Billiards: Game or Sport

Skratch

Skratch

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Just read the Draw Stroke thread and an interesting point of view came up during the thread. I just wanted to get AZB opinion on whether they consider Billiards as a game or a sport. I consider it a sport, and I think it would benefit the future of billiards for more of us to do so.

My personal definition of a sport is any competitive activity that requires skill of body movement to achieve a goal. Examples would be curling, golf, darts, and billiards. I use these as examples because to many they consider them not "true" sports as compared to football, basketball, hockey, etc. Yes, they use less physical activity, but more so than say a game of chess, checkers, or poker. These are by my definition are games because you don't need any skill of body movement to play. They are however still competitive games with just as much intensity for those fans who enjoy them.

What are your opinions?

Thanks for sharing your opinions.
 
In the U.S.A it's just a game. It's just a patchwork of tournaments that anyone can play in. No one knows if some are a pro or a amateur or not. Only one person makes a living at it. Johnnyt
 
Aside from being a semi-yearly topic, it all depends on how you play it.
To a bunch of college kids that use a pool table as an accessory to a date or something to do while drinking, it's a game.

To guys like SVB and probably to most people on the forum, it's a sport.

When I shoot basketball with my son, it's a Game. When the NBA guys make 3 million a year and train for hours a day, it's a Sport.
 
It's an age old question that people will never agree on. It's been debated about golf since about 1856. I'm sort of with the OP...if how you do it physically is important, it's a sport. Poker, for example takes great skill but whether you flip your cards over with your tongue or your thumbnail has no impact on the outcome....game. same with chess, even craps since nobody can really control the dice unless they throw in an illegal manner.

Some draw the line at whether there is an active opponent playing defense. That line of thought is what creates the golf debate since you are playing against the course individually. Your opponent can't block your putt. Pool straddles this line since the opponent can't tackle you as you try to shoot but they can leave you with a difficult shot and can of course run out from the break which makes it kinda hard for you to win.

For me...it's a game but I'm not going to try to justify it.
 
Who would think 4 seconds on that? Either you like pool or you don't. A rose by any other name...............
 
Pool books can be found in the 'Games' section of Barnes and Noble. Occasionally one pops up in the 'Sports' sections but I think it was misplaced.

I consider it a sport, but given that the Olympics calls them all 'Games' anyway, it probably doesn't make much difference.
 
hang-the-9 said:
Aside from being a semi-yearly topic, it all depends on how you play it.
To a bunch of college kids that use a pool table as an accessory to a date or something to do while drinking, it's a game.

To guys like SVB and probably to most people on the forum, it's a sport.

When I shoot basketball with my son, it's a Game. When the NBA guys make 3 million a year and train for hours a day, it's a Sport.
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Not true. How about a bunch of college kids, drinking beer and tossing the football around while tailgating.... it does not change the fact that football is a sport.

It is a sport, because it requires hand eye coordination, it is just NOT an athletic sport, ya know, like bowling, or curling, etc.

Chess is a game, because you don't even need to be in the room, I can tell someone what piece to move to what square... big difference.

Plus, the fact that the Olympic Committee considered adding billiards as a medal sport at one time, pretty much ends the argument.... I'd say their opinion on what constitutes a sport trumps any keyboard internet warriors :)
 
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...if sliding a rock across ice using a stick and a broom is a sport...

curling.jpg


then rolling balls on slate, using sticks, is a sport!

lady playing.jpg
 
Like most leisure activities, it's a bit of both; although I think it's more game than sport.

I'm not certain but I think this quote is attributed to Yogi Berra, about golf:

"Any game in which a man of 60 can beat a 30-year old, ain't no sport."
 
Skratch said:
Just read the Draw Stroke thread and an interesting point of view came up during the thread. I just wanted to get AZB opinion on whether they consider Billiards as a game or a sport. I consider it a sport, and I think it would benefit the future of billiards for more of us to do so.

My personal definition of a sport is any competitive activity that requires skill of body movement to achieve a goal. Examples would be curling, golf, darts, and billiards. I use these as examples because to many they consider them not "true" sports as compared to football, basketball, hockey, etc. Yes, they use less physical activity, but more so than say a game of chess, checkers, or poker. These are by my definition are games because you don't need any skill of body movement to play. They are however still competitive games with just as much intensity for those fans who enjoy them.

What are your opinions?

Thanks for sharing your opinions.
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Once it becomes competitive, it's no longer just a game. It leaks over into a sport. There is no "or". It's okay to consider pool "just a game". But that tells me that if you (general) say such a thing, then it's just a recreational thing to pass the time for you (general). For many of us, pool is not just something to pass the time.

If we're unwilling to give the game the respect it deserves and call it a competitive sport, then why would anyone else care about it, our industry, or our professionals?

You all make the call.

Freddie <~~~ pool is a blessing and a curse
 
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Skratch said:
Just read the Draw Stroke thread and an interesting point of view came up during the thread. I just wanted to get AZB opinion on whether they consider Billiards as a game or a sport. I consider it a sport, and I think it would benefit the future of billiards for more of us to do so.

My personal definition of a sport is any competitive activity that requires skill of body movement to achieve a goal. Examples would be curling, golf, darts, and billiards. I use these as examples because to many they consider them not "true" sports as compared to football, basketball, hockey, etc. Yes, they use less physical activity, but more so than say a game of chess, checkers, or poker. These are by my definition are games because you don't need any skill of body movement to play. They are however still competitive games with just as much intensity for those fans who enjoy them.

What are your opinions?

Thanks for sharing your opinions.
Click to expand...

Game, sport, either is fine...I just have a problem with pool being referred to as a "profession". It's not, never was, and probably never will be. Pool will never escape its notorious reputation.
 
SLIM said:
Skratch said:
. I consider it a sport, and I think it would benefit the future of billiards for more of us to do so.QUOTE]

skratch,

how will thinking either way help billiards?

slim
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If you give it the same/or more importance (for lack of a better term), it can become more than just a game. Why is football, baseball, etc considered anything more than just a game in essence? Yet millions of dollars are made and spent on it. Billiards can be just as grand. If we just think of it only as "just a game" then that's all it will ever be. As a Sport, it can be more, no?
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Cornerman said:
I'm not qualified to answer that for the competitive Halloween carvers circuit.
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That is subjective to someones opinion as a judgement of who has the better pumpkin. When you pot a ball, its an obvious quantifiable/measurable amount (or goal). Carving is an artwork. Competitive, yes, but not a skill in terms of physical ability.
 
poolmouse said:
Game, sport, either is fine...I just have a problem with pool being referred to as a "profession". It's not, never was, and probably never will be. Pool will never escape its notorious reputation.
Click to expand...

And this is my point. We need to start thinking of it differently to start getting away from its reputation.
 
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