Is Snooker A Sport?
I had an argument at work, rather heated as it happened, about whether or not snooker was a sport.
I started it by saying that is wasn’t. It’s a game, it’s a discipline, it’s an endeavour - you can have all those, but a sport it ain’t.
My colleague was little short of shocked, to the point of being speechless for a short while before a conversation which went thus.
Him: “Course it’s a sport. How can you say that?”
Me: “It’s a pub game.”
Him: “No it’s not. It’s sponsored and it’s on telly ad it has stars and legends.”
Me: “So does poker.”
Him: “Poker’s not a sport.”
Me: “No, you’re right, it’s not. I mean, it’s played it pubs on tables by people who aren’t athletes. Nothing like snooker.”
Him: “Snooker is a sport.”
Me: “No it’s not. It’s like saying darts is a sport.”
Him: “Darts is a fucking sport!”
I announced that I was going to take up the sport of making tea and would he like one, but he declined my well-meant offer.
Is snooker a sport?
Yes or no.
Winner stays on.
October 26th, 2006 at 9:28 am
Definitely no. In my opinion, the word “sport” conjures up images of exercise, sweaty bodies, rippling muscles, communal showers.
Snooker is not a sport. Nor is golf. Nor is croquet. Nor is shove ha’penny. And despite many reasonable arguments, I’d have to say that motor racing isn’t either.
October 26th, 2006 at 9:36 am
To be a ’sport’, there needs to be both physical exertion and skill. Walking round a table and leaning over does not count as physical exertion. Snooker is not a sport. This is no criticism of snooker, which doesn’t need to pretend to be something it isn’t to retain its self-respect.
October 26th, 2006 at 9:44 am
I’d say ‘no’ but look what wikipedia says: A sport is an activity requiring physical ability, physical fitness or physical skill which usually, but not always, involves competition between two or more people. - so in their definition it is. Then so is conkers.
October 26th, 2006 at 1:12 pm
Sounds like sex is a sport too. Or dating.
;)
I have never been able to decide if NASCAR was a sport, since its competitions are , basically, ‘how much performance can we get out of this motor?’, ‘How much performance can we get out of this body/apron/spoiler/airfoil?’ and ‘How well can our driver turn left?’ Or is it right? I forget. Anyway, I don’t consider it a sport like football or baseball or even hockey.
I think Snooker, billiards, pool, darts, and poker all have one thing in common- you can drink while you do it. If you can drink while you’re participating, can it really be a sport? Of course, where does this leave golf?
October 26th, 2006 at 1:43 pm
How about this definition, from this page:
“Sport” means all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim at expressing or improving physical fitness and mental well-being, forming social relationships or obtaining results in competition at all levels.”
A superb example of a physical activity which, through casual participation, aims at forming social relationships, is going to the pub.
Who fancies joining me for some training?
October 26th, 2006 at 4:42 pm
Sport, to me, is about competition. Regardless of physical, or mental, exertion.
Great, I’ve already argued myself out of my opening statement… crosswords are ’sport’ are they? You muppet…
October 26th, 2006 at 7:46 pm
Sport I know not so I’m gonna be a bad sport and keep out of the debate but commend you on your rather funny and interesting blog! Ciao!
http://islandphilosophy.blogspot.com
October 27th, 2006 at 8:30 am
Woohoo! In your face colleague!
Snooker is not a sport. Thanks for all your comments, and greetings to new posters z and James.
Can I interest either of you in a This Is This loyalty card?
You collect This Is Points for every comment you post which can be exchanged at many other leading web”blog”logs for trickets and such. Your home may be at risk.
October 27th, 2006 at 9:40 am
More evidence: in this interesting article, Scrabble is referred to as a sport.
October 27th, 2006 at 8:32 pm
HEY!! I don’t have a This is Points Card!
( You’d go broke ! )
October 27th, 2006 at 8:54 pm
Ed, our records show that you’re a Platinum member. This means you earn double points and are entitled to leave comments on exclusive bonanza message days.
Your card must be in the post. I will contact our service department. Just putting you through now.
(Click.)
October 27th, 2006 at 8:57 pm
Snooker is not a sport.
I hope that clarifies things for everyone.
October 27th, 2006 at 9:35 pm
You don’t wear a dickie bow to play sports. Everyone knows that.
October 27th, 2006 at 9:39 pm
Agreed. However, dickie bow could be considered a sport.
December 11th, 2006 at 7:30 pm
CLIFF ! ! ! ! ! ! Snooker is a sport !! it falls under the catergory of “cue-sport” a sport is sumthing that is physically and mentally challenging. How many of u have actually tried to bend down on at a table and keep ur arm absoulutly straight in frame of snooker?, not many obviously!!! i play snooker and i play football and comparing the two the physically its not as different as you make it out to be. AND why have numerous snooker players been nominated for SPORTS personality of the year? !! exactly !
December 12th, 2006 at 9:03 am
hrmph.
December 13th, 2006 at 11:11 pm
do i make my point, this subject is quite difficult cuz as it happens im still arguing this with a collegue at college ! i genuinly believe its a sport !!
December 14th, 2006 at 9:03 am
Hey Jamie - it’s good that you do make a point. I guess to jury’s out.
February 22nd, 2007 at 1:14 pm
In my opinon snooker and darts are both sports, this is because they can be seen as a tean game as well as a pulse raiser. there are competions for theses SPORTS as well as leagues and tables. in all both of these can be seen as both pub game and sport, it is down to the individual to choose on which they like to refer it.
me though its a sport!
August 29th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
IMHO, snooker is a sport. Why?
If snooker is not a sport, there wouldn’t be international snooker competitions held where international players from different countries fight it out to be the ultimate champion.
And snooker involves mental and physial ability…
My 2 cents
-Howard
September 6th, 2007 at 9:14 am
Snooker is a fucking sport you twats!!
March 7th, 2008 at 9:53 am
I am doing a presentation at college on snooker and we had a debate about this. Reading some of these blog are crazy. Above there are blogs saying that for something to be a sport there must be physical exertion and skill. Well who would like to say that that skill is not required? Have any of you played snooker for a long period of time? i play alot and i can asure you that after 5/6 hours of snooker i feel tired and my legs start to ache. And i am a fit young lad. Yes it does not require the same level of fitness of that of football or rugby but still a degree of fitness is needed. However, it does also require alot of mental exertion, in which without training and a degree of natural skill a player would not be successful. Snooker is a sport, it is a cue sport.
March 7th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Grocery shopping is also a sport. I am not good at it, but others are. Grocery shopping is a sport, it is a trolley sport.
May 2nd, 2008 at 6:14 pm
What difference does it make?
August 10th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
To quote Pete above:
‘Definitely no. In my opinion, the word “sport” conjures up images of exercise, sweaty bodies, rippling muscles, communal showers.’
Sounds pretty gay to me mate.
Snooker’s a sport, end of
August 25th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Snooker in the 70s and 80s was a game that the professionals came in with pints of beer and vodka and packets of cigarettes. Now if anyone can name a sport that has its competitors running around a track with a beer in there hand and a cig in there mouth let me know. And these were the top of their game. Look at Bill Werbeniuk renound for drinking. Kirk Stevens was coked up to the eyeballs and there was more than those. Players dont get dope tested now for preformance enhancing drugs. Snooker is not a sport