# What makes an activity a sport?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-an-activity-a-sport/722595>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [June 15, 2015, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-an-activity-a-sport/722595 "2015-06-15T18:34:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\
**Post date:** [June 17, 2015, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-an-activity-a-sport/722595/41 "2015-06-17T23:59:38Z")

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> [@Thing\_Fish](#):
>
> I find chess to be the most interesting case here. Most people have argued that it isn’t a sport because it involves no obvious physical exertion. However, at the very highest levels, the age range of the competitors does tend to resemble that of more conventional sports.

That’s also true of top theoretical mathematicians, or software pioneers.

[QUOTE=Muffin]  
You know, RickJay, I realize you’ll probably disagree with me, but I think standup has aspects of sport.  
[/QUOTE]

Sure I agree. It has ASPECTS of sport. It requires practice, is a test of physical skill, and skill generally peaks in one’s 20s and 30s. Many things have aspects of sport, but are not a sport.

I mean, hell, being a roofer has aspects of sport.

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**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-an-activity-a-sport/722595/42 "2015-06-18T00:58:38Z")

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Last summer a roofer working on my neighbour’s house pooped on my lawn. “He poops, he scores!”

(Forget the spring bear hunt. Hunting roofers should be legalized as a sport.)

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**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-an-activity-a-sport/722595/43 "2015-06-18T02:07:25Z")

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> [@Muffin](#):
>
> Last summer a roofer working on my neighbour’s house pooped on my lawn. “He poops, he scores!”

[I remember that thread. Classic!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=730608)

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**Author:** ![OffByOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/45deac/32.png) [@OffByOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OffByOne)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-an-activity-a-sport/722595/44 "2015-06-18T17:40:26Z")

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> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#):
>
> An ESPN contract.

In that case, Scrabble (R) Brand Word Game became a sport a few times.

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**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-an-activity-a-sport/722595/45 "2015-06-18T20:54:36Z")

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> [@OffByOne](#):
>
> In that case, Scrabble (R) Brand Word Game became a sport a few times.

The spelling bee, too.

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