Is poker a serious sporting endeavor?

[redfisher]

As a former college basketball player I'm frequently bemused by many of the posts here regarding rules enforcement. In all serious sporting endeavors, getting over on the other guy/officials is just considered good play.

No second baseman tells the ump that he failed to touch the bag on a DP.

No basketball player tells the ref that the reason his opponent couldn't jump for a rebound was because he was standing on his foot.

There's holding on every play in football.

The best example I can come up with is from boxing. The referee always says at the beginning of the bout, "Obey my commands and protect yourself at all times." If you don't, you get clocked at the bell. If the ref doesn't judge it a late blow, you lose.

In every sport, superior knowledge of the rules is an advantage. You aren't considered a "nit" when you point out your opponent has made a play that is not legal. There is an assumption that the opponent is aware of the rules when he suits up.

Why aren't poker rules as cut and dried as rules for other games?