Bowling? Is It A "True Sport"...??

[Principled Man]

Never played sports in high school but if I were forced it would be volleyball. Took it for fall semester in junior and senior year of high school.

 

Football in 6th grade, but a ripped up knee in 7th grade and a broken leg freshman year took care of any sports for me.

 

Golf, bowling, softball and the occasional attempt at tennis have been my sports.

Bowling - average; not bad.

Golf - fantastically mediocre.

Softball - Choked under pressure. Couldn't hit the ball to save my life in league play..... :wacko:

[goose]

Any activity where you can participate and drink beer is not a sport.

We're looking at you, Boston Red Sox.

[Principled Man]

Any activity where you can participate and drink beer is not a sport.

We're looking at you, Boston Red Sox.

 

Back in the day, baseball and football players smoked on the sidelines. Just imagine them doing that today.....

[Nova Carmina]

While I do think bowling is a sport (the outcome of the contest is determined by the skills of participants), if I were arguing it's not a sport, and my bowling average was low, that would somehow be evidence it is a sport? Huh?

 

I can't do differential calculus, and that's not a sport. Surely whether one can or cannot do an activity doesn't determine its sportiness.

 

Skydiving is a sport? What's the scoring system? Maybe I don't want to know . . .

 

Soccer, football, basketball, baseball, tennis, bowling, etc., sports. NASCAR, deer hunting, ballroom dancing, cheer leading, ice skating, etc., not sports.

 

I've haven't bowled in years, but I think my golf and bowling scores are about the same range!

[goose]

sport: "an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment."

 

 

[Principled Man]

sport: "an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment."

 

You are correct, sir, but my mistake was posing the question, "Is it a True Sport?"

 

I should have known that it would attract ferocious arguments.....

[goose]

sport: "an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment."

 

You are correct, sir, but my mistake was posing the question, "Is it a True Sport?"

 

I should have known that it would attract ferocious arguments.....

Anytime you talk sports, there's controversy. That's half the fun.

 

The Fam went out for lunch yesterday and the place had world gymnastics on. The men's rings was interspersed with the women's balance beam, and as my son watched he asked why the women interrupt their feats of athleticism with goofy fance moves. I thought that was a fair question.

[Rick N. Backer]

While I do think bowling is a sport (the outcome of the contest is determined by the skills of participants), if I were arguing it's not a sport, and my bowling average was low, that would somehow be evidence it is a sport? Huh?

 

I can't do differential calculus, and that's not a sport. Surely whether one can or cannot do an activity doesn't determine its sportiness.

 

Skydiving is a sport? What's the scoring system? Maybe I don't want to know . . .

 

Soccer, football, basketball, baseball, tennis, bowling, etc., sports. NASCAR, deer hunting, ballroom dancing, cheer leading, ice skating, etc., not sports.

 

I've haven't bowled in years, but I think my golf and bowling scores are about the same range!

 

Ice skating isn't a sport?

[KenJennings]

Any activity where you can participate and drink beer is not a sport.

That's such a lame and expected response. One can participate and drink beer in any sport or activity.

 

Is softball a sport then?

 

Funny but I don't see the professional bowlers drinking beer .

Apparently I treaded on your sacred bowling territory. But for many, bowling is a game of throw a ball, drink a some beer, throw a ball, eat some nachos.

 

Sports are games of skill that require a physical element of strength, agility or stamina to excel. Bowling, Golf, Motorsports, Curling, Softball: all sports.

[Nova Carmina]

 

 

Ice skating isn't a sport?

 

No, I would argue it isn't. I'd base that on the fact that the outcome is determined by judges who award (largely still) subjective scores. If you watch much ice skating -- and thanks to Mrs. Nova Carmina I do -- you see that veteran skaters or skaters from important countries tend to get higher scores because of judging bias. Taking the result out of the hands of the players themselves diminishes an activity's claim to proper sport (while still being a potentially very taxing activity or skill).

