Is Bowling a Sport?

[letstalktenpin]

This week on LTTP, we talk about ESPN’s coverage of bowling, including an article that ranked bowling as one of the ten “stupidest” sports on ESPN (I’m sure that will go over really well with an audience made up primarily of bowlers), a judge’s ruling that cheerleading is not a sport (what does this have to do with bowling? Listen and find out), a round up of PBA regional action over the weekend, and the results of THE Match II. Plus, some good zingers and one liners in the PBA West region recap.

Check it out at www.letstalktenpin.com (http://www.letstalktenpin.com). You can use the player on the home page or you can click Podcasts on the left side of the screen and go to the show page to download the show and listen at your convenience.

[Big Dog]

I love the show with all the info you bring and personal insight. I am glad I found it.

[JAnderson]

This week on LTTP, we talk about ESPN’s coverage of bowling, including an article that ranked bowling as one of the ten “stupidest” sports on ESPN

ESPN shows 10 different sports?

[helen07]

No, it isn't. Bowling is a premium game. I often play this game to relax my self.

______________
Java Developer ( http://softwareoutsourcing.biz/dedicated-developer/java-developer.html)

[BaconLad]

No, it isn't. Bowling is a premium game. I often play this game to relax my self.


???

Of course it's a bloody sport!!! It requires great skill, technique, tactics, instincts and a modest amount of a physicasl contribution...

Is it a sport? Without doubt, YES!

[Strike Domination]

I'll just say it's arguable.

[David21]

I think ita a sporty game of skill

[Jord_84]

While bowling isn't as physical as other sports.....it does take a large amount of mental focus, physical endurance, and skill to play it well.

The people that say it isn't a sport have never taken the time or effort to learn about it....nor do they care about being good at it.

[WAC4504]

It just dawned on me how much Bowling and Golf have in common. Most of those that would say bowling isn't a sport probably think of it as trowing the lightest house ball they can find as hard as they can at the head pin and hope they hit something. Same as golf is not a sport if all you did was play Put Put, or is that a sport? Most people have no idea what bowling is. I believe part of the problem is the fact that there is no main stream coverage of bowling events. Where as you can't tune Golf out on the week ends, and to me Golf is as exciting as watching paint dry. That last part is just my personal opinion. And I hate to say it, but as long as people think that bowling is just cosmic lights and beer guzzling then it will never be a sport.

[Maine Man]

I wrote a blog post about this very subject a few months back, please feel free to check it out and let me know what you think about bowling being a sport or not after reading it here:

http://bowler2bowler.wordpress.com/2010/02/14/bowling-an-olympic-sport-by-james-goulding-iii/

Thanks.

[Motiv Girl]

Please read.This is from a earlier post I made months ago.

http://www.bowlingboards.com/showthread.php?t=5319

[gparks]

2 words billards,darts if they figure these as sports ,heh well bowling would blow them out of the water!

[fatski]

yes, i think if auto racing is sport then bowling has to be.

[DocLogic77]

According to this definition...

A sport is an organized, competitive, entertaining, and skillful physical activity requiring commitment and fair play, in which a winner can be defined by objective means. It is governed by a set of rules or customs. In sports the key factors are the physical capabilities and skills of the competitor when determining the outcome (winning or losing)

I would have to say...yup. A game of skill would be something like NL Texas Hold em, chess, backgammon etc. Bowling is a competitive physical activity unlike the games of skill mentioned above. People have an issue calling something a sport unless there is running, or some sort of seriously strenous physical activity associated. I think that is short sighted and ignores the definition of sport.

[Erasmus]

The way I see it, oil patterns between different alleys are to inconsistent. Many house patterns makes it too easy for non-experienced bowlers to get good results which makes people look down on bowling as a sport because "it doesn't require any skill". Bowling is a sport just as difficult as any other to master, but often it's not that hard to get the same score as a pro bowler even as a recreational bowler.

[J Anderson]

The way I see it, oil patterns between different alleys are to inconsistent. Many house patterns makes it too easy for non-experienced bowlers to get good results which makes people look down on bowling as a sport because "it doesn't require any skill". Bowling is a sport just as difficult as any other to master, but often it's not that hard to get the same score as a pro bowler even as a recreational bowler.
You mean there's average inflation even in Sweden? I thought it was only a problem here in the U.S.

[Erasmus]

You mean there's average inflation even in Sweden? I thought it was only a problem here in the U.S.

Yeah, but we don't have house leagues in the way you have in USA, as a licensed player you often play in different halls and towns. So here it's more of a matter where the oil-patterns are not keeping up with the pace that the game evolves, not the players wanting a simple profile to get high scores. But looking at the average some pople have here on the forums I belive we are a bit further here, many of the members on this forum, relatively, have a higher average than e.g. Martin Larsen or Robert Andersson here in Sweden who are among the best players in Europe.

Edit: Changed the formulation, not thinking and writing in ones second language isn't that good always.

[andrewlytton]

Its a sport it takes great mental and physical skill!!!

[oregonbowler]

Being that the sport of bowling will be in the 2012 olympics doesnt that make it a legitamite sport? Granted it may not require a competiter to be in top physical condition it does require them to be in top mental condition to be competitive

[Unclesalty]

If bowling is not considered a sport then no way in H@LL can Golf be a sport.