Is Chess a Sport? (1 Viewer)

[Gally]

But does this disregard the mental side of sports?  For years Tiger dominated golf and players crumble before him due to the pressure of trying to keep up with him.

I think there is a big difference between shooting 18 holes of golf on your own and then doing so in a tournament setting where the pressure increases significantly.

But that pressure is all about you.  That is innate to your being and your opponent has nothing to do with how you process pressure.  If you put the pressure on yourself and can't handle it that is solely your issue...not your opponent.  Some people don't feel pressure and aren't affected...other people do....but that is their makeup.  Not something the opponent did to them.

 

[CBusAlex]

you guys are clearly playing chess wrong.    :flex: 

Agreed

 

[CBusAlex]

Except for the part where you don't need to even move to play it. 

Move? Hell, you don't need to even have a corporeal form to move.

 

[Buzzbait]

Of course not a sport.

at the very very lowest part of a sporting definition is the need for some sort of physical skill and coordination.  That allows low energy activities like golf, pool, even video games to maybe be considered.

But chess has none of these traits.  Same as poker, they are a game that requires no physical skill or coordination.

This.

I grew up playing chess but never once considered it a sport. It's similar to poker in that it's a game of skill but there is no physical exertion.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Absolutely not, and I love chess.

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

Can be played by preprogramed computers as opponents with all input and interaction going through an entirely neutral third party, a third party wholly unaware of their participation in the activity.

 

[ghostguy123]

I know.  To me they are not sports.  They are athletic activities.  To me a key component to a sport is dealing with an opponent and affecting the outcome by interacting with them.  Golf, track, and swimming are examples of activities that you are only as good as you are and have no direct impact on your opponents so it takes it out of the sport category for me.  I am not saying they are easy, just that you don't need an opponent to do them so they are not sports.

That is why they call some of them "contact" sports.

According to you there are only a few sports??

 

[ghostguy123]

Gally, the things you are saying are NOT sports might be worse than calling chess a sport

 

[Peyton Marino]

If a quadriplegic can play and be good at it, then it's not a sport. 

this seems like a great way to define something

 

[Gally]

That is why they call some of them "contact" sports.

According to you there are only a few sports??

A lot fewer than what many people have.  You don't have to have contact to affect your opponent.  Baseball is not a "contact" sport but it is a sport by my definition

 

[ChiefD]

I know.  To me they are not sports.  They are athletic activities.  To me a key component to a sport is dealing with an opponent and affecting the outcome by interacting with them.  Golf, track, and swimming are examples of activities that you are only as good as you are and have no direct impact on your opponents so it takes it out of the sport category for me.  I am not saying they are easy, just that you don't need an opponent to do them so they are not sports.

With all due respect, this is the biggest crock of schtick ever.  

 

[Peyton Marino]

if a cat can jump on the board and knock over all of the pieces, then it's not a sport

 

[ghostguy123]

A lot fewer than what many people have.  You don't have to have contact to affect your opponent.  Baseball is not a "contact" sport but it is a sport by my definition

A lot fewer??  You ruled out like 75% or more of the actual sports. 

 

[ghostguy123]

With all due respect, this is the biggest crock of schtick ever.  

Has to be, nobody is this dense.

 

[Gally]

Gally, the things you are saying are NOT sports might be worse than calling chess a sport

What makes running 100 meters as fast as you can a sport?  Most of the activities that don't fall into my "sport" category are similar to the 100 meter.  It's just an activity and you don't really have a true competitor.  In order to be a sport you have to have a competitor.

 

[NewlyRetired]

What makes running 100 meters as fast as you can a sport?  Most of the activities that don't fall into my "sport" category are similar to the 100 meter.  It's just an activity and you don't really have a true competitor.  In order to be a sport you have to have a competitor.

I don't agree at a high level but your post would be more understandable I think if you change the word "competitor" to the word "defender".  

It sounds like you need the ability to have some sort of defense played for you to consider it a sport, which is reasonable even if many won't agree with it.

