person; one who wears showy clothes, affects smart manners, pursues pleasurable pastimes, or the like; a bon vivant.
13. Biology. an organism or part that shows an unusual or singular deviation from the normal or parent type; mutation.
14. Obsolete. amorous dalliance.
–adjective 15. of, pertaining to, or used in sports or a particular sport.
16. suitable for outdoor or informal wear: sport clothes.
–verb (used without object) 17. to amuse oneself with some pleasant pastime or recreation.
18. to play, frolic, or gambol, as a child or an animal.
19. to engage in some open-air or athletic pastime or sport.
20. to trifle or treat lightly: to sport with another's emotions.
21. to mock, scoff, or tease: to sport at suburban life.
22. Botany. to mutate.
–verb (used with object) 23. to pass (time) in amusement or sport.
24. to spend or squander lightly or recklessly (often fol. by away).
25. Informal. to wear, display, carry, etc., esp. with ostentation; show off: to sport a new mink coat.
26. Archaic. to amuse (esp. oneself).

Take your pick, there are 26 of them defining 'sport'.

obg

[Legislurker]

I object to 14. Sex as sport is NOT obsolete.

[oldbookguy]

[ QUOTE ]
I object to 14. Sex as sport is NOT obsolete.

[/ QUOTE ]

most agreed!

obg

[MiltonFriedman]

"I object to 14. Sex as sport is NOT obsolete. '

Most States outlaw playing this particular sport for money .... It is even illegal in Las Vegas to play this for money.

[TomVeil]

My friends and I had a conversation once about what is and isn't a sport. What we came up with was these two rules that sports follow:

1) Some measure of physical skill.

2) Strategy in which you must adjust to what your opponent (or opponents) do.

If it doesn't follow these two laws, it's a game. (Although nothing is to say that games can't be competitive and intense)

Now there are strange things that fall on the other side (Track & Field?), but in general, we find those two laws pretty much sum it up.

Bowling - Not a sport.
Golf - Not a sport.
Poker - Not a sport.
NASCAR - Is sitting down a physical skill? Endurance? Dexterity? The jury is still out, but the more I think of it, the more it seems to be a sport to me.

Anyway, I just saw this thread and figured I'd comment :-P

[Homer]

[ QUOTE ]
My friends and I had a conversation once about what is and isn't a sport. What we came up with was these two rules that sports follow:

1) Some measure of physical skill.

2) Strategy in which you must adjust to what your opponent (or opponents) do.

If it doesn't follow these two laws, it's a game. (Although nothing is to say that games can't be competitive and intense)

Now there are strange things that fall on the other side (Track & Field?), but in general, we find those two laws pretty much sum it up.

Bowling - Not a sport.
Golf - Not a sport.
Poker - Not a sport.
NASCAR - Is sitting down a physical skill? Endurance? Dexterity? The jury is still out, but the more I think of it, the more it seems to be a sport to me.

Anyway, I just saw this thread and figured I'd comment :-P

[/ QUOTE ]

Golf follows both of your rules. Watch Tiger Woods attempt to reach the green from 175 yards out of U.S. Open rough, then watch an average tour player try.

[TomVeil]

One my friends argued this point, too, but I disagreed. Clearly golf requires physical skill. But do your opponents change your strategy? Perhaps in a one-on-one match play tournament, they would. (IE, you go for shots because you're X shots down and are basically throwing a hail-mary) However, since most golf rounds (including tournaments) are NOT match play, it's more of you against the course, because you don't interact with your opponent.

[Homer]

[ QUOTE ]
One my friends argued this point, too, but I disagreed. Clearly golf requires physical skill. But do your opponents change your strategy? Perhaps in a one-on-one match play tournament, they would. (IE, you go for shots because you're X shots down and are basically throwing a hail-mary) However, since most golf rounds (including tournaments) are NOT match play, it's more of you against the course, because you don't interact with your opponent.

[/ QUOTE ]

In early rounds, I wouldn't think your play is impacted much. However, in the closing stages (assuming you are in contention), how aggressive or conservative your strategy is depends on how your opponents are faring. I certainly wouldn't lump in golf with sports like football, basketball, etc, but I don't think it deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as poker or horseshoes either. /images/graemlins/grin.gif

[TomVeil]

[ QUOTE ]
In early rounds, I wouldn't think your play is impacted much. However, in the closing stages (assuming you are in contention), how aggressive or conservative your strategy is depends on how your opponents are faring. I certainly wouldn't lump in golf with sports like football, basketball, etc, but I don't think it deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as poker or horseshoes either. /images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, that's basically what we went back and forth on as well. However, when you consider that the vast majority of golf rounds are played not in these situations, I still put it as a game. Although you're also correct, it's a much more challenging game than most out there.

Interestingly enough, poker is almost exactly the opposite of golf. We didn't feel that it had enough physical skill, but the strategy aspect is overwhelming. Perhaps you could even break down games based on why they are NOT sports. (physical games, strategy games)

[Legislurker]

Our test was simple, was it more rigorous than cheerleading, and did it involve enough complexity to confuse a cheerleader.

[wardkaew]

First I would like to apologize for the fact the OP was kind of meager
as I was kinda stoned and wanted to see responces before making a more detailed post.

What brought this post on is that I recently and in the past regurlarly have encountered posts
where people seems to be really opposed to calling poker a sport.

Why is that?

