Forums > Motorcycle Discussion > One of the True Sports . . .

 

C... i think Hemmingway's ( if he is not the  author, i belived he uttered the above)

distinction involved that hooded character with the big scythe.

I think sport for him was something that could cancel your cheque on a whim which all 3 of

the 'sports' listed above can accomplish easily.

 

This, of course is  a huge part of the appeal of these sports... the flirting with the dark side.

As discusssed before, if there was no real potential for sudden death or serious trauma in motorcycling,

i'd probably be scaling rock faces ... i just look like a large mortadella in matador pants. 

One can understand the odd hissy fit from a Moto Gp rider who is taken out by 

a competitor @ 160 mph.

A golfer who wraps his 5 iron around a tree because he hit a bad slice... not so much.

I think there is huge comedy in the fact that ESPN and some of the other sports networks

started broadcasting 'poker' in prime time.

This might be acceptable if player were allowed to carry sidearms or wear those

cool derringer belt buckles but other wise it strikes me as hugely silly.

 

You will notice that often when a football/basketball/ hockey player/ volleyball player/golfer/

tennis player/ etc. etc. drones on insufferably about the inequity of a particulr call , someone

a little more grounded will say something like " Dude chill... it's only a game ".

I doubt that anyone has ever uttered those words to a bullfighter, mountain climber, grandprix 

or Flattrack racer.

 

 

 

 

 

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The older i get the faster i was.

 

About four (4) times per year I'll disappear for about a week and when I reappear, people invariably ask me:

"Well, how'd you do?"

My standard answer is:

"I didn't die."

There's a little known singer/songwriter in Austin named Darden Smith.  Back in 1988, he released a song called Little Maggie about a young girl in a green dress, for some reason walking down Highway 31.  The lyric that sticks with me is:

"So what's the deal Maggie . . . you got some wide-eyed point to prove? . . . 'cause you got a lot to lose . . ."

Personally I've always preferred the company of people who live their lives with a lot to lose.

I think like you've said, T, the difference between a game and a sport, is the lot to lose. 

C

 

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Another sunrise, These bright and crystal moments, Crow flies overhead.

  “When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds, your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction and your find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world.  Dormant forces, faculties, and talents become alive and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.”

                                                                                                       Pantanjali

*****

Never actually been in that "wonderful world" but it sounds really good.

Tim

 

"a new, great and wonderful world" 

 

Can't we just smoke something and get there?

C

 

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Another sunrise, These bright and crystal moments, Crow flies overhead.

I've had this discussion before with other beer soaked comrades.

My personal definition of sports is a mind/body (both, not either or) skill that has an element of competition with defined rules and objective measurement of success.

Therefore, golf is a sport.  It involves the mind and body, and you easily and objectively can measure success.

Ice skating is not a sport to me because the measure of success is too subjective.  It's a competitive skill.  But a buddy of mine divides sports into competitive (B ball, golf, bowling, racing) and non competitive (ice skating, rock climbing, etc.).  I call the latter skills but I'm flexible with the "non competitive" adjective if used to separate these 'sports'.

For those sports that involve the Grim Reaper taggin along with you, those are "dangerous sports"!

As far as what's on TV, Terry, I find that things are interesting if you play.  For example, I like watching golf and Texas Hold 'em because I play both.  I learn a lot from watching the pros.  But if you don't golf or play poker, I'd gouge my eyes out.  But no way is poker a sport.  It has mind skill, rules, and an objective measure of success, but no physical component at all, unless staying up all night playing cards is considered physical!

Finally, my favorite sports are those that involve just you with no interference.  For example, in basketball, others try to block your shot, steal the ball, etc.  In golf, or bowling, or racing, it's just you and what you can do.  No one tries to trip you in racing, block your path in swimming, or heckle you when you go for a putt.  It's you and your skill-make it, do it, or lose.

Robo

 

" No one tries to trip you in racing" 

 

Except for those point-and-shoot motard bastards.  No sense of classic grace . . .

I'm just saying . . .

C

 

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Another sunrise, These bright and crystal moments, Crow flies overhead.

For me the banner of "Sports" also covers the combat activities: boxing, wrestling, and MMA... Oh, and Judo, Taekwondo (sp?). Maybe fencing.

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Those work for my definition.  Boxing, wrestling, they involve the mind, have rules, and objective measurements of success.  Judo the same.  Now, you may only learn Judo, you may never 'compete' against another, but so what, it counts.  Like if you only go to the golf range and never compete or play, you are still practicing the sport.

MMA????

Hmmm, Golf. I used to be able to hit a golf ball about three hundred yards,  but I sold that rifle.

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I will not make motorcycle sounds at work... I will not make motorcycle sounds at work...

If you shower before you play, like golf, it ain't a sport. 

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1994 K1100RS & 2005 Harley Electra Glide

 

Damn Right!

Here we go:

 

Golf...................... game

Baseball..................game

Basketball................game 

Tennis.....................game

lacrosse...................game (insane but still a game )

Badminton...............game 

Hydroplane Racing.....sport

Motorcyclng..............sport

Boxing.................... sport

Jello Wrestling...........game

Mountain Climbing......sport

Airplane Racing.........sport

Scuba Diving............sport

Free Diving..............crazy

Big Wave surfing.......crazy

Ski jumping.............sport/crazy

Bobsledding/Luge......Sport

Down Hill Racing......Sport

Mountain Biking........Sport

Table tennis............game

Wii Tennis.............. Sport ( i've got the injuries to prove it )

 

OK... that's where i am on the issue. And as we've well established

over the years.... WTFDIK?

 

 

 

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The older i get the faster i was.

 

T,

Sport?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-66AcTo9TU&feature=related 

C

 

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Another sunrise, These bright and crystal moments, Crow flies overhead.

 

No question about that dude.

 

and this?

 

http://www.videoheaven.us/videos.aspx/video~flying_men/Flying_Men/People_videos/ 

 

PS: I think i might have to take this up when I'm about 70 something.

Think of it as an exit strategy.

Beats the hell out of being taken out by an errant shuffleboard puck. 

 

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The older i get the faster i was.