 

[ghostguy123]

What makes running 100 meters as fast as you can a sport?  Most of the activities that don't fall into my "sport" category are similar to the 100 meter.  It's just an activity and you don't really have a true competitor.  In order to be a sport you have to have a competitor.

Ok, let's say I give you the 100m-400m races (which I don't).  The longer running activities absolutely DO contain the ability to affect your opponent.

According to your definitions video games would be a sport.  Nintendo Wii would be the olympics.

 

[munga30]

Disagree with Gally.  Racing is often sport because of the simultaneous competition.  Time is kept, judges are sometimes involved, but its essence pits competitors directly against each other.  One prevents the others from winning by being first to the goal, regardless of the actual time.  

Not all races are sports, however.  Auto racing, for example.  Boat racing. Horse racing.  Not sports.  Bicycle racing?  I say sport because it's mostly physical exertion with some mechanical advantage.  

 

[Gally]

Has to be, nobody is this dense.

So what is your definition of a sport?  I defined what makes something a sport to me and the biggest component is having a direct competitor.  Running 100 meters as fast as you can is not a sport.  It's an athletic activity.  You have no competitor influencing the outcome.

 

[munga30]

If it were taking turns running 100M, I'd agree with you.  But it's not, so sport.  

 

[Cliff Clavin]

If it were taking turns running 100M, I'd agree with you.  But it's not, so sport.  

They could take turns and the outcome would be the same  

 

[ghostguy123]

So what is your definition of a sport?  I defined what makes something a sport to me and the biggest component is having a direct competitor.  Running 100 meters as fast as you can is not a sport.  It's an athletic activity.  You have no competitor influencing the outcome.

Well, considering the 100m is part of "Track", it would be more appropriate to say "Track and Field is a sport" than to just single out the 100m as a sport or not.  Several of those events competitors are able to directly affect their opponents. 

My definition would be a lot longer than your, and I don't have 78 hours to sit here and craft it. 

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Chess is to Sport as Hotdog is to Sandwich 

 

[ghostguy123]

They could take turns and the outcome would be the same  

This is not true.  One little gust of wind changes things. 

 

[munga30]

They could take turns and the outcome would be the same  

There would be something missing.  The simultaneous competition.  The "oh #### he's pulling ahead, I'd better try harder."  That's it. That's necessary for sport.  

 

[ghostguy123]

Gally, at least answer this.  Do you think track is a sport?  Or do you just not think it should be?

 

[ghostguy123]

Wait, so chess isn't a sport, right?

 

[Gally]

Ok, let's say I give you the 100m-400m races (which I don't).  The longer running activities absolutely DO contain the ability to affect your opponent.

According to your definitions video games would be a sport.  Nintendo Wii would be the olympics.

Video games do not fall into my definition because you are not exerting physical activity.

Longer races are still totally individual.  You can only complete them as fast as you can.  Your opponent has no affect.  If you try to point to setting a pace as affecting your opponent that is not totally true.  You run the race that maximizes your time.  If you choose not to run your race that is solely your decision.

 

[Dr Oadi]

The pawn plays the king, but there's no board at all. 

 

[ghostguy123]

Video games do not fall into my definition because you are not exerting physical activity.

Longer races are still totally individual.  You can only complete them as fast as you can.  Your opponent has no affect.  If you try to point to setting a pace as affecting your opponent that is not totally true.  You run the race that maximizes your time.  If you choose not to run your race that is solely your decision.

Well, you obviously know absolutely nothing about running, so we have pinpointed that. 

As for video games, there are some out there where physical activity is definitely part of it.  Are these sports?

 

[Thunderlips]

I can respect where Gally's coming from ie. direct competition versus indirect competition.  

ETA: I don't know if I agree with his listing of "sport or not sport"......but I can see it. 

 

[Cliff Clavin]

This is not true.  One little gust of wind changes things. 

If only there were places where people could run without wind. That would be crazy.

And, you do know that times are wind-adjusted, right? 

 

[Gally]

Gally, at least answer this.  Do you think track is a sport?  Or do you just not think it should be?

