Is snooker a real sport?

c_man · 16-01-2015 8:02pm #1

Well this week being the Masters and all, I've been loving it. Chill out in the evenings, maybe a small smoke, and switch to Eurosport when the BBC finishes their coverage. But then I've got a workmate bitching about it, like saying it shouldn't be on the sports section of the news, it isn't a real sport etc. So what say you AH?

El Inho · 16-01-2015 8:03pm

Involves skill, training and competition. Is as much a sport as any.

TimeToShine · 16-01-2015 8:03pm

Ultimate test of mental fortitude IMO. Definitely a sport.

Kevin McCloud · 16-01-2015 8:04pm

Cant beat potting a tight pink.

Buona Fortuna · 16-01-2015 8:04pm

Kevin McCloud wrote: »

Cant beat potting a tight pink.

Brown can be fun.

Donkey Oaty · 16-01-2015 8:04pm

Technically it is a fruit.

Turtwig · 16-01-2015 8:05pm

Meh if Chess is a sport Dungeons and Dragons is a sport. Just saying. .

On topic, snooker is a sport.

donegaLroad · 16-01-2015 8:05pm

A guy told me one time, that if you dont have to change your shoes, then its not a sport.

Personally I love snooker and I used to play it a lot.

looking_around · 16-01-2015 8:06pm

no, and neither is golf, chess, darts or "e-sports"

imo sport should be anything that is physical/brings up the heart rate/makes you sweat etc

and thats not just my opinion! :O

oxford dictionary, sport = 1An activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.

idk what darts/snooker etc should be..but it aint sport.

yosser hughes · 16-01-2015 8:06pm

It's a s much a sport as Golf is. So if you class golf as a sport then snooker and darts are too.
I don't class any of them as sports, they are pastimes, or hobbys

RayM · 16-01-2015 8:12pm

I like snooker, but I couldn't give a damn whether it's a 'real sport' or not. I've never understood the mindset that seeks to diminish snooker (or darts, golf or F1) on the grounds that they aren't 'real sports'.

My name is URL · 16-01-2015 8:12pm

It's more of a sport than fcukin poker is anyway

frag420 · 16-01-2015 8:14pm

Is it fúck!!

If you can play it in a pub then it's not a sport!

robman60 · 16-01-2015 8:14pm

I don't see why the label of "sport" even matters. I'm a big snooker and darts fan and this discussion raises its head every now and then, with the pundits declaring unequivocally that they're sports. Personally I don't see why it matters if they're outwardly deemed as sports or not. Is there some unwritten rule that sports are better than games?

looking_around · 16-01-2015 8:17pm

RayM wrote: »

I like snooker, but I couldn't give a damn whether it's a 'real sport' or not. I've never understood the mindset that seeks to diminish snooker (or darts, golf or F1) on the grounds that they aren't 'real sports'.

F1 actually involves physical exertion and therefore is a sport :P

My name is URL · 16-01-2015 8:19pm

looking_around wrote: »

no, and neither is golf

oxford dictionary, sport = 1An activity involving physical exertion

idk what darts/snooker etc should be..but it aint sport.

Well if you're gonna use dictionary definitions then virtually anything can be described as sport

Physical exertion just means the use of energy against, or for, inertia.. and I'd love to hear a rational argument for how that doesn't apply in golf or snooker.

_Kaiser_ · 16-01-2015 8:20pm

Poll causing me internal conflict.. I like snooker AND darts!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dA1K_tvNio0

vienne86 · 16-01-2015 8:20pm

yosser hughes wrote: »

It's a s much a sport as Golf is. So if you class golf as a sport then snooker and darts are too.
I don't class any of them as sports, they are pastimes, or hobbys

Nah - golfers have to go the the gymn and stuff these days.

I look upon sport as entertainment anyway and it doesn't really matter about the physical exertion etc involved.

jimboblep · 16-01-2015 8:21pm

"There are only three sports mountain climbing, bull fighting and motor sport everything else is merely a game" Hemingway

Tzardine · 16-01-2015 8:22pm

Yes its a sport.

A boring as Sh1t sport. Needs more streakers.

strobe · 16-01-2015 8:30pm

There's a simple and reliable test. Nothing you can play just as well, while smoking a cigar, is a sport. Snooker, not a sport. Darts, not a sport. Chess, oh you better believe that's not a sport. Computer games, now stop would ye. These things are games. Tremendous, marvelous, highly skilled games that you can play perfectly fine while smoking a cigar, but games none the less.

Dtp1979 · 16-01-2015 8:33pm

looking_around wrote: »

F1 actually involves physical exertion and therefore is a sport :P

F1 is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world. Snooker is a game, not a sport. Same as golf, chess, darts, snakes and ladders etc

Karl Stein · 16-01-2015 8:36pm

Is Ice Dancing a sport?

Is horse dancing a sport?

