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Poker, the Olympic Sport

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Poker, the Olympic Sport

Postby Cactus Jack » Thu Feb 16, 2006 4:25 pm

Ok, not really. Had an interesting conversation with my wife while watching the Games of the Winter Olympics. What is a sport? What is a game? Where do you draw the lines?

Is it a sport if it doesn't take an athlete? Yes, bowling is considered a sport. It's a contest which requires skill to win. What does it take to win? The highest score. So, a sport is something where you keep score? No, it can be a judged event. Okay, so it's a sport that may or may not require athletics, and they may or may not keep score. Is golf a sport? Are golfers athletes? They have a physical skill. But it's not athletic skill or is it? So, you're back to it's a sport that keeps score and requires athletics, but is ball room dancing? So, then, what is a game if not something that requires no athletics, but there is a clear winner on the scorecard? Is the Westminster Dog Show a sport? What about the dogs that try to catch the rubber thing after jumping off a dock? What about hunting? That's a sport.

Is it a game if some folks get together and play touch football? Is it a sport if you take lessons to win your Sat. racquetball game? Is he an athlete? If he's 20? If he's 70?

Poker, I guess if ice dancing is a sport and archery is a sport and fishing is a sport, then poker could qualify as a sport.

:D
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Postby NWCougar » Thu Feb 16, 2006 5:07 pm

Poker is not a sport. If you can drink a beer while competing, it is not a sport. I think Men the master said that. If the Olympics allowed poker it would tarnish the world of poker. Because the Olympics are a worthless turd. 95% of the events are crap and the 5% that aren't, still suck. I would like to see maybe a WSOP circuit event online.
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Postby Zuccala » Thu Feb 16, 2006 6:05 pm

2008 Goals:

1. Make $40K by year end.
2. Play at least 100hrs a month.
3. Read 5-10 new Poker Books w/ notes.
4. Become regular at $2/$4 FR
5. Try some $5/$10 FR
6. Work on Game non-stop.
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Postby The Golden 1 » Thu Feb 16, 2006 6:19 pm

By the way its called the Olympic Games, not sports. That's why Curling is in there.
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Postby Cactus Jack » Thu Feb 16, 2006 6:19 pm

Then, bowling is not a sport. :)

But, it's considered a sport.

NASCAR is a sport. Maybe it's not, but you'll find results in the sports' section of the paper.

Just think it's an interesting thing to contemplate, and the difference between a sport and a game or not a sport seems to be in the eye of the beholder.

Tournament poker is a game played for chips in which to keep score which do not reflect the final payout.

It could be a sport. There are things considered sport that are far less. Hunting?

CJ
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Postby redhouse » Thu Feb 16, 2006 6:47 pm

To me any competition that requires physical skill (not just physical attributes) is a sport. Chess isn't one. Nor is poker.
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Postby Arc » Thu Feb 16, 2006 8:45 pm

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Postby Cactus Jack » Fri Feb 17, 2006 12:51 am

"Are the players better as the stakes go up? It's not an exam; it's a buyin." Barry Tanenbaum
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Postby Arc » Fri Feb 17, 2006 1:33 am

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Postby SebQtaneus » Fri Feb 17, 2006 2:10 am

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Postby Danhdan » Fri Feb 17, 2006 5:32 am

"Million dollar play, ten cent finish."

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Postby Felonius_Monk » Fri Feb 17, 2006 8:14 am

The Monkman J[c]

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Postby SebQtaneus » Fri Feb 17, 2006 8:53 am

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Postby Molina » Fri Feb 17, 2006 9:15 am

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Postby emmasdad » Fri Feb 17, 2006 10:32 am

For something to be a sport it needs to involve a risk of serious injury or death. Tennis, golf, even darts if the thrower is drunk enough, all qualify. Auto racing - clearly a sport. Bowling, well that is a bit more borderline, but I can imagine some level of carnage occuring so it is a sport. Poker, chess, backgammon, bridge, monopoly - not so much.

Now if there was a celebrity poker death match in clay-mation, that would be worth watching. I want to see Chris Feurgeson take off Doogie Howser's head with a card trick. That would be entertainment, but I don't know if clay-mation removes it from the realm of proper sport. But I digress.
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