In general I would say no. I am trying to think of an event that is not strictly limited by the individual (like the 100 m sprint...the individual can onky run as fast as they can maximize technique) and none comes to mind.  

 

[ghostguy123]

I can respect where Gally's coming from ie. direct competition versus indirect competition.  

He is just not recognizing the different types of sports.

There are also a lot of things out there that are not currently recognized as sports but certainly could be if leagues were made. 

 

[ghostguy123]

In general I would say no. I am trying to think of an event that is not strictly limited by the individual (like the 100 m sprint...the individual can onky run as fast as they can maximize technique) and none comes to mind.  

But, it actually "IS" a sport.  You do realize this right?

 

[Cliff Clavin]

There would be something missing.  The simultaneous competition.  The "oh #### he's pulling ahead, I'd better try harder."  That's it. That's necessary for sport.  

'The guy in the cube is working harder than me towards that promotion. I better try harder filling out these TPS reports!' 

Doesn't seem like good criteria for sport.

 

[ghostguy123]

Oh, and again, your perception of the distance running was hilariously terrible and wrong.

 

[munga30]

It's not the *only* criteria, silly.  That's why not all races are sports.    

 

[ghostguy123]

I wonder why the 4x4 teams routinely use their best/fastest runner as the anchor.  Weird.  According to some here it doesnt matter.........yet for the people involved it does.  Odd

 

[hagmania]

this seems like a great way to define something

Yeah man, let's not disparage professional hill rollers.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

I can respect where Gally's coming from ie. direct competition versus indirect competition.  

ETA: I don't know if I agree with his listing of "sport or not sport"......but I can see it. 

Sport vs Athletic competition. An reasonable yet completely pointless distinction. Chess is neither of those. 

 

[CletiusMaximus]

But, it actually "IS" a sport.  You do realize this right?

Gally identified the fundamental issue in his first post - "you must first start with what your definition of a sport is.  This varies between people."

Obviously he's correct, even if his definition is one that most everyone would disagree with. At least he provided it. Your argument is that something is a sport because "it actually "IS" a sport" doesn't advance the discussion much.

 

[ghostguy123]

Just to add, a sport also sort of needs to be "recognized" as a sport.

Track is recognized as a sport, so, umm, it actually IS a sport whether you agree or not.   It contains quite a bit of physical exertion and competition.  Maybe some do not think track is a sport, but limiting it to the 100m is rather short sighted considering all the other events, some of which (the longer running) has the element of being able to directly affect your opponent. 

As for chess, chess will never be recognized as a sport for obvious reasons. 

Also, using the olympics as a barometer for what is actually a sport can not work.  Most are just events, not sports. 

 

[Thunderlips]

I wonder why the 4x4 teams routinely use their best/fastest runner as the anchor.  Weird.  According to some here it doesnt matter.........yet for the people involved it does.  Odd

That feels like a tried and true sports absolute "rule" that could be dissected and proven to not actually matter.  

ETA: This is just one guy on the internet....but he makes an interesting analysis on this.....  https://www.quora.com/Why-does-the-fastest-runner-on-a-track-relay-team-run-as-the-anchor

Also ETA: He gives some significant analysis into the direct competition aspect of the sport.

 

[BeaverCleaver]

Is sitting on my butt a sport?

 

[ghostguy123]

Gally identified the fundamental issue in his first post - "you must first start with what your definition of a sport is.  This varies between people."

Obviously he's correct, even if his definition is one that most everyone would disagree with. At least he provided it. Your argument is that something is a sport because "it actually "IS" a sport" doesn't advance the discussion much.

If something is widely recognized as a sport, then it is a sport.  Not hard to understand.

There are many super hard physical activities that are not currently recognized as sports that easily could be if leagues were formed. 

To me, being able to "directly" affect your opponent does not alone rule something in or out as a sport. 

 

[ghostguy123]

Is billiards more of a sport than golf?

Interesting

 

[BeaverCleaver]

There are some people here that would love to make taking a crap a sport!

 

[Hilts]

Except for the part where you don't need to even move to play it. 

Sure you do. 

 

[Sinn Fein]

Is hunting a sport?