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IT’S THE ULTIMATE pub chat – what does or does not deserve the grandiose title of ‘sport’.
Debates on the status of darts, pool, snooker, bowling, poker, Formula 1, cheerleading, curling and golf are plentiful but not easily resolved.
In some cases, we even need the strong arm of the law.
Today, the British High Court ruled that bridge (the game played sitting down with cards) is not a sport. Succinct in his explanation, Justice Ian Dove said: “Bridge is a card game.”
He also agreed with funding body Sport England when it said bridge is not a sport because it doesn’t involve “physical activity”.
The English Bridge Union argued this was a “very old-fashioned” definition and pointed towards the ‘sports’ status bestowed on chess, despite its lack of physical exertion.
The ruling, unsurprisingly, started all-out wars in TheJournal.ie HQ.
First, we consulted the dictionary.
An activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment/
And then we let at it.
The arguments for… Darts is absolutely a sport.
It takes incredible skill, Phil Taylor dominated for ten years which is insane.
Darts is a sport because it’s played by overweight, beer-drinking men, the modern equivalent of Vikings… And it has entry music.
It’s more technically challenging than archery and they hand out Olympic medals for that ****.
Fat lads can play sports too. People just fight darts ’cause some of the competitors happen to be fat
Darts has tragic figures like Jocky Wilson so it’s a sport.
They’re not allowed drink pints (on stage) anymore.
It’s on Sky Sports, it’s a sport.
This last point was countered with:
I wouldn’t trust Sky on anything, least of all what is or isn’t a sport
Fish-o-mania is on Sky Sports though, so…
And more arguments against…
Darts is absolutely not a sport….
It’s a hobby.
If you can play it drinking pints it’s not a sport
There’s that guy who plays darts at an elite level after drinking half a dozen pints = not a sport
If you don’t get out of breath doing it then it’s not a sport
Darts is not a sport, it’s a game of boozed-up mental arithmetic. Like chess but standing up with pints
Also darts loses on the “for entertainment” part.
Darts could be played regardless of athletic ability
Would we consider a dart player or video game (esports) player sporty? If not it’s probably not a sport.
(Editor’s note: Even including this here is highly controversial)
The arguments for… It’s a sport, obviously
FORMULA ONE IS ABSOLUTELY A SPORT. (Ed note: We think the capslock was the argument here)
MotorSport is a sport
IT’S NOT EASY TO DRIVE FASTER THAN OTHER CARS
People die doing F1 = sport
I’m not going to win any medals for driving home.
They have to endure 5G corners and hold their breath to not pass out at 300+kmh
Most motorsports drivers are extremely athletic, especially mid 00s drivers
Look at David Coulthard’s neck
Those who said it isn’t a sport…
F1 — bah, not a sport. I can drive and I’m not sporty.
People die cooking dinner, that doesn’t make it a sport
Video games are as much a sport as driving or darts.
It’s a sport because…
Snooker is a sport because you need the bodyfat level to look great in a waistcoat.
If you can be a world champion at something it makes it a sport.
It’s a sport because:
Those against…
I give snooker sport status, but not pool.
I distinguish pool and snooker’s sports status by the fact that snooker tables are far, far bigger, meaning you actually have to be relatively fit to stretch for shots. Pool tables are tiny.
If I fall asleep watching something that is so mind numbingly boring as snooker then it makes it difficult to be classed as a sport
A firm no from some…
Cheerleading is more a gymnastic-heavy dance. There can be competitive dance without it necessarily being a sport.
It’s ancillary to other sports.
Gymnastics – an Olympic sportCheerleading – fake gymnastics
If people made human pyramids in golf I’d say it was a sport
I never knew that cheerleading, despite the insane athleticism, was something that people even considered to be a sport. It appears I was wrong. But you’ll never win an Olympic gold medal in cheerleading.
And a yes from others…
But they have competitions in their own right.
I follow a few competitive cheerleaders on Instagram (don’t ask) and their lives are all training I’m calling it a sport.
It’s a sport because…
I guess bowling is technically a sport, but probably the worst of all the sports.
It’s just a game…
Bowling is not a sport at all at all. We could go and play and somebody could score very well. That would not happen in golf/snooker/rugby or even darts…. which is not a sport but is more of a sport than bowling.
The combination of skill and a ball doesn’t equal a sport. If golf’s a sport, then marbles qualifies as well.
Ultimate frisbee is a sport, but it’s the worst sport out there.
