The Results Are In - Pool Is Not A Sport

[ChrisWoj]

Thanks for the graph, watchez, but your conclusion is misplaced.

According to the results, over 40% of respondents called billiards a sport.
That's not bad.
However, the poll termed it 'billiards,' which is not 'pool.'
You can't make intelligent comparisons and conclusions about an item that isn't even in a poll.

We are more concerned with pool or pocket billiards.
NOW, if the relevant category had been labeled 'cue sports' then I would agree with your take.
Find a poll that includes pool, THEN we can talk.

Considering WHO was polled... Do you REALLY think they would have differentiated pool and billiards? I highly doubt it would have made a significant difference.

 

[ChrisWoj]

Archery is no more physical or mentally challenging than pool, less actually since you are not shooting 200 shots in a row to win yet the survey ranked that as a sport.

Dodgeball has just about the same physicall activiy needs as raquetball yet one is ranked way lower.

I judge a sport vs a game simply. Do you need practice to get good at it and can you compete with people at it and what skill level are you playing at?

To me, it has nothing to do with how physical the game is.

Chess at a high level is a SPORT. When two beginners play in the cabin by the lake during a fishing trip, it's a GAME. When most people play Scrabble, it's a game, when the top Scrabble players play for $20,000 and get 4-5 times the score an average player can get, that is a SPORT.

Chess is a competition. Archery is a competition. Rifle shooting is a competition. Pool and other cue sports are a competition. Basketball is a sport. Football is a sport. Hockey is a sport. Ultimate is a sport. Tennis is a sport.

 

[ChrisWoj]

I take it you've never seen a 20+ session of '2 Shot Shoot Out' played for the CA$H - I have and possibly played in more of these sessions than anyone alive (except maybe "Arkansas Calvin" . This is just as mentally and physically taxing as many other "sports".....especially if you have fight three guys to "get out with the cash". :groucho:

If someone doesn't think it's physical playing 20 hours of "2 Foul" 9 Ball they simply haven't ever done it.....or even witnessed it. These times are so pathetic, playing "8 hour time limits" and "one foul rules," which require no strategy, either you try to run out, play safe or kick at balls - that's it, no sparring to it, it's about as boring as the rules could possibly make pool....what a shame, such a beautiful game played with "carnival type" rules.

Those of you that have will agree with me and even at my "ripe old age" will wager I can outlast anyone playing the game.....any takers? I'm easy to find, just go to Dallas or Ft. Worth Texas and give me a call, we can battle for 48 - 72 hours and donate proceeds to the Scottish Rite Children's Hospital, or whatever's necessary.

I believe ALL pool tournaments should have a charity based function leading into every event like we used to in the 90s in LA, Vegas, and Dallas.....the Bicycle Club and Jay Helfert always had charity functions to get some positive PR and create a WIN/WIN scenario with the public....why isn't this being done now? I'll volunteer my time and effort to make it happen anywhere in the Texas area.

Would you agree that playing a video game for 20 hours is a sport?