Definition of a sport

by Lonnie McMillan
Staff Writer

It is highly disputable. Perhaps no two people in the world would have the same exact opinion. What is a sport and what is not?

First, I offer the Dictionary.com (http://www.dictionary.com) definition: An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.

I agree with all aspects of this definition. It is pretty obvious that all sports are governed by some set of rules, so there is no need to further discuss this idea.

To say, however, that sports are often undertaken competitively is an understatement. Sports are ••always•• undertaken competitively, which I consider to be fairly obvious as well.

The last consideration, that sports involve physical exertion and skill, is the first of three parts of the McMillan Theory of Sports Definition. There are some who would disagree with this statement. Without physical activity, a sport is simply a game.

This first part rules out a few so-called sports. For example, table tennis, horse racing, auto racing, curling and sailing are not sports, because they do not require physical exertion. This probably does not offend many people, but the last two parts of the theory likely will.

The second part of McMillan's Theory of Sports Definition is that opinionated scoring is not permitted in a true sport. A sport must have a definite winner (unless there is a tie).

It is hard to dispute that the Baltimore Ravens were winners of the Super Bowl (and no, the Ray Lewis argument does not count), because in football when a player scores a touchdown, it's always six points regardless of bias or opinion. In figure skating, though, a competitor does not always get the same score from all the judges for a performance. Sports must be definite.

This eliminates a number of other activities from the list of sports, including gymnastics, diving, dance, and - gasp - cheerleading. These are competitions only, not sports. Boxing is a special case, because if a competitor is knocked out, then the winner is definite, but sometimes it comes down to the judges' decision.

Last is the most complicated and serious blow. One competitor must be affected by the other(s). If one can participate alone, then the activity cannot be deemed a sport. Competition must be against another, not against one's self.

This means many traditional "sports" cannot be categorized as such under the McMillan Theory of Sports Definition. Bowling, track, swimming, golf, cycling, skiing, speed skating, bobsled and archery are not worthy of this status.

This leaves us with only a handful of actual sports including football, baseball, basketball, hockey, cricket, soccer, rugby, tennis, badminton, field hockey, handball, softball and volleyball. This does not mean I have I have not neglected several sports that should be included on this list.

This also does not mean I am disrespecting any competitions that I do not consider sports. They too can be as fun and as difficult as sports. So please don't seek out to inflict bodily harm on me, which, by the way, I would not consider a sport either.

- Attention all track, swimming and cheerleading team members and all other disgruntled sports fans: send McMillan e-mail at lm144300.