Sport or pastime?

bobmac

bobmac

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Having just watched SPOTY, well done to AP McCoy.
However had he not won Phil Taylor would have done.
But is darts a sport?
I heard today that to play a sport, you have to change your shoes :)
 
Is it competitive?
That's one way to look at it.
They may well walk a few miles from oche to pint to oche again and they certainly spend more time throwing than golfers do hitting shots - unless you're having a really bad day.

Quite frankly I don't care. AS far as personality goes Taylor should have walked it.
 
Maybe he does lol
Taylor has won 15 world championships though not many people can amass that kind of haul. I would say it's a sport, not an energetic one but would say you need to be very skilled.
 
I don't follow darts and know nothing of Phil Taylor other than he's won 15 world titles - why is he a personality exactly?

Golf and darts and snooker aren't really sports in that you can be really fat but still do well.

I think real sports need to be physical as well as skilful. Most of us turn to golf when we're too old to play proper sport.

I knew Cavendish stood no chance but I think he's achieved more than anyone this year.

What would someone like McDowell need to do to win this award? - he'll never have a better year than this one.

McCoy - 13000 races is some achievement I suppose but horse racing is only there because of betting, not entertainment.
 
I heard today that to play a sport, you have to change your shoes :)
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Some one has been listening to much to Chris Evans on the R2 Breakfast Show .

You could make a case for a lot sports not being a sport. Horse racing requires a 1HP racing machine, F1 requires a 800HP racing machine. Or even that no one from a team sport eg football should win due to requiring 10 other people to make you seem good.
 
To me, the clue is in the title and this is where the BBC get it wrong almost every year.

PERSONALITY.

What PERSONALITIES have won this award in recent years?

Last year....... Ryan Giggs!!! Yep the grannies favourite. "ooh, he looks a lovely lad!" but has the personality of a plank of wood.

GMac and Westie are multi million earners..... but are as down to earth as you would wish to meet.
Mansell, Faldo, Hill, all as much personality as yet more lumber.
 
To me, the clue is in the title and this is where the BBC get it wrong almost every year.

PERSONALITY.

What PERSONALITIES have won this award in recent years?

Last year....... Ryan Giggs!!! Yep the grannies favourite. "ooh, he looks a lovely lad!" but has the personality of a plank of wood.



GMac and Westie are multi million earners..... but are as down to earth as you would wish to meet.
Mansell, Faldo, Hill, all as much personality as yet more lumber.
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And that is why it really is a total joke of an award,a complete waste of time and space on the T.V. screen.
 
And that is why it really is a total joke of an award,a complete waste of time and space on the T.V. screen.
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And that is exactly why I never bother to watch it. Complete waste of time. don't really know why I bothered to read this thread - let alone post on it. :D :D
 
I think you could say that at least Taylor has a glimmer of personality. Ennis who finished 3rd looks nice (mmmm very) but AP only got it for finally winning the National after 15 or so tries. He is also a multi-champion jockey it must be said but surely to a degree you are only as good as the horse you are sitting on.

It is a mickey mouse award but it fills the TV schedule at this time of year and clearly gets some money in the Beebs coffers with the phone votes.
 
Homer you are correct; AP has had a great career, but the National win made the difference. Obviously Phil Taylor is also prolific, but has he done anything different this year? Both (as with Giggs last year seem to be more lifetime achievement candidates - maybe they should have a 1,2,3 in that category?). For achievements this year, I would go for GmAc and Lee :)
 
I think what AP has achieved is phenomenal but is horse racing a sport while we are nit picking?

Yes there is skill involved in driving the horse but surely the horse does the majority of the work as opposed to the rider.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying it's easy but neither are darts and golf - not everyone can earn a living playing these games.

In terms of athleticism surely Ennis, Cavendish, Williams, Haye and Delay are your top 5.
 
For me, anything that is competitive, requires skill and has a measurable outcome is a sport.

As far as SPOTY goes, I think there should be an award for Sportsperson of the Year (for the person that has achieved the most in the year) as well as Sports Personality of the Year as they are often two distinctly different things.

Perhaps that would clear up the arguments ever year?

The Champ is an incredible talent and athlete and is hugely deserving of wider recognition but he just doesn't sit well with the title of Sports Personality of the Year.

He or Phil Taylor as, probably the two greatest ever exponents of their sport, are much more deserving of a Lifetime Achievement awards than David Beckham.
 
I think what AP has achieved is phenomenal but is horse racing a sport while we are nit picking?

Yes there is skill involved in driving the horse but surely the horse does the majority of the work as opposed to the rider.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying it's easy but neither are darts and golf - not everyone can earn a living playing these games.

In terms of athleticism surely Ennis, Cavendish, Williams, Haye and Delay are your top 5.
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Of course, horse racing is a sport. There is huge skill to it and athleticism.

The physical demands and physical risks are enormous too. When you consider the consequences of falling from a horse at 30mph+, the broken bones, the injuries, bravery, determination and endurance are huge requirements too.

The Champ has ridden in over 13,000 races and won more than 3,000 which is so far clear of his nearest rival, it is ridiculous.

The horse obviously is a factor in the result but, if you talk to any national hunt punter, they will tell you that The Champ has got horses past the post first that had no-one else could have done. Not just once or twice, but time and again.

He is a legend and the greatest jump jockey that has ever lived.
 
Is darts a sport? No. It's a pub game. Any 'sport' where you can drink, smoke, not break sweat, and play at the same time can't be a sport.

Golf? I've yet to be convinced, but it is closer to sport than darts. Ball room dancing is closer to sport than darts.

Poker anyone?
 
Is darts a sport? No. It's a pub game. Any 'sport' where you can drink, smoke, not break sweat, and play at the same time can't be a sport.
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Have you seen darts?

Those spotlights are bloody hot, the players sweat like pigs! ;)
 
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