Sports is Life

mpetitively…”

Meanwhile, Wikipedia, that modern internet descendant of the hard-bound encyclopedia, defines sport as a “…activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively….”

SPORT: (Dictionary Version)
a. Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively. An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively. An active pastime; recreation. SPORT: (Judge N’ Jury Version)
A physically demanding competition requiring skill and athletic ability, played simultaneously by 2 opposing human only sides utilizing unautomated equipment. Winning is determined objectively by real officials without a predetermined outcome and unsportsmanlike behavior is not condoned. Participation is accessible and affordable to all and competitions are governed by a universal set of rules overseen by a committee or association

so moving right along to the criteria that determine whether an activity is a sport.

1. Competition - There has to be something at stake. A leader board, standings, playoffs, a championship, whatever. If the activitity you're participating in has no way to measure whether you or your team is better than the other guy, then chances are it isn't a sport.

2. Physical fitness required for excellence - Just about any sport can be played by some slob that just got off the couch, but to be the best at a sport, you have to be in pretty darn good shape. In games and activities, that slob very well may be the best around. Sportsmanship is an important part of sports which expresses an aspiration or ethos that the activity will be enjoyed for its own sake, with proper consideration for fairness, ethics, respect, and a sense of fellowship with one's competitors. A sore loser refers to one who doesn't take defeat well, whereas a good sport means being a "good winner" as well as being a "good loser". Sportsmanship can be conceptualized as an enduring and relatively stable characteristic or disposition such that individuals differ in the way they are generally expected to behave in sport situations. In general, sportsmanship refers to virtues such as fairness, self-control, courage and persistence[3] and has been associated with interpersonal concepts of treating others and being treated fairly, maintaining self-control in dealing with others, and respect for both authority and opponents. A competitor who exhibits poor sportsmanship after losing a game or contest is often called a "sore loser" (those who show poor sportsmanship after winning are typically called "bad winners"). Behavior includes blaming others, not taking responsibility for personal actions, reacting immaturely or improperly, making excuses for one's loss, referring to unfavorable conditions or other petty issues. A bad winner acts in a shallow fashion such as gloating about his or her win, rubbing it in the face of the one who lost and lowering the opponent's self-esteem by constantly reminding them of how "poorly" they performed in comparison (even if they participated well).