National Spelling Bee-Sport or not a sport?

[DolphinsFanatic]

This post is a week late in coming but seeing how the site was down I will go ahead and see if you all agree with me.

Last week they had full coverage of the National Spelling Bee both on ESPN and ABC. Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic hosts of Mike and Mike in the morning on ESPN radio hosted the events. Now is it just me or is this not a sport I mean if this is a sport then I guess Jeopardy is a sport.

Don't get me wrong I usually defend people who say certain events arent sports like figure skating, skiing, golf, extreme sports, etc. There are people that believe those arent sports. But, the National Spelling Bee?

Come on now if a bunch of adolescent's spelling words that are buried deep in the dicitionary that almost no one uses in thier everyday speech is a sport then I guess I am not the all sports lover that I thought I was.

I think if ESPN and ABC want to cover the event then fine but dont reffer to it as a sport I dont want to see it on Sportscenter or hear about it on sports radio.

Any one else agree?

[titansrule]

Are you serious? They actually had it as a sport? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Thats just funny. Am I missing the physical activity part?

I agree. While I really admire their ability and the studying they do, especially since I can't spell for crap, I don't see this as a sport. Like you said, you could then consider Jepordy, Wheel of Fortune and just about anything that includes brain work to be a sport.

Hell, why not add Scrabble as a sport too *shrugs*

[cashpath]

Well if you go STRICTLY by the dictionary definition of sport you could say anything that is a competition is a sport. I like to think they did not mean ANY physical activity.. as in breathing, or thinking... but you could argue that.. which makes this all a matter of opinion where there is no wrong opinion. (Sometimes opinions can be wrong but this is not one of those times)

In my opinion a spelling bee does not involve enough physical activity to be a sport. Neither do connect 4, Chess, poker, or Nascar.

You have about 100,000 rednecks that want to shoot you right now for that statement Cash lol.

I lived out in a "redneck" area when I first moved to Florida RIGHT behind Orlando Speed World and those people take those races SERIOUSLY man. Its insane.

[titansrule]

Myself I normally see Sports as where the physical activity is what wins you the competition...As in, your physical skill...Whilst there is physical activity in this, not only is it ridiculously tiny, but its not what wins them the competition..

Hence why I dont think its a sport. And Im pretty sure 99% of people dont.

[cashpath]

Every sport also takes mental skill... there are varying degrees.. but every sport also invovles mental abilities. The ability to recognize when your openent has let his guard down and where to throw your punch.

Technically the physical skill wins a spelling bee. The kids TALK out the letters which is physical. I physically pick up a chess piece and move it to win a game of chess. Most games are won by physical ability but they also involve mental ability.

The question is at which point is it a sport and not a game?

[T.O.F.N.]

I will argue that Wrestling is more of a sport then a Spelling Bee.

Well, for once you got me to agree with a statement about wrestling lol.

Wrestling is definetely more of a sport then the spelling bee.

[Chaos6]

I dont know... people are trying to make Gaming a sport, so I guess if you think gaming should be a sport then I dont see why Spelling Bees cant be.

[DolphinsFanatic]

First of all I am thrown back by cash's comment that NASCAR is not a sport. If you dont believe NASCAR is a sport then humor me and attend a race. Physical, well lets see its about 130 degrees inside those cars at any given time not to mention having the endurance to last a 3 plus hour race at 200 mph. Mentally, you have the strategy involved with winning the race just as football has of winning the game. Risk, well Dale Earnhardt died while trying to win the Daytona 500 as did Alan K. and that is no joke not to many sports involve possible death as a risk of playing. NASCAR is the number 3 spectator sport in the country and growing in popularity.

So explain to me how NASCAR is not a sport I think NASCAR is more of a sport than basketball and baseball combined just by the sheer risk of it all. Now I agree with the rest of cash's point that if you go by the book anything could possibly be a sport hence why ESPN evidently thinks the Bee is a sport, I disagree but understand how they may consider it one.

GO NASCAR I have the upmost respect for those courageous ATHLETES that go out there and put it ALL on the line every Sunday.

[Chaos6]

Look up the definition of Athlete

[DolphinsFanatic]

ath·lete /ˈæθlit/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ath-leet] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
a person trained or gifted in exercises or contests involving physical agility, stamina, or strength; a participant in a sport, exercise, or game requiring physical skill.


I believe my prior post explained how NASCAR drivers are athletes, stamina and strength to withstand 4 hours of brutal conditions and still be alert enough to handle a 200 mph car and have the physical skill to maneuver around other cars going 200mph. Not to mention if you watch NASCAR all the drivers with the exception of Jimmy Spencer (who no longer competes) is well in shape.

[Tigam]

So... If I sit in a sauna and play chess I'm a athlete?