# Stupidest "sport" you've seen televised **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 20, 2018, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-sport-youve-seen-televised/821656 "2018-09-20T22:16:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-sport-youve-seen-televised/821656/1 "2018-09-20T22:16:56Z")
Yeah, if you look at it certain ways, many/most athletic endeavors can be described as silly, pointless, etc. But I saw something on TV last night that truly caused my jaw to drop. I don’t watch a lot of sports, but whatever station was on when I turned on the set had something called [equestrian vaulting](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lbb_KpxNfTc). :smack: They had individual and team events, where as many as 3 people were on the horse at a time. It impressed me as competitive circus acts. The competitors and announcers were taking it very seriously. How would someone decide to get into something like that? Hang around the stables and say, “Hey, do you mind if I do some flips off of your horses?” So, what have you seen on TV that is sillier. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-sport-youve-seen-televised/821656/2 "2018-09-20T22:55:45Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Yeah, if you look at it certain ways, many/most athletic endeavors can be described as silly, pointless, etc. But I saw something on TV last night that truly caused my jaw to drop. > > I don’t watch a lot of sports, but whatever station was on when I turned on the set had something called [equestrian vaulting](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lbb_KpxNfTc). :smack: They had individual and team events, where as many as 3 people were on the horse at a time. It impressed me as competitive circus acts. > > The competitors and announcers were taking it very seriously. How would someone decide to get into something like that? Hang around the stables and say, “Hey, do you mind if I do some flips off of your horses?” > > So, what have you seen on TV that is sillier. You try vaulting, honey, if you think you’re so smart. Do you think gymnastics silly? Because it is just gymnastics only with a horse added to make it more dangerous and thrilling. You need the same kinds of skills. Personally I think American football is way stupider than vaulting. . ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-sport-youve-seen-televised/821656/3 "2018-09-20T22:58:26Z")
Hot dog eating contests. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-sport-youve-seen-televised/821656/4 "2018-09-20T23:03:29Z")
One of the ESPN’s had a national (Maybe world?) cornhole championship. The competitors took it very seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-sport-youve-seen-televised/821656/5 "2018-09-21T01:21:07Z")
[Battle of the Network Stars Celebrity Dunk Tank](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ9yqEMYx20) It wasn’t really about the athletics. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-sport-youve-seen-televised/821656/6 "2018-09-21T01:29:07Z")
Poker. W-T-F. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-sport-youve-seen-televised/821656/7 "2018-09-21T01:37:35Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > One of the ESPN’s had a national (Maybe world?) cornhole championship. The competitors took it very seriously. Yeah, I saw some of that. Silly, but they were also really good at it. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-sport-youve-seen-televised/821656/8 "2018-09-21T01:44:58Z")
Hey! One of my friends is one of the top American cornhole players! Cornhole’s legit! A little while ago I was at a brunch and ESPN was on in the background. They were showing a roundnet tournament. I thought it was odd just because I’d never heard of it and yet here it was on national TV. I couldn’t really figure the game out from watching it across the bar. > **[Roundnet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roundnet)** > > Roundnet (also commonly known as spikeball) is a net sport. The game is played between two teams, usually with two players each. Players initially line up around a small trampoline-like net at the start of a point. The game starts with a serve from one team to another, and teams alternate hitting the ball back to the net, and ends when the ball falls to the ground or an infraction occurs. > Roundnet was originally created in 1989 by Jeff Knurek, inspired primarily by concepts from volleyball, alth... ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-sport-youve-seen-televised/821656/9 "2018-09-21T01:45:11Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > Personally I think American football is way stupider than vaulting. What? It’s the greatest sport in the world! I know it’s not for everyone, but it is the greatest — speed, power, strength, skill, teamwork, grace, balance, foot skills and hand-eye coordination… nothing is better. But yeah, I get it, if you don’t like it, then you don’t like it. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-sport-youve-seen-televised/821656/10 "2018-09-21T01:46:40Z")
Yep — hot dog eating contests. Now that’s a silly sport. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-sport-youve-seen-televised/821656/11 "2018-09-21T01:48:25Z")
[I watched miniature golf on ESPN back in the day.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D4s-3DCB9s) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-sport-youve-seen-televised/821656/12 "2018-09-21T01:49:05Z")
Probably bowling. I’ve done league and tournament bowling on-and-off for almost 30 years so it’s not like I have anything against it but it sure ain’t a spectator sport. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-sport-youve-seen-televised/821656/13 "2018-09-21T02:07:37Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Probably bowling. I’ve done league and tournament bowling on-and-off for almost 30 years so it’s not like I have anything against it but it sure ain’t a spectator sport. Announcer: What do you think he’s gonna do next, Jim? Announcer #2: I think he’s gonna try and knock those pins over, Al. (paraphrased from George Carlin) ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-sport-youve-seen-televised/821656/14 "2018-09-21T02:42:43Z")
14 posts and nobody has mentioned curling? (Although I’ll be honest, it looks fun, as does the luge.) ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-sport-youve-seen-televised/821656/15 "2018-09-21T02:43:39Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > 14 posts and nobody has mentioned curling? (Although I’ll be honest, it looks fun, as does the luge.) I’ll watch curling over everything thus far mentioned…including football. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-sport-youve-seen-televised/821656/16 "2018-09-21T02:57:56Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > 14 posts and nobody has mentioned curling? (Although I’ll be honest, it looks fun, as does the luge.) I would have but I’ve never watched the great Canadian sport of Ice Brooming. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-sport-youve-seen-televised/821656/17 "2018-09-21T03:04:40Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > So, what have you seen on TV that is sillier. A lot of folks who don’t know any better might say racewalking. I _do_ know better; it _is_ racewalking. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-sport-youve-seen-televised/821656/18 "2018-09-21T03:35:44Z")
I actually considered saying that, until I thought of curling. It looks ridiculous, BUT Olympic-level racewalkers cover long distances - IIRC, 20K and 50K, which is 31 miles - at surprisingly fast paces, less than 7 minutes per mile. Most people can’t run that fast, let alone that far, and lots of them are disqualified because they’re supposed to have one foot on the ground at all times, and are allowed ONE scratch. Televised professional bowling was quite popular in the 1970s. I’ve heard several people say, “Why is beach volleyball so popular?” and my response has been, “Have you seen how they dress, or don’t dress in the case of the women?” 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-sport-youve-seen-televised/821656/19 "2018-09-21T03:41:24Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > 14 posts and nobody has mentioned curling? (Although I’ll be honest, it looks fun, as does the luge.) Yeah to the uninitiated it may look quirky. I’ve never been a fan, but on a family vacation to Niagara Falls we did a family outing to the historic Niagara Falls Curling Club (it dates to 1891) and we had an intro lesson and then we, my wife and I and our 3 20-somethings kids and our daughter’s boyfriend took basic curling lessons and then we played for a little while. It is very tricky! And besides being educational, it was fun and memorable too. So now when there’s curling in the Olympics, we aren’t as quick to change the channel. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-sport-youve-seen-televised/821656/20 "2018-09-21T03:42:06Z")
I’ll watch bowling any day of the week. Properly telecasted, of course. I gave up when they turned the finals events into something like the 17th hole at Phoenix, with cheering while they bowled, etc. Curling is fascinating to watch, especially now that they are experimenting with better viewing angles to show the curl more. Of course, I curl, so I know what is involved. For me, most of the made-up exhibition X-games type sports are just stupid. Instead of pretending they are competitions, just acknowledge that they are people showing off mad skilz and leave it at that. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-sport-youve-seen-televised/821656.md?page=2)