Americans are right on a lot of things, though. In many things that the rest of the world thinks the Americans are wrong, the world sooner or later figures out that the Americans were right after all .. But that is another discussion, because my opinions on chess has nothing to do wth what Americans think. Actually I didn't know that Americans think that way and the rest of the world thinks differently... Any data on this? Really?? [Or is it PKB's Nehru-like contempt for all things American? ... I know PKB, that was below the beltForget about your obsessive hatred for chess, Jay, and celebrate a truly worthy world champion. Only the Americans don't think of it as a sport
]Anyway, I have no hatred at all to chess. It is a tremendous game. Calling it a sport is all I object to. Viswanathan Anand being the world champion is as big an achievement as an individual world championship in any sport, or say a scientist from India getting a Nobel prize. It is a big achievement. You don't have to call chess a "sport" for the achievement to be great. It is THE most enjoyed, most popular, and most respected game in the world, and it stands on its own. If you ask me to name the top 5 world-relevant personalities from India, Vishy Anand has to be one I would include.. No need to call him a sports man for that.
That top chess requires physical fitness does not make it a sport either. To be a top actor in Hollywood also requires as good or better physical fitness these days. Or any dancer needs to be. They are not sportsmen.
Sports for me are the activities where people compete against other people, people's visible body parts move, and how well/correctly/effectively they move directly affects their chance for winning. Necessary condition (not sufficient .. example: dancers, actors) .. The "visble" part was added to exclude singers whose vocal chords do move! Carrom is a sport. Anthaakshari is not. They are all games though. I always considered chess a game. A really great game that I was never good at. I have amazing respect for all who can do well in chess. My brain was too poor for that the couple of times I tried to play....
I don't think there is any sport in Olympics or Winter Olympics that does not fit my definition. It is a pretty simple definition.
Why do you all feel so much need to call chess a sport?? What does it prove to call it a sport?? Would it become any great an activity? Or any less because we call it a game instead of a sport?
Jay
