94 replies to this topic

[DJ MC]

I really enjoy watching curling but it's obviously not a sport.  Most Olympic events aren't though.

 

Curling doesn't require enough athleticism to be a sport in my book, but it does at least have offensive and defensive aspects to it.  Most of the other events require tons of athletic ability to participate, but I don't think timed races or judged events are sports.  If your opponent can't directly influence what you are doing, then it's not a sport.  It's an athletic competition.

 

In curling, an opponent can knock your stone away to create an advantage for them.

[Mackus]

In curling, an opponent can knock your stone away to create an advantage for them.

Right, I said its got offense and defense, it just doesn't seem like it requires enough athleticism to me. Seems like a game, like cornhole or bocce, that take some skill but not much athleticism. That's absolutely an arbitrary distincton I'm making. Not sure exactly where the threshold would be.

[Mike in STL]

I really enjoy watching curling but it's obviously not a sport.  Most Olympic events aren't though.

 

Curling doesn't require enough athleticism to be a sport in my book, but it does at least have offensive and defensive aspects to it.  Most of the other events require tons of athletic ability to participate, but I don't think timed races or judged events are sports.  If your opponent can't directly influence what you are doing, then it's not a sport.  It's an athletic competition.

Curling doesn't take athleticism?

 

 

[Mackus]

Athletic guys are allowed to curl, but curling doesn't require a ton of athleticism.  At least not enough for me to consider it a sport.

 

I wouldn't call chess a sport but I'm sure there are a few grandmasters out there who are chiseled.

[bnickle]

From what Ive read you need to be in pretty good shape to curl. Again though, that doesnt necessarily mean athleticism. I think it takes more athleticism and physical training than most people watching realize but we all know these guys arent basketball or football players.

[Mackus]

I think of it like Nascar or golf.  It probably helps you to be in good shape to do it.  Maybe definitely.  But it doesn't inherently require athleticism the way that other things do.

 

I'm not trying to insult curling.  I really, really enjoy watching it.  I watch more curling than any other Olympic event. 

 

I've got a very narrow definition of a sport.

[Mike in STL]

If it requires athleticism it's a sport.

 

If it doesn't, and consuming alcohol during is acceptable, it's an awesome sport. (Bowling, Golf, probably Curling)

[Pedro Cerrano]

“Is X a sport” is probably the worst sports-related argument going. I absolutely hate it. Who cares.

[Mackus]

"What is the worst sport-related argument going" is probably the worst sports-related argument going. #Pedro

[DJ MC]

"What is the worst sport-related argument going" is probably the worst sports-related argument going. #Pedro

 

I disagree.

[RShack]

So... except for Mackus, does anybody know anybody who knows anybody who thinks curling is not absurd as a competition***

 

*** Word choice as a prophylactic to prevent Mackus from turning this into a dictionary game about the meaning of "sport"...

 

I have a TIVO recording every Olympic anything... then I go through a delete the ones I don't wanna see... I swear to God, every damn day there's multiple curling shows... I bet I've deleted 25 of them....

 

Maybe curling is so wimpy that every shithole country on the planet has a team? 

 

(I'm the cranky semi-old guy who wants all that dang curling OFF of my lawn TIVO....)

[Mike in STL]

Mens Hockey: Germany beating Sweden yesterday to get to the semi-finals was considered quite an upset. Right now they are leading Canada 4-3 with 10 minutes to play. Was actually up 4-1 when the 3rd period started. That would be a real upset.

[Mike in STL]

Odds of winning the gold were: 

 

Russia -150

Canada +200

Czech +750

Germany +2500

 

So yeah. Big upset if Germany holds on for 8 more minutes. 

 

Russia advanced to the gold medal game already beat the Czechs 3-0

[RShack]

Which Olympic sport would you rather watch?  Curling (which is short term for "Shuffleboard On Ice with Brooms")?  Or an ice skating version of Roller Derby?

 

(I'm the cranky semi-old guy who keeps finding curling on my lawn TIVO.)

[Mike in STL]

Germans win! Broadcast mentioned their best olympic finishes have been Bronze in 1932 and 1976. Were 0-12 against Canada all-time in the olympics. Didn't even qualify for the Sochi games. 

[DJ MC]

Russian Athlete Who Wore “I Don’t Do Doping” Shirt Busted For Doping

[bnickle]

USA wins curling gold for the first time ever and what a fairy tale way it was done by them and their skip John Shuster.

#suckitshack

[SportsGuy]

“Fairy tale way”....hell of a way to describe a curling championship.

[McNulty]

Curling is awesome and mesmerizing. I stayed up and watched it live. Very tired but it was worth it.

[Mike in STL]

Mesmerizing? Come on.

Curling is the ultimate hipster thing. It was so lame and it was the easiest joke in sports to Americans that people are now in love with it. Like soccer used to be. Except apparently the US is actually good at curling.