In the end this is a pointless argument because sport, like art, is in the eye of the beholder. It’s a sport if enough people call it a sport.
So now, over to you. Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.
*Runs, ducks for cover*
But… But …. We’re attracting these companies because of our educated workforce and links to Europe right? Best small country to do business according to the dear leader… Surely he can’t have been wrong?
Ive been in many meetings where that sentence is the butt of a good few jokes.
This is down to American Tax law, so unless the cabinet are deciding American Tax Law then you’ve chewed too many of those pink tablets.
First of many deals to go I’m afraid.
Will facebook google and the like still be here in 10years?
IFSC will be the next ghost estate.
Cheerful.
You’re right. sad but true. Noonan should be making it easier for companies to dodge tax, not harder. It’s the only thing we have to offer. Our workforce is too expensive and the infrastructure is simply not on par, even with Poland.
Exactly. Who cares if we are offering them a way of paying less tax? It doesn’t matter if it boosts our economy at the expense of America’s. We are absolutely screwed if these companies pack up and leave due to decades of neglect towards indigenous businesses.
Obama the bollox
I thought the yanks just love the irish
no just the tax rates. and easily exploitable muppets in Government
Apparently only when we’re a tax haven.
what is it with the gimps who “run” this country , they always give away any “aces” they have up their sleeves for no payback. Its like they just want to be good poodles for their handlers in Europe
What has this to do with Ireland.
Some people really think that the world revolves around this place, that they are trying to shaft us or are laughing at us or we have it the worst in the world in this “kip”.
America is doing here what is in its own tax interest, they couldn’t give a fucj who is in charge here. That doesn’t come in to it.
What it does show is that focusing on Multi-nationals leaves the country very open to changes in American domestic policy.
Ordinary people were never going to benefit from this anyway
I work in the pharma industry here in Ireland and this takeover deal was (is?) huge. It is a great opportunity for Ireland – and UK based – Shire. The inevitable consequences of the negative publicity over the past year I’m afraid. Bad for business and bad for Ireland over the long term in my opinion.
Yea but no offense, the pharma industry has a lot to answer for in terms of ethics and general human health
It was bound to happen, given all the publicity. I’m confident our government will find some way around it, after all they’ve been codding us for years, Obama will be a doddle.
Very good, Martin! Let’s hope you’re right.
Keep big pharma away from this country, corrupted killers making money, should be buried in a desert somewhere.
shouldnt you be dancing at a crossroads somewhere?
With Comey maidens – or youths, whichever floats your boat?
The same desert you’ve your head buried in? Pharma and Med. Device companies are our biggest employers and account for over 50 billion in ex ports from this country. I bet you’d go to a faith healer if you got sick. Best of luck with that.
One thing about Pharma is the vast imports that it brings in as well, so the net benefit to the country is not as large as it looks when you say 50bn in exports.
Agriculture is surprisingly eaves the most in Ireland’s hands out of exports, money circulating in the economy than Pharma.
They are all just slices in a pie, mind you, but Pharma is in no way our largest sector employer. In all the companies and all the spin off jobs for there would still only be under 3% of the workforce.
Fools those who are negative & for giving in to the EU. US companies really only have a couple of choices uk, Israel or us. If the krauts spoke English they would go there. Posted on this before. Who gives a sh€t how much corporate tax they pay, it’s the PAYE, PRSI & USC take that makes the difference, by local employment. Shame on the government & naysayers for pushing reform. The right move was to cut it to 5% and stick two fingers to Brussels, what could they have done? Their broke, kick us out & watch everyone else jump with us. The tax on the fees alone on the merger alone would have been €50m – grow some balls Ireland. We’re paid up and EU is on the ropes
No more tax dodging and money laundering through Ireland for multinationals so.
One last point because the anti pharm guy’s wound me up. The U.S. Won’t change tax policy more than cosmetics. Who the hell do you think provides the $1bn it takes to get elected in the states? – Santa?
They just tryin drive a hard bizargain, know’m sayin?
For Christ sake it’s only 3-10% but the PAYE take is at least double of Ag, given the tax breaks. I’m a big fan of farming and the industry but the average Ag business doesn’t employ folks at the same rate after tax breaks. Cut corporate tax on strict employment requirements and the country will pick up. Even line factory guys pick up €20-30k+ per year all in. Farm folk just can’t pay that give the current prices. You think Iceland or Singapore would take this sh€t? We need to start looking after ourselves.
Uh oh
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