Sport or pastime?

As I have posted previously, I love darts and enjoy the odd game or two on a Sunday evening in the pub with the lads, but to me it's a game / pastime not a sport. All credit to Phil Taylor - what he's achieved is phenomenal and probably won't ever be matched - but he should not be appearing on the SPOTY shortlists.

AP McCoy was a deserving winner, but also how much of the credit for his 'wins' this year are actually down to him rather than the horse? Surely horse racing is similar to the F1 - if you're riding / driving the best horse / car, surely that gives you a significant advantage over everyone else?
 
I think this comes down to what people know and what they have participated in themselves, perhaps even to what level.

Most people haven't ridden a horse (How hard can this be? What could possibly go wrong?). So they don't realise how physically hard this is, let alone to do it fast, whilst controlling a horse which isn't as docile as a beach front donkey, finding the best ground to ride on, deciding where to position the horse and what pace to set.

More people have played darts, but a game down your local with a few beers, isn't the same as a televised world championship, with TV, spotlights and even a rowdy live crowd.

Just like a couple of old guys playing summer only golf for fun, riding round in carts, drinking and smoking cigars isn't the same as the PGA tour.
 
What stops darts being a true sport to me is the lack of change in the game. It can be played anywhere and the conditions will be the same, the distance thrown the same and the equiptment used by the player the same, no wind, rain, to contend with therefore the challenge to excell is somewhat lessened. Prectice long enough and you can take Phil Taylor on and win. I know, I once beat Bobby George in the double top pub in Romford whilst I was working away and I was just a club player.
 
What stops darts being a true sport to me is the lack of change in the game. It can be played anywhere and the conditions will be the same, the distance thrown the same and the equiptment used by the player the same, no wind, rain, to contend with therefore the challenge to excell is somewhat lessened. Prectice long enough and you can take Phil Taylor on and win. I know, I once beat Bobby George in the double top pub in Romford whilst I was working away and I was just a club player.
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Indoor athletics?
 
AP McCoy was a deserving winner, but also how much of the credit for his 'wins' this year are actually down to him rather than the horse? Surely horse racing is similar to the F1 - if you're riding / driving the best horse / car, surely that gives you a significant advantage over everyone else?
Click to expand...

You would think so and on the Flat that is often the case. But National Hunt racing is a different thing. Horses have personalities and some like to front run others prefer to make a late charge. The jockey has to time his/her race, jostling for position and get the horse over huge jumps in all kinds of weather and conditions. The quality of the horse clearly is a big factor but the quality of the jockey (especially one as good as The Champ) can make all the difference.
 
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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It depends on what dictionary definition of "personality" you use. According to Dictionary.com


per·son·al·i·ty   /ˌpɜrsəˈnælɪti/ Show Spelled
[pur-suh-nal-i-tee] Show IPA

–noun, plural -ties.
1. the visible aspect of one's character as it impresses others: He has a pleasing personality.
2. a person as an embodiment of a collection of qualities: He is a curious personality.
3. Psychology .
a. the sum total of the physical, mental, emotional, and social characteristics of an individual.
b. the organized pattern of behavioral characteristics of the individual.
4. the quality of being a person; existence as a self-conscious human being; personal identity.
5. the essential character of a person.
6. something apprehended as reflective of or analogous to a distinctive human personality, as the atmosphere of a place or thing: This house has a warm personality.
7. a famous, notable, or prominent person; celebrity.
8. application or reference to a particular person or particular persons, often in disparagement or hostility.
9. a disparaging or offensive statement referring to a particular person: The political debate deteriorated into personalities.


I'd say that definition 7 fitted with Sports Personality of the Year.
 
I have to agree that AP is a top jockey and has to work damn hard at times to a) stay on at all and b) get the most from the horse. There is no-one better than getting a horse labouring in 3rd or 4th to dig deep and claw a victory on the line.

Call it what you like but I'm another darts fan. I use to love playing in the pub darts team until I was ill. Now sitting there sober and trying to play so while all your mates are having a few beers is too much and I didn't enjoy it anymore. I still love the televised darts too and another example of Sky taking a sport and making it work.
 
I'll see your Monty & raise you a (Major winner) Craig Stadler.
 
If darts is a sport, what about dominoes.
It's played in the same room as darts, it's very competitive and you don't have to wear special shoes.
Incidentally, poker on sky sports??? :mad:
 
For the Televised events in darts (and the later stages of competitions) there is a strict dress code in darts. Black shoes with black trousers, (Although James Wade seems to get away with his ridiculously shiny silver trousers – that maybe a PDC thing but in the BDO that rule applies).

True story, when I was playing at the Nottinghamshire darts open earlier this year, the dress code applied to the semi-final and final on the stage. There was one chap who got through to the semi's and was wearing jeans and the officials wouldn't allow him to compete. He got up on stage, asked the audience if anyone could lend him their black trousers, someone offered and they both got on stage, dropped their trousers and swapped right there!

He was then allowed to compete in the semi which he sadly lost!
 
For any one who wants an insight into what it takes for a bloke on the street to become a jockey I would advise reading "Taming Tigers" by Jim Lawless.

I have had the pleasure of been at one of his talks and OMG it’s a real eye opener just making the weight never mind getting on the beast.

Youtube also has films of his storey well worth a look
 
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