Do you consider poker to be a sport?

[AlphaDog]

Ok, I'm sick of poker being everywhere. THe game's been around for hundreds of years (thousands?) but all of a sudden is everywhere on TV. Partypoker this, Pokerstars that.... MASSIVE spam from these lousy sites with their popup ads everywhere.

NOW they're taking over TSN and Sportsnet programming.

POKER IS A GAME, NOT A SPORT - NOT ALL GAMES ARE SPORTS. What's next on TSN/Sportsnet? Chess? Backgammon? Slots? At least with Chess it's based mostly on skill and not luck. POKER IS NOT A SPORT!! It's shameless that these poker sites can BUY their way into the programming schedule.

[WellandDogsFan]

I agree, its a game, not a sport.

[GoDogsGo]

i like playing poker.... but in no way is a sport or should it be called a sport...or be showen on sport channels...EVER....
olympic poker.... could you imagine...

[AlphaDog]

Thank gawd for you guys - I thought I was going insane being the only person that's sick of this online/TV poker craze that's been going on the last 5 or so year. I'm not a gambler, but I like poker as much as the next guy with friends... but taking over TSN and Sportsnet when they could be showing.. heck.. who cares, reruns of past Olympic hockey games, etc...

I'm not sure what I'd put as criteria for being a "sport" is, but SOME KIND of physical attribute has to be there.

[slamr]

Oh yeah, it's a sport alright. ;)
Right up there with billiards, darts and bowling!:rolleyes:

Remember in the bowling movie "Kingpin" when Ishmael (Randy Quaid) said he was "honoured to be in the presence of all these fine athletes" and then showed a line of big guys eating junk food and beer. Priceless!:D

[GoDogsGo]

ya that's funny....LOL

[AlphaDog]

Actually I WOULD consider pool/darts/bowling sports. THey at least have a physical attribute that's required. Even hand-eye coordination would be on my criteria for considering something to be a sport.

Poker though... just HAS to stay off our sports networks!

[slamr]

To me a sport should be something that requires good physical conditioning.
Those 3 to me are games.

I've done them all and was pretty good at bowling (insert back pats here), but in no way would anyone ever mistake me for an athlete.

But you're right about poker...playing cards is the lowest of lows when it comes to being on a sports channel. It has no business being there, but it is because it's popular and brings in viewers...and that means $$$$$$.

[trooper]

na, its no sport

[Schtick]

Poker is NOT a sport!!! and YES i am sick of it on our SPORTS stations!!

I have alot of other things that I can say about poker, but this is a friendly messageboard, haha :)

[RioBravo]

Is go fish a sport?

[TheQuietOne]

As much of a fan as I am of poker, I can't quite call it a sport.

It opens up that can of worms about what the definition of a sport actually is. I would lean towards saying that a sport has to have a predominantly physical element to it (ie. the physical part counts more than the mental aspect of it). This would include sports like curling, bowling and lawn bowling (where lots of strategy is required, but a poor phyiscal performance will ruin your game). That would kill "sports" like chess. The problem is, I don't consider darts to be a sport. Or ballroom dancing, for that matter, which probably has just as much artistic talent as figure skating, diving or trampoline.

Competitive eating? Uugh, that has to be the most horrible trend in "sports", even worse than poker.

[AlphaDog]

As much of a fan as I am of poker, I can't quite call it a sport.

It opens up that can of worms about what the definition of a sport actually is. I would lean towards saying that a sport has to have a predominantly physical element to it (ie. the physical part counts more than the mental aspect of it). This would include sports like curling, bowling and lawn bowling (where lots of strategy is required, but a poor phyiscal performance will ruin your game). That would kill "sports" like chess. The problem is, I don't consider darts to be a sport. Or ballroom dancing, for that matter, which probably has just as much artistic talent as figure skating, diving or trampoline.

Competitive eating? Uugh, that has to be the most horrible trend in "sports", even worse than poker.

I consider darts a sport, 100% - eyesight, and hand-eye co-ordination (if you don't consider darts you can't consider pool/billairds). Chess, no. A mental strategy game, yes, but not a sport.

I would say that sports are sports because the success depends on the physical abilities of the individual playing. (whether the "physical ability" be coordination or strength or stamina doesn't matter - just so long as your physical body's ability is what determines the outcome). And secondly, there has to be a competitive aspect to it, where at the beginning anyone can win (this takes pro-wrestling out of it).

So, by my definition, a sport is a competitive game in which the outcome is determined by the physical abilities of those involved.

Of course, there are always grey areas... (car racing, horse racing, etc.. in which the person's physical abilities only play part of the outcome - and figure skating, diving, etc... due to the same reason (ie: judging plays a big part)).

[TheQuietOne]

To play devil's advocate then....

Is competitive gaming a sport? It takes tremendous hand-eye coordination and mental skill to pound away at your keyboard or video game controller. How about jump rope? Paintball? Hide and seek?

[AlphaDog]

To play devil's advocate then....

Is competitive gaming a sport? It takes tremendous hand-eye coordination and mental skill to pound away at your keyboard or video game controller. How about jump rope? Paintball? Hide and seek?

It takes NO hand-eye coordination to be good at keyboard/joystick. Just hand coordination. Actually, you dont even need to be well coordinated, as using a keyboard and joystick doesn't really take coordination. Just practice. More like memorization of certain movements - not putting a lot of efford into the actual coordination of those movements.

I mean, even the clumsiest bafoon can be good at video games given practice :)

[IceDogs5]

Heck no it's not a sport! Sorry, but if you can play essentially the same game on the internet it's most definitely not a sport.

[tml]

If it doen't make you bleed or hurt like hell it aint a sport! It may be a game but not a sport!

[VERBATIM]

I guess SEX is a sport.
It takes endurance at least for 2 minutes.
Takes coordination wouldn't want to score on wrong hole.
Timing is good also and style of play.
Your playing with a stick and balls.
You build up a sweat.
You tend to hear screaming and moaning.
So I would SEX is the top sport going and almost everyone can play and knows the rules.
Even when you loose you come out ahead:w00t:

[skatee]

I guess SEX is a sport.
It takes endurance at least for 2 minutes.
Takes coordination wouldn't want to score on wrong hole.
Timing is good also and style of play.
Your playing with a stick and balls.
You build up a sweat.
You tend to hear screaming and moaning.
So I would SEX is the top sport going and almost everyone can play and knows the rules.
Even when you loose you come out ahead:w00t:


then hockey isnt my favourite sport anymore :P

[habsfan]

I guess SEX is a sport.
It takes endurance at least for 2 minutes.
Takes coordination wouldn't want to score on wrong hole.
Timing is good also and style of play.
Your playing with a stick and balls.
You build up a sweat.
You tend to hear screaming and moaning.
So I would SEX is the top sport going and almost everyone can play and knows the rules.
Even when you loose you come out ahead:w00t:

Hmmm, a sport eh?

********, you're too funny!! :cheers2: