General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Cheerleading | Is it a sport? [View all]Spike89
(1,569 posts)There are lots of things that require physical exertion that are not sports (ballet, sex, climbing the stairs, mowing the lawn). And some widely acknowledged "sports" that don't require much exertion at all (auto racing, bobsledding, target shooting). I have absolutely no problem saying someone it an athlete even if they've never played a sport. Any serious dancer must be tremendously athletic.
My only issue is that judged events are not really games in that they can't be fair when picking a winner. How do you say the person doing a double flip perfectly is better or worse than the competitor that wobbles a bit when doing a much more difficult twisting triple jump? Why do figure skating commentators even discuss the pros and cons (outside of comfort/flexibility) of skaters outfits or the musical choices?
The second fastest person in a race doesn't ever win because the judge from Russia really liked their shoes. No basketball player gets an extra point for a fancy shot.
But, when it gets right down to it, I don't think it matters. If some one says they play sports and they mean they sit on the couch and use a joystick to frag "enemies" in an Unreal tournament...good for them.