 

The consequence of my definition excludes the judged events, so no ice skating, gymnastics, cheer leading, etc. It would also exclude boxing, except in the case of a knockout, which I'll admit is weird.

 

And no, the ref in soccer or football is not in charge of determining who wins -- unless it's a Saints playoff game. Ideally, refs and umps play no part in who wins, whereas in ice skating, you'd never know who won if it weren't for the judges.

[goose]

 

 

Ice skating isn't a sport?

 

No, I would argue it isn't. I'd base that on the fact that the outcome is determined by judges who award (largely still) subjective scores. If you watch much ice skating -- and thanks to Mrs. Nova Carmina I do -- you see that veteran skaters or skaters from important countries tend to get higher scores because of judging bias. Taking the result out of the hands of the players themselves diminishes an activity's claim to proper sport (while still being a potentially very taxing activity or skill).

 

The consequence of my definition excludes the judged events, so no ice skating, gymnastics, cheer leading, etc. It would also exclude boxing, except in the case of a knockout, which I'll admit is weird.

 

And no, the ref in soccer or football is not in charge of determining who wins -- unless it's a Saints playoff game. Ideally, refs and umps play no part in who wins, whereas in ice skating, you'd never know who won if it weren't for the judges.

Actually, you would. There are required scoring elements that a routine must include and mandatory deductions for errors. The judges' subjective input is actually quite a small factor mathematically. But it is enough to make a difference in a close competition.

 

Just like an official makes the difference in a close competition in basketball, football, baseball...

Edited July 3, 2019 by goose

[Nova Carmina]

I agree that a holding call, or a PK, can make the difference in a close game, but after Zeke Elliott scores, the refs don't get together and decide how many points out of six he'll get, and they don't average their scores to figure it out.

 

"Today the Cowboys lost 7-6.8 after the Ukrainian line judge deducted artistry points because Prescott's pass was not perfectly spiraling through the air . . ."

[Rick N. Backer]

Ice skating isn't a sport?

 

No, I would argue it isn't. I'd base that on the fact that the outcome is determined by judges who award (largely still) subjective scores. If you watch much ice skating -- and thanks to Mrs. Nova Carmina I do -- you see that veteran skaters or skaters from important countries tend to get higher scores because of judging bias. Taking the result out of the hands of the players themselves diminishes an activity's claim to proper sport (while still being a potentially very taxing activity or skill).

 

The consequence of my definition excludes the judged events, so no ice skating, gymnastics, cheer leading, etc. It would also exclude boxing, except in the case of a knockout, which I'll admit is weird.

 

And no, the ref in soccer or football is not in charge of determining who wins -- unless it's a Saints playoff game. Ideally, refs and umps play no part in who wins, whereas in ice skating, you'd never know who won if it weren't for the judges.

 

So you mean figure skating. You'd agree that speed skating is a sport, no?

 

Assuming we're in agreement, I don't know if you can ice skate, but there's a reason a hockey shift is measured in seconds. It's because skating itself is physically demanding, never mind the other elements of the game. You're not the first person I've ever heard say that games of skill that don't involve cardiovascular exertion aren't "sports" (golf, pool, bowling, etc.) but I must admit this is the first time I've ever heard someone argue that how the competition is scored is the determining factor.

[Nova Carmina]

Yes, I do mean figure skating. "Ice" skating was pretty inexact. Racing, like speed skating, is probably the oldest kind of "sports" we've got, and the simplest: who crosses the line first?

 

I do skate, and I played hockey when I was in college (not on the college team, just during that age period). It is hard work. I'm agnostic on the cardiovascular demands; sometimes yes, sometimes no.

[goose]

I agree that a holding call, or a PK, can make the difference in a close game, but after Zeke Elliott scores, the refs don't get together and decide how many points out of six he'll get, and they don't average their scores to figure it out.

 

"Today the Cowboys lost 7-6.8 after the Ukrainian line judge deducted artistry points because Prescott's pass was not perfectly spiraling through the air . . ."

