I love sports. I hate that everybody thinks that everything is a sport. The next Olympics will feature Ballroom dancing. Someone will get a medal for doing the fox-trot. I will die a little inside.
This leads to the inevitable discussion of what makes something a sport. In my mind it is a four part test.
1. Does it involve a ball or ball like object?
2. Is it reported in the sports section of the newspapers on a daily basis during the season?
3. Is it something that kids play in a house-league?
4. Is Tiger Woods involved?
The last question is there to specifically exclude golf. Golf is not a sport. It is a hobby.
This leaves only baseball, hockey, football and basketball. If you are in Europe then you can add soccer, cricket and rugby.
What is not a sport? Everything else. Running, wrestling, cycling, boxing, horse racing, nascar etc. This is not because these things are not hard or do not take athletic prowess - it is just because they are either races, fights or contests. They are not sports. Yes it is true I could not do what a world class javelin thrower does. But that is no different than what a dart thrower does. You have to include both or neither. I opt for neither.
Ultimately, if you think about it running and ballroom dancing are not all that different. I would rather exclude almost everything than include so much that what is left has no meaning.
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