# What do you think are the saddest excuses for a sport? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 21, 2002, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-are-the-saddest-excuses-for-a-sport/104854 "2002-04-21T20:49:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![stankow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@stankow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stankow)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-are-the-saddest-excuses-for-a-sport/104854/41 "2002-04-22T21:24:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bup \* > \*\ ***stankow’s** standards make war a sport. \*\* Who won Korea? By whose objective standards? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-are-the-saddest-excuses-for-a-sport/104854/42 "2002-04-22T21:40:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FloChi \* > \*\*Or possibly the chainsaw competitions at the local show. Axe mastery is hard, and requires lots of effort, with a chainsaw all you need to do is use it. They look like men who can’t use an axe. > \*\* Having done timbersports for quite a while, I can assure you that it takes great skill to win a chainsaw competition. I’m pretty good, but there are competitors who are orders of magnitude better than I. You’re all competing with identical machines so skill really matters. Now, unlimited class chainsaw (basically motorcycle engines strapped to an ungodly large bar and chain) are another story. The skill there is mostly in building the custom machines and keeping them running. Plus you have to be strong enough to fight the immense torque they generate. Crosscut sawing is also heavily dependent on getting the best and best prepared saws. But skill plus lots of practice is the biggest factor. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-are-the-saddest-excuses-for-a-sport/104854/43 "2002-04-23T02:49:32Z")
I’d like to add **Competitive Eating** to this list. Yeah, eating a 100 hot dogs in 5 minutes is somethin’, but sheesh. Colin ---
**Author:** ![tigergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@tigergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tigergirl)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-are-the-saddest-excuses-for-a-sport/104854/44 "2002-04-23T04:25:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jmpride62 \* > \*\*badminton, croquet, and any sport where humans ride on animals who get food and water for running their asses off while their passengers get prize money \*\* And why exactly do you think of badminton as a sad excuse for a sport? If you apply stankow’s definition of sport : **Must include physical activity necessary to the sport** Yes… I consider running and hitting the shuttle to be physical. **must have the other competitors directly trying to keep you from scoring/finishing/whatever** Yes… goal is to hit it back to the opposition so that they can’thit it back to you. \*\*must have objective standards \*\* Yes… lots but I won’t go into them. I’d be interested to know why you didn’t list Squash or Tennis considering your definition of sport :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-are-the-saddest-excuses-for-a-sport/104854/45 "2002-04-23T06:09:00Z")
**Stankow** , Korea was a tie. Ties are allowed, right? The objective standard is if somebody surrenders, they lose. Other means of ending wars are draws. ---
**Author:** ![Cio\_Cio\_San](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Cio\_Cio\_San](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cio_Cio_San)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-are-the-saddest-excuses-for-a-sport/104854/46 "2002-04-23T07:53:01Z")
fishing/hunting those make no sense to me, and especially fishing as a sport. Sports usually don’t involve bullshitting with your friends in a boat, and getting drunk at the same time. Also sneaking up on animals and shooting them, only to have them stuffed in some angry aggressive pose to make it seem like you shot the animal as it was attacking you is pretty lame ---
**Author:** ![stankow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@stankow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stankow)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-are-the-saddest-excuses-for-a-sport/104854/47 "2002-04-23T11:36:17Z")
If Korea was a tie, **bup** , then why have both sides insisted they won for the last fifty years? Doesn’t seem too objective to me. ---
**Author:** ![Pergau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7c8e57/32.png) [@Pergau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pergau)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-are-the-saddest-excuses-for-a-sport/104854/48 "2002-04-23T12:08:58Z")
I can’t believe that the thread got this far without anybody mentioning Beach Volleyball. Beach Volleyball Has to be the two saddest excuse for sport ever It’s a pathetic excuse for getting people to wear as few clothes as passible, and jiggle. Not that I’m against jiggling, but it’s more an art than a sport. ---
**Author:** ![istara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e79b87/32.png) [@istara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/istara)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-are-the-saddest-excuses-for-a-sport/104854/49 "2002-04-23T12:09:27Z")
Golf Chess Snooker And although I love watching figure skating and ice-dancing etc, it can’t in all honesty be described as “a sport.” Unless ballet, line-dancing and morrismen also get included. Not a sport in the competitive sense anyway, as it’s artistically judged, not physically measurable. ---
**Author:** ![pbrtallboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f475e1/32.png) [@pbrtallboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbrtallboy)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-are-the-saddest-excuses-for-a-sport/104854/50 "2002-04-23T15:20:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Yo La Tengo \* > > **3. Skateboarding** - I tried it a couple times. Gay as hell. :o What do you mean “Gay as hell?” Skateboarding is so gay? For gays? All skateboarders are gay? If only. ---
**Author:** ![RaCha\_ar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@RaCha\_ar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaCha_ar)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-are-the-saddest-excuses-for-a-sport/104854/51 "2002-04-23T16:11:24Z")
Wow. You know, I just realised that I read the OP several times and never picked up on that. Why “gay as hell,” indeed? ---
