As an NYC guy and something of a driving-is-not-a-sport type I have come to appreciate racing a little through the eyes of my NASCAR loving cousin. So I thought it was pretty cool when my cousin sent me this article about former Cornell DB Chad Walter '93 and his role as Kyle Busch's crew chief (http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Oct06/Alum.Chad.Walter.lm.html).
[quote ugarte]As an NYC guy and something of a driving-is-not-a-sport type...[/quote]Careful, that's almost a ban worthy statement around here...
Just to tie the threads together... http://elf.elynah.com/read.php?7,97169,97169#msg-97169
[quote KeithK][quote ugarte]As an NYC guy and something of a driving-is-not-a-sport type...[/quote]Careful, that's almost a ban worthy statement around here...[/quote]
If it has a measurable outcome it's a sport. If it has subjective judging which cannot be measured it's a "dog show", not a sport. For example, hockey and even golf are sports. Figure skating and ski jumping are dog shows.
By this definition, car racing is a sport.
Case closed. :-D
[quote KeithK][quote ugarte]As an NYC guy and something of a driving-is-not-a-sport type...[/quote]Careful, that's almost a ban worthy statement around here...[/quote]
Well aware. I was trying to tread carefully.
[quote David Harding]Just to tie the threads together...[/quote]
A thread I participated in. As if I needed more evidence that my memory is for shit.
[quote Jeff Hopkins '82]If it has a measurable outcome it's a sport. If it has subjective judging which cannot be measured it's a "dog show", not a sport. For example, hockey and even golf are sports. Figure skating and ski jumping are dog shows.[/quote]
I stopped trying to define "sport" at roughly the same time as I stopped reflexively correcting people who misstate insignificant facts. The definition of sport is pretty much the same as the definition of pornography: I know it when I see it and my wife thinks that I watch too much.
No competitive driver in NASCAR, Formula One, Indy Car, or semi-professional series (ie, you can make money but not get rich) such as ALMS, will be successful without being in shape. Ground effects let you pull 2-1/2 g's in a corner. No way you can master by curling a beer can to your lips the week before a race.
Which is a reminder: Not only was the late 1960s/early 1970s a golden era for Cornell sports with the two hockey titles and the first lacrosse title ... but there was still Formula One an hour away. 'course, F1 is long gone. In its place: NASCAR at the Glen. Which isn't half bad.
Two words: olympic porn.
Shameless plug time!
Call it a sport, call it porn, call it whatever.
But at least come check it out next year with the Cornell Club of Greater Philadelphia -- and no doubt some sister Clubs -- when we invade Dover International Speedway (a.k.a The Monster Mile) in Delaware for NASCAR's Nextel Cup Series race next June.
I am so not kidding. Stay tuned for more info in the months ahead.