Poker = Sport ?

Hi guys,

what do you think of this ?
I myself think that poker is not a sport... but i have to admit that now that i play alot more, i understand why some people would call it that, ( tournament player especialy )

Nevertheless, to me poker is just a game :)

Comments

  • I actually had a little revelation about this just this past weekend. I was always in the "poker is a sport" camp, but then the following thought crossed my mind...

    Name one other sport that the "athletes" put up their own money to compete for.

    I hope someone can come up with something so I don't have to cross the picket line.

    /g2
  • how about the element of chance? not sure what other sports have an element of chance? I don't consider a wrong movement of the human body to be considered chance (i.e. missed pass, etc.). Poker is not a sport. Wish it was....
  • g2 wrote: »
    Name one other sport that the "athletes" put up their own money to compete for.

    /g2


    So....by your definition is every player in rec league hockey, baseball, football, golf not playing a sport?


    By definition I would say yes.

    sport (spôrt, sprt)
    n.
    1.a. Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively.
    b. A particular form of this activity.

    2. An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.

    3. An active pastime; recreation.
  • g2 wrote: »
    Name one other sport that the "athletes" put up their own money to compete for.
    Keep trying.

    /g2
  • g2 wrote: »
    Keep trying.

    /g2

    Obviously you have never played in a baseball or hockey tournament where the top teams get paid.

    Were you too busy:

    a. Playing Dungeons and Dragons

    b. Playing yourself
  • cadillac wrote: »
    So....by your definition is every player in rec league hockey, baseball, football, golf not playing a sport?


    By definition I would say yes.

    sport (spôrt, sprt)
    n.
    1.a. Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively.
    b. A particular form of this activity.

    2. An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.

    3. An active pastime; recreation.


    By that definition Crazy Eights, Go Fish, Checkers, Monopoly, Tiddly-Winks and Trivial Pursuit is a sport. Poker isn't a sport. Why is there such a fight to label it as such?
  • cadillac wrote: »
    Obviously you have never played in a baseball or hockey tournament where the top teams get paid.

    Were you too busy:

    a. Playing Dungeons and Dragons

    b. Playing yourself
    You said rec league be-otch! haha

    Why is everyone on the forum so quick to jump to insults lately?

    /g2
  • g2 wrote: »
    Why is everyone on the forum so quick to jump to insults lately?
    'cause the guys on this site are all a bunch of assholes? :):)

    not a sport. expensive hobby maybe.
  • cadillac wrote: »
    By definition I would say yes.

    sport (spôrt, sprt)
    n.
    1.a. Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively.
    b. A particular form of this activity.

    2. An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.

    3. An active pastime; recreation.

    By definition? Poker seems a bit passive to be a sport. A competition, yes, so is chess. But I think the definition you gave excludes poker...
  • pokerJAH wrote: »
    how about the element of chance? not sure what other sports have an element of chance? I don't consider a wrong movement of the human body to be considered chance (i.e. missed pass, etc.). Poker is not a sport. Wish it was....

    I think there is definitely an element of chance in some of your examples. Have you never had a shot in golf bounce off a rock or a tree branch - either in your favour or to your score's detriment? What about a gust of wind that comes up during a tennis serve? Talk to Chicago fans about the chances of winning when a fan grabs a fair ball away from the outfielder that would have ended an inning.

    I don't think that poker is a sport, but I don't agree with your premise that sports don't have an element of chance.
  • beanie42 wrote: »
    By definition? Poker seems a bit passive to be a sport. A competition, yes, so is chess. But I think the definition you gave excludes poker...


    That was my point exactly. Sport involves a physical element.

    Phil Laak doing push-ups does not count.
  • I think there is definitely an element of chance in some of your examples. Have you never had a shot in golf bounce off a rock or a tree branch - either in your favour or to your score's detriment? What about a gust of wind that comes up during a tennis serve? Talk to Chicago fans about the chances of winning when a fan grabs a fair ball away from the outfielder that would have ended an inning.

    I don't think that poker is a sport, but I don't agree with your premise that sports don't have an element of chance.

    You have a point; although obviously there is more luck involved with poker than other sports mentioned; the odds of a fan grabbing a fair ball isn't compariable to someone hitting an inside straight draw.
  • If professionals can pound back beers while they play it is not a sport. But it sure is a damn good hobby.
  • Poker is a game, for those of you think it is a sport please define what a sport is, and what a game is.

    Now Darts...Sport?
  • TL06 wrote: »
    lol, well all I know is, you can play sports and poker at the same time if you use a remote control! lol, see for yourself www.PokerRemoteControl.com

    Poker: No

    Darts: Yes.

    Spamming: Only a game until someone loses an eye. Then it's a sport.
  • I've always thought of sports as something that takes athletic ability to compete in. Poker certainly does not take any athletic ability whatsoever. If you were going to consider poker a sport, than you would have to consider Bingo and board games as sports as well.
  • Game or Sport??

    Poker: game/hobby

    Darts: oh my brother would argue this one, but I have to say game as well (he's made the provincial finals a number of times)

    Spam: neither, just fun to beat up on spammers

    Leafs in the Playoffs: FANTASY!! ;)
  • STR82ACE wrote: »
    Spam: neither, just fun to beat up on spammers

    Now there's a sport we all love.
  • My bad, I just thought poker was a sport because it's an Olympic event ;)

    When I've got a choice between Lazy Man and real life, I'm going with Lazy Man every time!

    /g2
  • g2 wrote: »
    When I've got a choice between Lazy Man and real life, I'm going with Lazy Man every time!

    Sounds like you're willing to host LMO this year!
  • JohnnieH wrote: »
    Sounds like you're willing to host LMO this year!
    Nah, I'm too qualified to play ;)

    /g2
  • Ive always believed that if you take the very literal and general meaning of "sport" definitely encapsulates Poker. I think most people nowadays associate sport with something more physically demanding and thus do not include poker when they think of sports which I think is wrong, because then they are talking about "Athletics" a sub category of sport.
  • That is true tho,
    Sports are very general,
    you have water sports, motor sports ( karts, f-1 ) .. these are sports.

    If someone asks you, what kinda sports do you do, and you answer "weight lifting at the gym" wouldnt that be weird ? its not something that you would expect is a sport, but you dont have a choice but to accept it because it does involve physical abilities...

    Anyways, there is a "mind sports" category ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_basic_sports_topics

    So i guess poker is part of the general sport category, even if doesnt seem intuitive to say so.
  • Who cares? It is fucking awesome.
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