Is cheerleading a sport?

And, according to the Reilly definitions, WWF wrestling IS a sport. Standardized scoring? One guy pins the other… 's that simple. :smiley:

Perhaps he should add an addendum about “sports entertainment”.

That also rules out the 100-metre dash. It also begs the question; what’s an athletic activity? I would also question Cyberhwk’s definition:

Something doesn’t stop being a sport if the players suck at it.

A SPORT is a contest of physical skill, engaged in for its own intrinsic purpose, with predetermined rules with objective criteria for determining a winner.

Baseball is a sport. Billiards is a sport. The Olympic high jump is a sport. Darts is a sport. The 100-metre dash is a sport. Bowling is obviously a sport. Croquet is a sport. Soccer (it’s not called “football.” “Football” is played by steroid-laden, helmet-clad men who hired ringers to write their college exams) is a sport.

Anything wherein a winner is determined by a subjective judging system is not a sport, so cheerleading is out, as are all gymnastic events, synchronized swimming, figure skating, and to some extent boxing.

Anything that is not a contest of physical skill is not a sport, so chess isn’t a sport. Billards definitely IS. Sure, you don’t need to be Bruce Jenner; so what? It’s a contest of physical skill, has predefined rules, and an objectively determined winner.

Anything not engaged in “For its own intrinsic purpose” is not a sport; so, for instance, war isn’t a sport.

To some extent? It either is or it isn’t. We can’t exactly put boxing on the “Sort-of Sports Network,” can we?

So, would team orgies or Whack-a-Thons[sup]TM[/sup] be considered sports? :smiley: IMHO, your definition is too vague.

I don’t consider the 100-meter dash to be a sport. It’s a strenuous, extremely physical athletic activity, but I don’t consider it a sport. I don’t consider Track to be a sport. Many people I know in track don’t consider it a sport. Now, if they were allowed to tackle their competitors… :wink:

I don’t think bowling is a sport. Billiards isn’t a sport. Darts isn’t a sport. Soccer is a sport. Football is a sport. Binge drinking is not essentially a sport, but could probably quickly become one. :slight_smile:

Is fixed wrestling a sport ?

Does it matter ?

They enjoy cheerleading, we enjoy watching etc.

Its entertainment, sport ( in general ) is now a sub section of entertainment.

Was it sport to let lions eat the christians ?

I had a really nutty teacher who believed that there were only three sports: Football, baseball, and basketball.

He loathed soccer. He thought it should be called “kick”. And no, his initials weren’t “K.O.”

Just wanted everyone to know what the furthest extreme of “what is/what isn’t a sport” was.

What about those women who try to set records for the number of consecutive men they have sex with? A sport? BTW, what’s the record up to now?