What is sport?

This is not a game post today.  This is a fan post.   If you're interested in reading about Friday nights game, check out Tim Leone's column.

I've had this conversation a lot in the past few years.  What is a "sport?"  This usually comes up when someone is talking about NASCAR.   I didn't believe that racing should be considered a sport, it's a competitive activity.  To me, a sport is a competition between two teams, that uses an object to score points, and there must be a chance of physical injury caused by the other team.  It also cannot be a competition of a normal activity.  This is how I eliminated racing; it's just competitive driving.  That also eliminates most of the Olympic games.

I don't expect people to agree with this.  I ask the question, or pick the fight, to stimulate discussion and make people to think about what we call sports.

Why is defining sports important?  Because of ESPN.  ESPN has become the arbiter of what is a sport.  In my discussions, I've had people tell me that something is a sport because it's shown on ESPN.  My rebuttal?  They show Scrabble championships and Spelling Bees on ESPN, too.  Are they sports?  People believe that the NHL will never gain a mainstream audience because ESPN doesn't cover it.  That's the true meaning of power.  ESPN now can define sports just by what it chooses to air, and people accept it.

I'm talking about this today for a couple of reasons.  One is the cover of ESPN the magazine this week.  Phil Ivey, the poker player, is on the cover.  I like poker.  I was born in Las Vegas.  My grandfather taught me how to play when I was six, and every time we went to his house, out came the bag of chips.   I still play occasionally.  Seriously, I like poker.  Now, I don't know what poker is.  It's either a game of chance or a game of skill, depending on who you talk to.  I do know, however, that although it's shown all the time on ESPN and other sports networks, it is NOT a FREAKING SPORT!  If I wanted to read about gambling or the life of a gambler, I'd buy a gambling magazine.  Not ESPN, a *sports* magazine!

The second reason I'm writing about this is because I have refined my personal definition of what a sport is after last night's game.  A sport has to have individuals or teams that can cause fans to become emotionally invested in their successes or failures.  Poker, then, cannot be a sport.  Nobody cares whether Phil Helmuth win the World Series of Poker, except Phil Helmuth.  By my new definition, NASCAR has to be a sport, and so are most of the Olympics.  Not table tennis though.  Nothing will ever convince me that ping pong is a sport. I don't care how many Chinese commit suicide after they lose the gold medal.

How does this relate to the Bears?  Why am I writing this on the DG blog?  Because I learned something last night.

Losing is a part of sports.  Two teams start the game knowing that only one can win.  Fans, especially fans of championship teams, forget this.  Part of my pain this morning was from the fact that the boys lost to our cross-state rival.  The hated Pens!  If they lost to Amerks or Sens, it would be disappointing, but there would be no pain.  Last night when the Pens scored the empty netter to seal the deal, I felt my heart being ripped out of my chest cavity.  I loved making fun of how empty the stands were in WBS, talking smack on AHL Live about the Pens' serious lack of Calder, then they get the W.  Arrrrrgh!

It's official.  I'm emotionally invested in the team.  This doesn't happen often.  I've had only two teams in my life.  The first is the Minnesota Vikings.  I've suffered through Hershel Walker, Duante Culpepper (post ACL), and the Purple Turf Eaters.  This season may be the reward for my pain, but I know better than to get my hopes up.  They are the Vikings, remember?  The second was(is?) the North Stars.  I say is because I still hate the Dallas Stars with a passion greater than a thousand suns.  They ripped my team from the State of Hockey and moved them to Cowboy country?   Must restrain my "Fist of Death!"  They were moved the first year that Bettman was the commissioner, and I still hate him for it.

Now the Bears have joined this group.

Before you get on me, I've always liked the Bears, been a fan, but, as we all know there is a big difference between liking something and being emotionally invested in something.  If you don't believe me, ask that "good friend" who you always wanted to go out with, but s/he never seemed interested in you in "that way."

Emotional investment from fans is what all sports teams try to attain. The Redskins have it.  The Maple Leafs have it.  Most college sports teams have it.  Some high school teams have it.  Entire regions living and dying by the box scores.  The Bears are now reaching that status.  The rise of membership in DisGraceland and the level of vitriol on Penn Live proves it.

It's a new era in Bears hockey, and we're all a part of it.  Enjoy the emotional roller coaster!