Tarzana2 · 16-01-2015 8:38pm

Neither snooker or darts are sports. They're games.

Snooker is an example of an excellent game.

Darts is an example of an utterly crap game.

looking_around · 16-01-2015 8:39pm

Karl Stein wrote: »

Is Ice Dancing a sport?

Is horse dancing a sport?

just say dancing.........
and I don't think competitive dancing comes under "sport", but it probably should.

Tarzana2 · 16-01-2015 8:40pm

TimeToShine wrote: »

Ultimate test of mental fortitude IMO, definitely a sport.

That's not really a sign that it's a sport though.

Chess is a game and it requires much mental fortitude.

yosser hughes · 16-01-2015 8:41pm

vienne86 wrote: »

Nah - golfers have to go the the gymn and stuff these days.

I look upon sport as entertainment anyway and it doesn't really matter about the physical exertion etc involved.

Look he's fat AND smoking a cigar! He's a successful golfer. I doubt he spends any time in the gym

Dtp1979 · 16-01-2015 8:43pm

yosser hughes wrote: »

Look he's fat AND smoking a cigar! He's a successful golfer. I doubt he spends any time in the gym

Yes because golf isn't a sport

looking_around · 16-01-2015 8:44pm

yosser hughes wrote: »

Look he's fat AND smoking a cigar! He's a successful golfer. I doubt he spends any time in the gym

anything you can do "unfit", can't be a sport, imo.

My name is URL · 16-01-2015 8:46pm

http://i.imgur.com/Bh2Abxl.jpg

Therefor soccer = not a sport going by the logic of some here

The Backwards Man · 16-01-2015 8:47pm

I left my oul lad's house earlier today with him in watching snooker as happy as Larry. He phoned me half an hour later to say he needed a lift as he wrecked his jeep trying to se how far it would go up a hill in the ice in 2-wheel drive.

The question is; does Barry Hearn need to do more to put the excitement back in snooker or is my Dad an idiot?

Martin567 · 16-01-2015 8:50pm

looking_around wrote: »

no, and neither is golf, chess, darts or "e-sports"

imo sport should be anything that is physical/brings up the heart rate/makes you sweat etc

and thats not just my opinion! :O

oxford dictionary, sport = 1An activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.

idk what darts/snooker etc should be..but it aint sport.

Does a golf ball propel itself 300 yards forward or do snooker balls pot themselves? No, they get there as a result of the physical exertion of the participants.

Snooker and golf involve far less exertion than long distance running for example but they involve infinitely more skill. Sport is about exertion, skill & competition. Some sports are low on exertion & high on skill while other sports are the complete opposite.

The problem with F1 as a sport is that the result is almost entirely determined by who has the best car so that the individual drivers championship competition really shouldn't exist at all.

Tarzana2 · 16-01-2015 8:56pm

RayM wrote: »

I like snooker, but I couldn't give a damn whether it's a 'real sport' or not. I've never understood the mindset that seeks to diminish snooker (or darts, golf or F1) on the grounds that they aren't 'real sports'.

Darts should be diminished on the grounds that it's pure dreck. :P

PizzamanIRL · 16-01-2015 8:58pm

I think some people think sport involves sweaty people running around etc.

Of course it's a sport and it takes a lot more still than MANY sports.

dmc17 · 16-01-2015 9:09pm

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I left my oul lad's house earlier today with him in watching snooker as happy as Larry. He phoned me half an hour later to say he needed a lift as he wrecked his jeep trying to se how far it would go up a hill in the ice in 2-wheel drive.

The question is; does Barry Hearn need to do more to put the excitement back in snooker or is my Dad an idiot?

Your dad is an idiot!

How far did his jeep go up a hill in the ice in 2-wheel drive? I'm gonna try beat his record :pac:

callaway92 · 16-01-2015 9:53pm

Dtp1979 wrote: »

F1 is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world. Snooker is a game, not a sport. Same as golf, chess, darts, snakes and ladders etc

....Can't tell if completely clueless or just pig ignorant. . . .

arggghhh!!

smurgen · 16-01-2015 9:53pm

Not sure but Ronnie o Sullivan's 147 in 5 minutes is one of the most impressive things I've seen a person do.Sounds like an insignificant feat but the difficulty in doing what he done is mind boggling.the level of forethought that needs to go into every shot to get a 147 is immense and he managed to do it in a little over 300 seconds.amazing.

strobe · 16-01-2015 9:54pm

My name is URL wrote: »

http://i.imgur.com/Bh2Abxl.jpg

Therefor soccer = not a sport going by the logic of some here

And now the video of him actually competing in the sport to the same level while smoking the cigarette, as not, rather than having a sneaky one whilst he is not involved?

Come now, my friend...

What is next? The proof that petrol is not flammable, consisting of someone lighting a candle, on a boat, 2 miles out to sea, but with a petroleum processing plant captured on the coastline in the background?

