How Can Poker be a Sport?

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Poker has developed a massive following in recent years, with the help of media outlets like ESPN and Fox the game of poker is world renown now. “This mainstream acceptance is due to increased media coverage of high-stakes poker tournaments such as the 2003 World Series of Poker and various weekly tournaments on the World Poker Tour.” (/iml.jou.ufl.edu...) The two outlets that represent this game people would say that the game of poker is a sport. We can all agree that it is a game but does that necessarily make it a sport? Of course the serious poker players will say that it is, but for the players of other games qualified as a sport say otherwise. So despite the recent growth in popularity of poker; the claim of it being a sport has brought criticism. What about poker makes this a valid discussion; the two networks that broadcast it or is there really qualities of sport behind this game.
The first thing one would have to known to be able to pick a side is; what is a sport? There are a couple of ways to define it one of the most common ways is “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.”(google.com) that is a basic definition now poker would not seem to fit into majority of that. “for sporting activities: relating to or used in physical or recreational activities.”(bing.com) Now this definition is more agreeable with poker particularly the end of the definition. Depending on the definition of ones preference one could agree or disagree with poker being a solid sport. The particular definition I use is Matt Pusateri’s "a competitive human athletic endeavor in which winners and losers are determined by objective scoring or time."(Poker is n...

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...it sports require movement if even the slightest. It would not be the right thing to do to call this a sport it would disgrace the name of sports and it could be insulting to those who participate in real sports. Considering all the training and hard work put into their game then have a poker player who probably does nothing in preparation for their game but yet can have the title of athlete. Does not seem fair to all the athletes that risk injury in pursuit for glory in their sport. A card game is not a sport like Matt Pusateri says in his article “lets try to pretend it’s something it isn’t .” "The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practicing sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play." –Olympic Charter


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