Re: Interesting thing I found....
Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2022 9:52 am
My definition is probably similar to Jay's above. A sport should require at least one or more of physical skill, physical athleticism, or physical strength as a key differentiator for success.
Under this definition, chess (and other board games such as checkers) or card games would not be considered to be sports.
Rifle shooting would be sport since it requires a physical skill (aiming) as key to success. Most eSports would also be a sport since it requires aiming and coordinating several button press combinations very quickly with physical reflexes as a key differentiator for success. In fact, such is the reflexes needed, that gamers in the mid 20s often are too old to do well in eSport competitions.
My sense is jeopardy is mostly about Mental cognition and the physical button pressing speed/skill isn't a key differentiator of success. At best it is a secondary differentiator. The speed of button pressing is generally dictated by (i) knowing the answer, and (ii) cognitively processing the question quickly to decide to press the button (i.e., the mental processing speed is key rather than the minimal physical skill needed). In other words, some of the greats in jeopardy can be pretty old which wouldn't have been the case if the physical button pressing reflex was a key to success.
What about hot dog eating contest? Clearly, it requires some physical skill, so perhaps my definition fails as most wouldn't intuitively consider it a sport.
Under this definition, chess (and other board games such as checkers) or card games would not be considered to be sports.
Rifle shooting would be sport since it requires a physical skill (aiming) as key to success. Most eSports would also be a sport since it requires aiming and coordinating several button press combinations very quickly with physical reflexes as a key differentiator for success. In fact, such is the reflexes needed, that gamers in the mid 20s often are too old to do well in eSport competitions.
My sense is jeopardy is mostly about Mental cognition and the physical button pressing speed/skill isn't a key differentiator of success. At best it is a secondary differentiator. The speed of button pressing is generally dictated by (i) knowing the answer, and (ii) cognitively processing the question quickly to decide to press the button (i.e., the mental processing speed is key rather than the minimal physical skill needed). In other words, some of the greats in jeopardy can be pretty old which wouldn't have been the case if the physical button pressing reflex was a key to success.
What about hot dog eating contest? Clearly, it requires some physical skill, so perhaps my definition fails as most wouldn't intuitively consider it a sport.
. My definition is simpler. The heart rate has to be elevated above a certain level for substantial periods. Now, adrenaline rush or pressure also raises the heart rate, as in chess or other “non sports,” so I don’t know what additional criteria to use to distinguish. Or, should they also be called sport?