if Pool is a sport, then define "sport'

The Olympics, the World Games, The Asian Games, all these are the highest governing bodies for amateur sports in the world and all three have recognized billiards as a sport.

So regardless of whether any individual person believes that pool is a sport or not the fact is that the people responsible for making that distinction recognize it as such.

Therefore, pool is a sport and a darn hard one at that.
 
Roadie said:
The Olympics, the World Games, The Asian Games, all these are the highest governing bodies for amateur sports in the world and all three have recognized billiards as a sport.

So regardless of whether any individual person believes that pool is a sport or not the fact is that the people responsible for making that distinction recognize it as such.

Therefore, pool is a sport and a darn hard one at that.
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Yes, I agree. Although I think the difficulty of a sport is determined by the level of the competition. This could probably be measured by how many people play the sport in question. I wold think more people play pool than say baseball. Others seem to base the difficulty level of a sport only on the sport itself.
 
The concept of sport as being an activity which requires intense physical effort is a 20th century phenomenon and a distinctly north american concept. Prior to that and for the rest of the world, it is and was generally defined based on the nature of the competition. If pool and snooker were played entirely at home and primarily amongst family members and friends (ex. board games, twister) then it would be primarily game or past time. However Billiards has a long tradition of competition at all levels as it was the first sport to hold a world championship tournament (straight rail).

But I don't know why it matters. It doesn't change anything.
 
The best players are athletic-hand speed,balance,timing,litheness of movement.Always pushing the envelope of what can be attained at the table both mentally and physically.Some of these traits can be improved upon but can't be taught.

Sport,Sport,Sport.
 
If these definitions are the true definition of the word sport,what does my wife (who is a published author in the subject of English) mean when she says to me "Watch it sport"?
 
risky biz said:
If we both disagree with you then you would be the one who is most wrong.
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A 150lb guy who benches 200 is not stronger than a 300lb guy who benches 300. Because "stronger" is a measurable statistic. In this case, the amount of absolute weight bench pressed, and 300 is more than 200. The 150lb guy might be stronger pound for pound, but that is a meaningless statistic when measuring ability to move a specific weight.

For instance, an ant can lift 100x its bodyweight. That does not make an ant 'stronger' than a human. 'For its size' absolutely, but compared equally in terms of numbers, not remotely.
 
Spider1 said:
A 150lb guy who benches 200 is not stronger than a 300lb guy who benches 300. Because "stronger" is a measurable statistic. In this case, the amount of absolute weight bench pressed, and 300 is more than 200. The 150lb guy might be stronger pound for pound, but that is a meaningless statistic when measuring ability to move a specific weight.

For instance, an ant can lift 100x its bodyweight. That does not make an ant 'stronger' than a human. 'For its size' absolutely, but compared equally in terms of numbers, not remotely.
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Then go tell the Olympic Committee they're giving gold medals to the wrong people.
 
Isn't that why there are different weight classes in sports like weightlifting, wrestling, boxing, etc.?
 
risky biz said:
If we both disagree with you then you would be the one who is most wrong.
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I agree with Spider1, not Risky Biz. To be clear.

Risky, it sounds like you are saying that the Olympic games handicaps weightlifters based on their body weight? Isn't this kinda like saying I am better than Efren Reyes as long as I get the breaks and the 3 ball?

KMRUNOUT
 
ccshrimper said:
If it makes you guys feel better about yourselves believing you're playing a sport good for you but don't accidentally look in the mirror tomorrow and see that beer gut hanging over your pants. I can play pool all day everyday and gain weight. You should have to break a sweat at least, and not from pressure, to be a sport IMO.

As far as it being mentally demanding, shuffleboard could be mentally demanding if I played it for 14 hours everyday and had goals set. It takes good coordination as well.

You also shouldn't be able to be competitive over the age of 50 in a professional sport. Tom Watson almost winning a British Open over the age of 60 or Efren winning the biggest payday in pool(IPT) over age of 50 wouldn't happen in Tennis, Track and Field or any other sport that requires true athleticism.
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What exact age should you be able to be competitive at? 49 you say? tell us your exact cutoff.
 
risky biz said:
If three six-packs of beer get you more drunk than one shot of 80 - 86 proof liquor does that make beer the stronger drink?

Not on planet Earth.
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Nope. It just shows that the concentration of alcohol in liquor is higher than the concentration in beer. Your analogy doesn't work. To apply it to weightlifting, you would come up with this: if a guy lifts 100 lbs 5 times is that stronger than a guy who lifts 500 lbs once? See now how that really doesn't apply to the conversation at hand?

KMRUNOUT
 
risky biz said:
I already posted the facts about that upthread. Read it.
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They use the weight of the lifter to determine the tie breaker if both lifted the same amount of weight, which is pretty arbitrary, considering they do not correct for height differences.

Two people lifting the exact same amount of weight are equally strong regardless of body weight. Strength being a measurable statistic. If you had thrown in the disclaimer "pound for pound" then that would be a different measurement. I don't see why this is hard to grasp.


As another example: RC airplane engines achieve efficiencies up to 200 or so horsepower per liter of displacement. That does not mean they are stronger or more powerful than a much more inefficient (hp/liter) large v-8, which is why you don't see RC plane engines used in drag racing. Horsepower, like lifted weight, is an absolute value.
 
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KMRUNOUT said:
I agree with Spider1, not Risky Biz. To be clear.

Risky, it sounds like you are saying that the Olympic games handicaps weightlifters based on their body weight? Isn't this kinda like saying I am better than Efren Reyes as long as I get the breaks and the 3 ball?

KMRUNOUT
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To be clear, Spider 1 said you're saying the same thing I am so if you agree with him then you're agreeing that you're saying the same thing I am. To be clear.

And no, it isn't kinda like saying you are better than Efren Reyes as long as you get the breaks and the 3 ball. It's kinda like saying that you're a stronger player than Efren if you run 5 racks of 9-ball with a broomstick and he runs 6 racks of 9-ball with a pool cue.
 
Originally Posted by risky biz
If three six-packs of beer get you more drunk than one shot of 80 - 86 proof liquor does that make beer the stronger drink?

Not on planet Earth.

KMRUNOUT said:
Nope. It just shows that the concentration of alcohol in liquor is higher than the concentration in beer. Your analogy doesn't work. To apply it to weightlifting, you would come up with this: if a guy lifts 100 lbs 5 times is that stronger than a guy who lifts 500 lbs once? See now how that really doesn't apply to the conversation at hand?

KMRUNOUT
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The analogy is exactly correct. Because smaller weightlifters are stronger than heavier weightlifters and 80 - 86 proof liquor is stronger than beer.
 
I came up with what I believe is a great definition for sport.

Activity that requires one or more physical skills that can be practiced and perfected and/or physical stamina.

AND

Activity where the rules and/or area of play determine one or both of the following

1. If and how much a player and/or team scored
2. If a player and/or a team won
 
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