**Author:** ![tallinu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6de8d8/32.png) [@tallinu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tallinu)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-are-the-saddest-excuses-for-a-sport/104854/52 "2002-04-23T16:40:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by stankow \* > \*\*I have a simple definition for “sport”: Must include physical activity necessary to the sport (chess, no; curling, yes); must have the other competitors directly trying to keep you from scoring/finishing/whatever (golf, no; basketball, yes); must have objective standards (figure skating, no; football, yes). > > No physical activity or opposition? It’s a _game_. It may be a competitive game, but it’s a game. > \*\* too limiting IMHO. the biggest of these is the direct competition using that, here’s a quick smaple list: “Sports”: Football (US,Aus,rugby, euro, et. al) Baseball Basketball _Billiards_ “Not Sports”: Most Downhill skiing events Most racing (human powered or otherwise) almost all track and field (FTR, I consider billiards to be a game, not a sport, but it fits the definition above) That direct competition clause is the part I can’t agree with, and that I base the above list on. I am, of course, not saying that you cannot use the above deifinition, but I think it’s too limiting. Although as a definition for TEAM sports, it has more merit. Another note, most forms of auto racing is, according to this definition, a sport. To call it not because of the car is ludicrous. While you are at it, you can discount downhill skiing as well, unless you don’t think gravity plays a major role in the event (like cars do in racing). I won’t debate the physical exertion of a race driver vs other sports unless absolutely required, but to think that there is no effort, well, if you think that drving isn’t work, you’ve never really driven. What about sail racing? Doesn’t count because of wind/hull design? Bah. As for the saddest sport… I guess I have to wait until I see the resolution of this definition, as it will widely change the available choices ---
**Author:** ![Skerri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Skerri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skerri)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-are-the-saddest-excuses-for-a-sport/104854/53 "2002-04-23T16:51:18Z")
**Yo La Tengo** , I suggest you find a better word to describe your feelings about skateboarding. I assume you equate ‘gay’ with ‘lame’, and that’s just not right. Besides, I would like to see you drop in on a half-pipe and get even close enough to getting enough air to do anything. Or better yet, go on outside and attempt to do some of the things skateboarders do on your street. There is physical activity, skill, timing, and creativity required. Call it a spectator sport, or whatever you want, but don’t put it down just because it’s not something you like. Skerri, who equates ‘gay’ with ‘sexual preference’, and skated for 4 years until she broke her ankle. ---
**Author:** ![stankow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@stankow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stankow)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-are-the-saddest-excuses-for-a-sport/104854/54 "2002-04-23T17:13:11Z")
You raise good points, **tallinu**. I’m not saying that all things in the set that satisfy my definition of “sport” are inherently better than all things that do not. The opposition factor is a big sticking point whenever I bring this up, because people point out things like skiing or track and field events, but to me, it’s a crucial distinction. Skiers are unquestionably athletes in competition, but who are they competing against? It’s not each other, it’s the mountain. A skier can make the worst run of his life and end up winning because everyone else skied off into the woods and was eaten by a bear. I prefer my winners to have won, not to have avoid losing. And the best way to know that you’ve won is to have the loser as your directly interfering opposition. ---
**Author:** ![tallinu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6de8d8/32.png) [@tallinu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tallinu)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-are-the-saddest-excuses-for-a-sport/104854/55 "2002-04-23T17:43:37Z")
**stankow** Instead of turning this into a debate (and it may be a good GD thread), I guess we’re going to have to agree to disagree 🙂 You did bring up some good points though… I skimmed past the “skateboarding is gay” statement as well, mainly because it holds no interest from me, but I agree, without trying to pile on, that it could have been worded better… Stil thinking about saddest sport… ---
**Author:** ![stankow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@stankow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stankow)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-are-the-saddest-excuses-for-a-sport/104854/56 "2002-04-23T18:31:23Z")
It’s purely a matter of definition. Sport is sport and competition is competition, and as long as we can agree that figure skating ain’t a sport, I’m happy. ---
**Author:** ![tallinu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6de8d8/32.png) [@tallinu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tallinu)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-are-the-saddest-excuses-for-a-sport/104854/57 "2002-04-23T20:26:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by stankow \* > \*\*It’s purely a matter of definition. Sport is sport and competition is competition, and as long as we can agree that figure skating ain’t a sport, I’m happy. \*\* 😃 No arguments here on that one. ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-are-the-saddest-excuses-for-a-sport/104854/58 "2002-04-24T06:19:03Z")
Golf is a sport because it takes physical ability to play. It’s not grueling like ice hockey, but it’s still a physical test. Bridge, chess, etc. are games, not sports. Anything with judges (figure skating, diving, cheerleading, marching band, ballroom dance, etc.) is not a sport. There’s no set standards. And I’ll join with several others in saying auto racing is not a sport. Is it hard? Sure. Does the best car always win? No, there’s a lot of strategy, and learning how to drive successfully is tough. If anything, I think auto racing is more a mental than physical test. Is there a clear winner and loser? You bet. But come on, driving in circles for 500 miles? Although I bet F1 racers laugh when they hear NASCAR drivers complain about the two road courses on the circuit. ---
**Author:** ![Jeremy\_s\_Evil\_Twin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Jeremy\_s\_Evil\_Twin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeremy_s_Evil_Twin)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-are-the-saddest-excuses-for-a-sport/104854/59 "2002-04-24T10:54:04Z")
Frisbee Golf. ---
**Author:** ![Eternal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@Eternal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eternal)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-are-the-saddest-excuses-for-a-sport/104854/60 "2002-04-24T18:17:22Z")
Running Around in a Field Yelling “Fred!” It has a large and dedicated fanbase, but I just don’t see the attraction. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-are-the-saddest-excuses-for-a-sport/104854.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-are-the-saddest-excuses-for-a-sport/104854.md?page=4)