A NASCAR Question: How are they athletes?

Okay someone PLEASE explain to me how nascar drivers are "athletes". Yes I understand you need great concentration and endurance to turn left for 20 hours straight. Yes I understand you need to take your ritalin in order to keep your concentration for doing all those left hand turns, and yes I understand that it must be hard to drink so much coffee in order to stay awake yet you have to pee in a bag since you can't stop your car in order to take a piss. I get all this.

But honestly, hot dog eating competitions require concentration as do spelling bee competitions, and the Breast Cancer 10 day walk requires stamina and enduration: How is nascar any difference?

So I ask you Nascar fans: educate a person ignorant of this "sport" and enlighten me with your knowledge.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKDC2iBQTYg

What's the difference between a fat ass sitting on his couch ALL day playing Madden football for 20 hours straight to that of a Nascar driver?

PSU ROCKSVarsity Captain

654 days ago

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I didnt know Jamal was back. Whats up.

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Frank StevensonRed-Shirting

654 days ago

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:(

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TylersaltAll-Star

654 days ago

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I'm actually right there with Frank on this one, Jamel or not. I'll agree that it's impressive, and that I couldn't drive like they do, but I draw the line at calling it a sport and the drivers athletes. It's like poker. Poker is a game of tremendous skill, but it's not a sport.

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Frank StevensonRed-Shirting

654 days ago

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Those kids that spell huge complicated words is "impressive" to me as well, but just because it's on ESPN 7 doesn't mean it's a "sport" or that the competitors are athletes. I drove once all the way to Florida. Took like 20 freakin hours straight. My ass was killing me but I did it and there are some really crazy drivers out there. So during that time was I( like a Nascar driver?

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False ProphetAll-Star

654 days ago

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were you driving @ 120 MPH with 20 others driving the same speed on a narrow path? IF so, then maybe

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CheezerAll-Star

654 days ago

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Sounds like rush hour in Detroit

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CheezerAll-Star

654 days ago

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Once again, we're addressing the question: "What is sport?" Dependant on the dictionary you use, sport has a different definition. There are a few common threads though weaved through the various definitions.

1. Is it competitive? YES

2. Do they keep score? YES

3. Are there rules? YES

4. Does it require physical skill and or exertion? YES

Near as I can tell, it's a sport. In my mind, more than "sports" like figure skating where the score is based on the subjective opinions of a bunch of judges.

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Frank StevensonRed-Shirting

654 days ago

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Spelling bee competition

1. Is it competitive? YES 2. Do they keep score? YES 3. Rules? YES

4. Physical skill and or exertions? YES

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Tyrone BriggsHall of Famer

654 days ago

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Is boxing a sport? It has judges...

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Frank StevensonRed-Shirting

654 days ago

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Good one Tyrone. It's only a sport if you get knocked out. Same with Ultimate fighting. If it goes to the judges it wasn't a sport and they weren't athletes for that fight. Makes sense right?

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SSreportersLegend

654 days ago

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Okay then......I've created a new event called the porn olympics.

1. Is it competitive? Yes.

2. Do they keep score? Yes

3. Do they have rules? Yes.

4. Physical skill and/or exertion? Yes.

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SSreportersLegend

654 days ago

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Nothing is a sport anymore...

Hockey is a hobby

Nascar is 40 guys going around a track

Football is just hitting each other

Soccer has candy ass players diving all over the pitch

Baseball takes forever to finish at times

Basketball is fixed

Figure Skating is fixed

Boxing is fixed

Golf, you just swing your club at a ball.

Cricket, see baseball.

Rugby can't make up it's mind as far as being football or soccer, both non-sports.

So it's all clear to me, the Spelling Bee as Frank mentioned is the only sport known to man.

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Tyrone BriggsHall of Famer

654 days ago

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Yeah and there are no steroid controversies at the Spelling Bee!

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Frank StevensonRed-Shirting

654 days ago

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I think the 3 of us have just come to the conclussion that Spelling is the ultimate "perfect" "sport"!

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Frank StevensonRed-Shirting

654 days ago

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2007 Athlete of the Year?

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WizardmanRed-Shirting

654 days ago

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I don't mind the Spelling Bee being a sport. Now I can call myself an athlete :)

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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

654 days ago

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Driving at 180 MPH isn't just "driving." At that speed, physically turning the steering wheel is like turning two dumbells in your hands. You've also got to be able to do it very quickly. I for one think it is a sport. It's not as hard or demanding as other sports, but it's certainly more physically taxing than poker or a spelling bee.

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Steel TownDraft Pick

654 days ago

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Yeah, turning puts something like 500lbs of force on the driver. I've never tried driving a race car, but I would think that putting up with 500lbs of pressure for four hours is pretty demanding.

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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

654 days ago

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I do know this. I've played poker for 40 hours straight, I've won spelling bees in middle school, and I've driven at 130 MPH. Even though it was only for a minute or so, the 130 was much harder physically than the other two. Every piece of dirt on the road becomes a speedbump, the car feels like it's about to bounce off the road, and if you don't stay on top of the wheel, it'll get on top of you.

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Alex HolowczakHall of Famer

654 days ago

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It does take physical exertion. I defy you to do what they do, and not be tired, or stop half way through due to exhaustion. It's 500 miles, right? That takes three to four hours? Go to Daytona and try it. If you can do it, get out in one piece, and can do it week in, week out, for forty weeks a year, then fine. But I bet you won't.

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SSreportersLegend

654 days ago

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I triple (treble for Alex) dog dare you!

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Frank StevensonRed-Shirting

654 days ago

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I'm not saying it isn't hard it's just.... well.... fine I'm going on the highway right now and I'm going to go balls out for 5 hours straight in my avalon.

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