The word sport is defined as "a physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively." That's a pretty broad net, and it's why golf gets to be in the sports section and synchronized swimming in the Olympics.
In their heroic effort to bring as much sexiness as possible to the Web, our friends at With Leather have now taken this catch-all a step further and classified pole dancing as a sport.
Why not? It's certainly a physical activity, and it's also governed by a set of rules or customs. (You try jumping up on the stage and licking one of the ladies.) Lastly, a competition for the hard-earned dollar bills of drunks is as pure and primal as any competition can be.
In fact, when you compare it to poker, to which worldwide sports leader ESPN devotes a good chunk of their programming, one could make the argument that pole dancing is the "sport" more deserving of coverage.
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Wednesday 04 November
By Dick Slocum
I'll go with the pole dancing. Watching people play poker is more boring than watching paint dry.
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Thursday 05 November
By Jon Tethers
For an activity to be considered a sport - you must be able to injure your opponent during normal play. If the activity involves a clock or personal opinion for the outcome, it does not count as a sport.
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Friday 20 November
By Dennis
If golf and synchronized swimming are sports then pole dancing is a sport!
Wednesday 11 November
By Iceshark39
I can't agree with that. By your definition then, Horse Racing (one of the oldest sports known) would not be considered a sport at all (nor would many other equestrian events save for maybe bulldogging and saddle bronc). But then, most sports that would fall under your catagorization, also wouldn't involve a 12-15 hundred pound animal as part of the equation. Most sports are governed by some kind of clock - hockey, soccer, football, baseball, basketball, sumo wrestling (okay, I'm reaching, but you get the idea). Not all sports are about getting the better of an opponent and have to do more with the skill of a group of or individual player. While poker may not be a conventional 'sport' it takes a great deal of skill to be able to play well. That doesn't mean I would like to see the World Chamionships of Poker in the nexy Olympics, but neither would I care to see pole dancing exhibitions. And, by THAT definition, then Ballroom and Tap Dancing would be sports. It's all perception and how a game/sport is recieved and responded to that elevates its social status. Oh, and for the record, I WOULD consider pole dancing a sport - it takes as much talent and training to do and you have to be, at the very least, limber, to do it well.
Thursday 19 November
By Maria
That's bull. Someone doesnt *need* to get hurt to consider it a sport.
Tuesday 17 November
By Honestly
In absolute honesty Pole Dancing is more of a sport only because of its physically active nature and more over it is also governed by some sort of rules, basically don't take it all of, tease the guys and make as much money as possible. So yes Pole Dancing is more of a sport, but should it be considered a sport god no, its entertainment and to be honest i wouldn't watch either, poker or pole dancing, well actually maybe like once or twice but...
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Tuesday 17 November
By Kitty
I say Pole Dancing. When have your muscles EVER been sore from an hour and a half of practicing Poker?? lol
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