2008 Woodie Awards
Although I like it, Poker just isn't a sport
Scott Gleeson
Issue date: 11/2/07 Section: Sports
It was Wednesday night and there was nothing on TV that suited my interest. Hmm. Oh, I guess I'll just catch some sports on ESPN. Wrong…Instead the World Series is on. No, not the World Series that the Red Sox just dominated, but the World Series of Poker. I flipped the channel to see if something was wrong. Poker wasn't on ESPN 2, ESPN Classic or even ESPN the Ocho (I don't think that's a real network). The World Series of Poker was on the big daddy of sports, ESPN.
The scenario is a reality and although some viewers might enjoy the program and not have a problem with it, I particularly dislike it.
The fact that Poker is covered on ESPN (Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) which is the Worldwide Leader in Sports, means that it is a sport right? Absolutely not.
Now don't get me wrong, Poker is a great game and I enjoy playing it with a group of friends. However, notice I said game and not sport.
The definition of "sport" in the dictionary is an athletic activity requiring skill or physical exertion and often of a competitive nature.
I've had the argument with friends quite a few times. They will say that it has to be a sport because it's on ESPN. What really bothers me though is that Poker doesn't really rely on any physical exertion. Yes, it takes a lot of strategy and has some of the same competitiveness as many sports. But does it compare to professional football or even pee-wee football for that matter? I truly don't think so.
Take Greg Raymer for instance, who has won a WSOP title. The guy is at least over 200 pounds and wears opaque holographic sunglasses during hands. I'm sorry, but the guy looks like he is ready to square up against Kobioshi in a hotdog-eating contest. The fact that some people consider Raymer a professional athlete disgusts me.
Now, there are some sports like NASCAR, where the drivers are just sitting in a car. Still, those drivers have to be trained and will drive in extremely hot temperatures in the car. Also, racing is one of the first terms listed for the definition of a sport, even if it is with a car.
The scenario is a reality and although some viewers might enjoy the program and not have a problem with it, I particularly dislike it.
The fact that Poker is covered on ESPN (Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) which is the Worldwide Leader in Sports, means that it is a sport right? Absolutely not.
Now don't get me wrong, Poker is a great game and I enjoy playing it with a group of friends. However, notice I said game and not sport.
The definition of "sport" in the dictionary is an athletic activity requiring skill or physical exertion and often of a competitive nature.
I've had the argument with friends quite a few times. They will say that it has to be a sport because it's on ESPN. What really bothers me though is that Poker doesn't really rely on any physical exertion. Yes, it takes a lot of strategy and has some of the same competitiveness as many sports. But does it compare to professional football or even pee-wee football for that matter? I truly don't think so.
Take Greg Raymer for instance, who has won a WSOP title. The guy is at least over 200 pounds and wears opaque holographic sunglasses during hands. I'm sorry, but the guy looks like he is ready to square up against Kobioshi in a hotdog-eating contest. The fact that some people consider Raymer a professional athlete disgusts me.
Now, there are some sports like NASCAR, where the drivers are just sitting in a car. Still, those drivers have to be trained and will drive in extremely hot temperatures in the car. Also, racing is one of the first terms listed for the definition of a sport, even if it is with a car.
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