If one picked up a Webster dictionary, we would find the definition of “Sport” as simply a competition with a set of rules. Yet as anyone would agree with me, marbles and Monopoly are not sports, even though they do fall under the definition. Though the dictionary does mention the physical side of it, it does say a game or physical activity. But whatever the definition is, most would say that it has to have endurance and coordination to be a sport. In this way of looking at it, marbles, monopoly and chess are not a sport.

I would like to take things one step further. Is ball room dancing a sport? When millions watched “So you think you can dance” on tv, were we watching a sporting event? How about American Idol? Is that a sport? Most would say that none of these are sports but are only competitions. Yet they fit under the definition of a sport as well do they not? Dancing takes physical exertion with coordination and they competed against each other. Though American Idol does not need coordination, singing can be exerting and they are competing under a set of rules. So I would ask you, why is figure skating considered a sport but “Dancing with the Stars” is not? What is the deciding factor that seperates the two?

Here is the way I look at what makes a sport. Just as the definitions says, it is a competition with a set of rules or guidelines. Like most, I believe it needs to take physical exertion and coordination as well. The one factor I believe that is missing in the definition is how it is scored. Is it the players or teams who achieve the points or is it a set of judges who decides who wins? If it is a set of jkudges who decide the winner, then it is no longer truly a sport but a competition. In all of the major sports, though they have judges or referrees to keep the players within the rulles, it is accomplishments by the players or teams that decides who wins. Not the judges! When any team in the NFL beats the Lions 35 to 6, the other team wins and the Lions lose. The judge cannot change that. I like figure skating. I enjoy watching it sometimes. I also thing it is likely the best excercise out there. The women are always good looking. Not bulky or overly muscled, but great shaped. But since it is decided by a panel of judges, it is relegated back to a competition and not a true sport. As bad as this sounds, bowling is more of a true sport than figure skating. Anyone who truly believes figure skating is a sport, has to also see Dancing with the Stars as a sport as well. I am sorry. Those are not true sports.