Dtp1979 · 16-01-2015 9:55pm

callaway92 wrote: »

....Can't tell if completely clueless or just pig ignorant. . . .

arggghhh!!

Ye I'm the only one thinking that here

DEFTLEFTHAND · 16-01-2015 9:57pm

yosser hughes wrote: »

It's a s much a sport as Golf is. So if you class golf as a sport then snooker and darts are too.
I don't class any of them as sports, they are pastimes, or hobbys

All sports can be pastimes or hobbies for people

Shannon757 · 16-01-2015 9:59pm

frag420 wrote: »

Is it fúck!!

If you can play it in a pub then it's not a sport!

I'll stop playing rugby in the pub then

ceadaoin. · 16-01-2015 10:07pm

strobe wrote: »

And now the video of him actually competing in the sport to the same level while smoking the cigarette, as not, rather than having a sneaky one whilst he is not involved?

Come now, my friend...

What is next? The proof that petrol is not flammable, consisting of someone lighting a candle, on a boat, 2 miles out to sea, but with a petroleum processing plant captured on the coastline in the background?

But you need two hands free to play snooker and darts. You could smoke the cigar while you aren't actively playing, the same as that goal keeper. It would probably be easier to smoke while chasing a ball around a pitch

SEPT 23 1989 · 16-01-2015 10:10pm

working mens sports are not real:rolleyes:

DEFTLEFTHAND · 16-01-2015 10:12pm

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I left my oul lad's house earlier today with him in watching snooker as happy as Larry. He phoned me half an hour later to say he needed a lift as he wrecked his jeep trying to se how far it would go up a hill in the ice in 2-wheel drive.

The question is; does Barry Hearn need to do more to put the excitement back in snooker or is my Dad an idiot?

Has your Dad ever watched 'power snooker? it's one of Hearns innovations where the players have 20 seconds to take each shot, this is reduced to 10 after 5 mins of the frame. The crowd are also allowed to shout, drink alcohol and be lary. Loads of 'go on my san' etc

Not my cup of tea though I like best of order from the audience and despise business men trying to exploit a wonderful sport with cheap gimmicks.

Shannon757 · 16-01-2015 10:12pm

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

working mens sports are not real:rolleyes:

It's all in our imagination isn't it.

DEFTLEFTHAND · 16-01-2015 10:14pm

ceadaoin. wrote: »

But you need two hands free to play snooker and darts. You could smoke the cigar while you aren't actively playing, the same as that goal keeper. It would probably be easier to smoke while chasing a ball around a pitch

Jocky Wilson used to be able to throw with a fag in his holding hand (not throwing). I've seen old clips of Bristow doing likewise.

strobe · 16-01-2015 10:21pm

ceadaoin. wrote: »

But you need two hands free to play snooker and darts. You could smoke the cigar while you aren't actively playing, the same as that goal keeper. It would probably be easier to smoke while chasing a ball around a pitch

You do not. As I have proved many times. Darts is entirely one handed, and snooker players can very easily (before these things were striken from televisation) hold a cigar in their bridge hand whist taking a shot.

Do not tempt me to say 'come now, my friend' to you too. 'Cause I'll do it, ye know.

looking_around · 16-01-2015 10:22pm

ceadaoin. wrote: »

But you need two hands free to play snooker and darts. You could smoke the cigar while you aren't actively playing, the same as that goal keeper. It would probably be easier to smoke while chasing a ball around a pitch

you absolutely do not need 2 hands for darts!

ceadaoin. · 16-01-2015 10:24pm

looking_around wrote: »

you absolutely do not need 2 hands for darts!

Well you need to hold the darts somewhere, usually your other hand. I don't smoke so maybe it is easy enough to hold a fag at the same time.

looking_around · 16-01-2015 10:28pm

ceadaoin. wrote: »

Well you need to hold the darts somewhere, usually your other hand. I don't smoke so maybe it is easy enough to hold a fag at the same time.

lol holding darts is difficult now XD.
umm, how hard is it to hold a pen?

I've seen a smoker hold a fag, pick up their phone with the same hand..answer..put it down..continue smoking.

I've seen smokers do diy/building work..while still smoking >.>

My name is URL · 16-01-2015 10:29pm

strobe wrote: »

And now the video of him actually competing in the sport to the same level while smoking the cigarette, as not, rather than having a sneaky one whilst he is not involved?

Come now, my friend...

What is next? The proof that petrol is not flammable, consisting of someone lighting a candle, on a boat, 2 miles out to sea, but with a petroleum processing plant captured on the coastline in the background?

The picture posted of the golfer smoking wasn't swinging a club while at it.

Someone contended that it's not a sport if you can have a cigarette while 'taking part', the goalie is as much 'taking part' as the golfer is

A load of cricketers were famous for smoking during matches back in the day. David Boon for example... there's a good chance he was pissed drunk most of the time too.

Is snooker a real sport?

Is snooker a real sport? 266 votes

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