Wheater you dont think poker should be consideret a sport due to its lack of physical demants or something else I dont find important.
The important thing is that "on paper" poker should have the right to call itself a sport.

No doubt that becoming an official sport would help alot to ensure the future of poker and Im really surpriced that people on these boards of all people dont seem to support this. Heck, we should all be spokesmen for the cause!!

Such a large part of the "real" sports today is about stuff like Stars making the news, big dollars, commercials and is getting closer and closer to the entertainment business all the time. Poker already have the Stars, the tv-deals, the venues etc etc. What we really need is to be ligitimized and win mainstreem acseptance... Becoming a sport would not be a bad step on that road?!

But maybe Im overestimating the impact a seal of approval like this would have on the industry?

[wardkaew]

Im aware that my spelling could be alot better above and Im sry /images/graemlins/wink.gif

Also just wanted to add why I think poker is a sport "on paper".
The best argument I think is: ,,Because Chess is!"
I resently had an interesting conversation with a friend of mine who is the danish national champ in Chess
and I think around top 50 in the world.

He is now also a pro online poker player. I asked which game had the most advanced levels of variations.
Or said in another way which game is tougher over time. He said poker!
And thats when I first realized that poker has a legitimate claim on becoming a sport
and "We" should persue this goal, if for nothing else, its financial benefit of everybody who has poker as a job.,

[oldbookguy]

Poker being offically a sport is the worst thing that could happen.

Sports betting is, without a doubt, illegal.

As things are, 2 courts have said the sports betting laws (Wire Act) do not cover casino games, I.E. poker, why would you WANT to change that and place poker under the Wire Act?

obg

[XChamp]

[ QUOTE ]
My friends and I had a conversation once about what is and isn't a sport. What we came up with was these two rules that sports follow:

1) Some measure of physical skill.

2) Strategy in which you must adjust to what your opponent (or opponents) do.

If it doesn't follow these two laws, it's a game. (Although nothing is to say that games can't be competitive and intense)

Now there are strange things that fall on the other side (Track & Field?), but in general, we find those two laws pretty much sum it up.

Bowling - Not a sport.
Golf - Not a sport.
Poker - Not a sport.
NASCAR - Is sitting down a physical skill? Endurance? Dexterity? The jury is still out, but the more I think of it, the more it seems to be a sport to me.

Anyway, I just saw this thread and figured I'd comment :-P

[/ QUOTE ]

In every event in track&field you must continually adjust to your opponent's actions if you wish to compete at a high level.

[popesc]

[ QUOTE ]
"I object to 14. Sex as sport is NOT obsolete. '

Most States outlaw playing this particular sport for money .... It is even illegal in Las Vegas to play this for money.

[/ QUOTE ]

What about last longer bets?

[MiltonFriedman]

"What about last longer bets? "

Good point.

In Costa Rica, play for pay is legal. The Del Rey Hotel hosts a Special Olympics every night; you need to be retarded to enter, but everyone is always a winner.

Isn't everyone winning what Sport is all about ?

[jay1313]

My friends and I have had similar debates on what is a sport. FWIW we were more broad in our definition of sports allowing for mental and physical activity. But we agreed that if you can objectively time it, measure it, or score it. It qualifies as a sport. Therefore, anything which has judges is not a sport, it is a competition.

Although you can argue referees and umpires can affect the outcome of a sport, it is not their main purpose, and you could still have the event without referees and umpires.

As an example, you can have a pick up game of baseball, basketball, chess, poker, chess etc. But you cannot get a group of folks together to have a pickup game of figure skating, synchronized swimming, or marching band.

Obviously many competitions require a great deal of physical and mental training and practice but your skill does not determine the outcome. The opinion of the judges do.

Just the thought of some people with too much time on their hands and not enough physical or mental ability to rise to high levels of physical or mental performance.

[fnurt]

[ QUOTE ]
Poker being offically a sport is the worst thing that could happen.

Sports betting is, without a doubt, illegal.

As things are, 2 courts have said the sports betting laws (Wire Act) do not cover casino games, I.E. poker, why would you WANT to change that and place poker under the Wire Act?

obg

[/ QUOTE ]

You make a good point! However, I think most jurisdictions do not make it illegal to bet on the outcome of your OWN athletic contest. What's illegal is to bet on the outcome of two other players or teams playing each other.

Your local tennis club probably features tournaments with cash prizes. It's common for softball leagues to award a prize to the top finishers. None of this would happen if the mere act of playing a sport for money constituted "sports betting."

So if poker were a sport, maybe Phil Gordon could go to jail for making prop bets on someone else's tournament result, but I'm not sure if that's an argument that cuts for or against.

[oldbookguy]

[ QUOTE ]
You make a good point! However, I think most jurisdictions do not make it illegal to bet on the outcome of your OWN athletic contest. What's illegal is to bet on the outcome of two other players or teams playing each other.

[/ QUOTE ]

Another good argument in favor of Poker, we are ONLY betting on ourselves and our abilities.

obg

[fnurt]

On a separate note, I was watching the Craig Ferguson show last week and he had some girl demonstrating the concept of "sport stacking," which seems to be a "sport" consisting entirely of stacking and unstacking plastic cups into cute little pyramid shapes. Apparently, people actually compete at this.

Wikipedia tells me that the competition was originally called "cup stacking," but they rebranded it to make it sound like a competitive sport. The fact that it has a physical element notwithstanding, it seems to me that if this is a sport, anything can be a sport.