"Today the Cowboys scored in the final seconds of the game to go ahead of the Bears 17-14. But after officials reviewed the play and judged that the receiver did not have possession, the play was ruled a no catch and the points were deducted from the score, resulting in a Cowboys' loss. Players, spectators and commentators alike disagreed with the call."

[goose]

Here's what a figure skating scoresheet looks like:

 

[Principled Man]

Here's what a figure skating scoresheet looks like:

 

 

 

Simple math for this thread, please! We can't handle differential calculus.... :o :o

[Nova Carmina]

"Today the Cowboys scored in the final seconds of the game to go ahead of the Bears 17-14. But after officials reviewed the play and judged that the receiver did not have possession, the play was ruled a no catch and the points were deducted from the score, resulting in a Cowboys' loss. Players, spectators and commentators alike disagreed with the call."

 

At least you didn't say the Packers! Ouch. I need a "don't like this" button!

 

Yeah, I get the scorecard is exacting, but surely over the course of several judges the differences between 2s or 3s adds up into significant results determining? At least when it happens in the NFL it's a controversy that last for years, not the normal course of operations.

[Syrinx]

I used to do triathlons including an Ironman. I have a hard time equating bowling with the training and exertion required to compete in events like that. Maybe different levels of "sport".

[Principled Man]

I used to do triathlons including an Ironman. I have a hard time equating bowling with the training and exertion required to compete in events like that. Maybe different levels of "sport".

 

There is no need to equate the two. There are all kinds of sports and sporting events. Very few require the same levels of training and physical exertion. Triathlons are definitely on the far end of the spectrum.

[goose]

"Today the Cowboys scored in the final seconds of the game to go ahead of the Bears 17-14. But after officials reviewed the play and judged that the receiver did not have possession, the play was ruled a no catch and the points were deducted from the score, resulting in a Cowboys' loss. Players, spectators and commentators alike disagreed with the call."

 

At least you didn't say the Packers! Ouch. I need a "don't like this" button!

 

Yeah, I get the scorecard is exacting, but surely over the course of several judges the differences between 2s or 3s adds up into significant results determining? At least when it happens in the NFL it's a controversy that last for years, not the normal course of operations.

I get it. You don't follow skating at all. :cheers:

[Narps]

I have always considered bowling and golf in the same realm. Both demand some although limited physical prowess but mostly require dedication, discipline, attention to detail, concentration and special(to excel) hand eye coordination. I grew up bowling duckpin(look it up) and started very young and continued till my late 20's. I was very good but not great. I took up ten pin at that point and although they both require 10 pins and one ball they are very different. It took me a while to adapt to ten pins. I eventually averaged consistently in the 205-210 range year to year bowling one night a week with no practice. Bowling 3 games a week you will only get but so good. Bowled 3 perfect games but never bowled and 800 series which for anyone who bowls knows that is a major benchmark. 782 was my highest. My right wrist and hand problems stopped my bowling in its tracks in 2009. After 3 wrist fusion surgeries in 2016 I decided to try bowling left handed. It took me two and half years at one night a week to average 198 last year. I have decided to give it up completely now and stick to golf. I would rather be good at golf again than bowling. The challenge to be good at anything is great and I love golf much more.

Is either one a "sport"? I have no idea but they both require a lot to be really good and a special talent to be great...

[Nova Carmina]

I get it. You don't follow skating at all. :cheers:

 

Well, I watch a lot of it, so it might be more right to say I don't get skating at all. I do like to hear Ravel's "Bolero," though . . .

[Nova Carmina]

Would curling be the Venn diagram overlap of the skating/bowling discussion? Would it be a curling "uniform" or "costume"? Edited July 8, 2019 by Nova Carmina

[grep]

When I stopped 25 years ago, I was in the 280 range most games. It took me a long time to get there.

 

Bowling is a sport.

Edited July 8, 2019 by grep