You know you're a geek when...

[TheLuckyOne]

darthshady said:

In high school you tried to convince the PE teacher that marching band counts as a sport.

...really?

I'm not putting down marching band, but how did you go about making THAT argument?

-D

[pfrsue]

theluckyone said:

...really?

I'm not putting down marching band, but how did you go about making THAT argument?

-D

Ever try to stomp around and around in a hot coat and ugly hat while playing a tuba? You swimmers just have it waaay too easy.

[Ms. Jellybean]

pfrsue said:

theluckyone said:

...really?

I'm not putting down marching band, but how did you go about making THAT argument?

-D

Ever try to stomp around and around in a hot coat and ugly hat while playing a tuba? You swimmers just have it waaay too easy.

Sheesh, not to mention being the drum major of a marching band... we march around in hot constricting uniforms and wave our arms around like we're having fits.

And what makes me a geek is I think that was FUN.

[DarthShady]

I figure if cheerleading can be a sport (I'm not putting that down either, all 3 of my sisters are cheerleaders and I know how much work goes into it,) then why not marching band? Both are competitive, and are extremely demanding physically. Think of a season that lasts from June to Thanksgiving, and each show is seven minutes straight of marching (which is not the same as walking, as some of the track team used to tease) and absolute out-of-breathlessness due to playing a wind instrument or toting around a huge drum or spinning a six-foot flag pole or.....whatever....But yeah, it's basically that, but if you mess up you have to run a lap or do twenty push-ups. Then when your down with all that, you go right ahead and sign up for next season! It's the extra-curricular of choice for any masochistic nerd!

However this arguement didn't very well convince the PE department either....

[TheLuckyOne]

pfrsue said:

Ever try to stomp around and around in a hot coat and ugly hat while playing a tuba? You swimmers just have it waaay too easy.

Heh. Remind me to tell you about those 20 hour-a-week workouts sometime...

Hey, nobody's questioning the physical exertion, dedication, or talent required. (God knows I couldn't carry a tune if you gave me a basket to put it in.) I'm just wondering (out of honest curiosity, not mockery) what makes it a sport, per se. I suppose if there are regular competitions against other bands that are strenuously scored, that might qualify.

-D

[Head Mutant]

Does a competition of some sort automatically make an activity a sport?

Interesting.

[TheLuckyOne]

admin said:

Does a competition of some sort automatically make an activity a sport?

I wouldn't say that, I don't think... competition alone doesn't automatically confer the title of "sport." However, it is the most core, defining aspect of what separates "sport" from "activity." That's not putting any intrinsic value on one versus the other; both can be fun, both can keep you in shape, both can accomplish any variety of goals and have many positive effects. But if there is no competition, then by definition (not to get too metaphysical) it's not a sport. Jogging- great way to keep in shape, get some fresh air (depending on where you do it), build strength and self-confidence even. But it's an activity, versus track, which is a sport. Again, no reflection on the respective worth of either, but that's the dividing line.

Since Sue brought it up, let's use swimming as an example. If tomorrow I head to the pool and do some laps to keep in shape, that's an activity. If I'm racing someone, that would be an example of sport. (Not to mention extremely bad for my self-esteem these days.) If I'm not racing someone right then but I'm timing myself, in order to make a comparison between myself now versus my time 4 years ago, say, and through that the people I was competing against 4 years ago, that might be considered sport. If someone times themselves in a swim because they're hoping to break a record, that's sport because they're racing against the record-holder, even though the record-holder is not racing them at that specific point in time.

All of which is a very long-winded way of saying that something might not be sport just because there's competition -- there are other factors that go into that judgment, I believe -- however, if there's no competition, then by definition it is not sport. If one wants to apply that to marching band (where this all started), then yes, it might be considered a sport if there is competition against other bands... my wife (choir geek) told me she thought the original post came across as more judgmental than I intended. However, if there is no competition (and that's an if, I understand that many bands do compete), then it is by definition not a sport. QED.

-D

[aargmematey]

Wow, I was just discussing this topic with my boyfriend (who was in band) a couple days ago. We came to the conclusion that neither cheerleading nor band was a sport.

I believe that are not a sport simply because in "competition" they are really essentially getting graded. Whether they get a superior, or an excellent or whatever is ultimately in the hands of the judges, where in sports you are completely in control (or, your team is completely in control) as to whether you win or not.

[DarthShady]

theluckyone said:

pfrsue said:

I suppose if there are regular competitions against other bands that are strenuously scored, that might qualify.

Our band competed in the Tournament of Bands (TOB) circuit. For the football season we performed at as many games as we could, but we also had at least 1 competition, sometimes 2 or 3, each weekend. By the beginning of November we'd have our chapter championships, and then our Atlantic Coast championship in Scranton a week later.

Over an average season we'd have about 10-15 competitions in three months and the cheerleading team only had maybe 5 competitions over the full school year. However, at a neighboring school the marching band didn't compete at all and the cheerleaders had about a bajillion competitons, so I guess it depends on the school.

aargmematey said:

I believe that are not a sport simply because in "competition" they are really essentially getting graded. Whether they get a superior, or an excellent or whatever is ultimately in the hands of the judges, where in sports you are completely in control (or, your team is completely in control) as to whether you win or not.

I figure that as long as the Olympic sports include events like gymnastics, figure skating, etc., and ESPN continues to film NCA (National Cheerleading Association) and DCI (Drum Corps International) competitions, then sports can be competitve. However, I also agree that this is a bit of a stretch to the definition.

But I think the term "sport" has different definitions and it all depends on the individual to choose how they define it. I don't consider NASCAR a sport, but millions of people in this country would strongly disagree (and probably have me killed for such a statement.)


....
Does this conversation remind anyone else of that one scene in Big, or is it just me?


So back on original topic:
You know you're a geek when the greatest events on your social calendar include meeting some penpals at Otakon and the Barnes & Noble "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollws" party.

[TheLuckyOne]

aargmematey said:

I believe that are not a sport simply because in "competition" they are really essentially getting graded. Whether they get a superior, or an excellent or whatever is ultimately in the hands of the judges, where in sports you are completely in control (or, your team is completely in control) as to whether you win or not.

Hmm... but wouldn't that disqualify diving?

(Heh... of course, considering how often swimmers get mad about meets getting interrupted by diving, that might not be so bad...)

-D

[deusdragonexx]

You know you're a geek when you camp outside of a movie theatre for the newest premier for 12 hours to get a good seat. While waiting, you show Star Wars and/or LOTR movie to the crowd of people waiting with you. To sweeten the pot, you show the movies via projector onto the side of the building.

(true story)

[sarahbot]

You guys think marching band as a sport is geeky? Try knitting. www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2006/02/10/needles_raised.html

[starwenn]

When you volunteer at a thrift shop just to get first dibs on great junk like mini sewing machines, classic rock records, mint-condition original Nintendo cartridges, and almost-never-used copies of "The Hobbit" and "Watership Down."

When you love musicals. All kinds of musicals. You actually like it when people break into song in the middle of a movie. No, you love it. Half the movies on your shelf involve music of some kind or another.

When the only things you've bought off e-Bay involve anime, classic rock, musicals, 80s toys, or Star Wars.

When the only things you've bought off Amazon.com involve anime, classic rock, musicals, or Star Wars.

When you can not only sing every song in well-known musicals like the Rogers and Hammerstein shows, but can sing all of the songs in flops only Broadway afficianados and Barbara Streisand have heard of, like "It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman!" and "Steel Pier."

When the best book you read last summer was a history of comic books and their impact on 20th century culture.

[coccatino]

you own a goldfish named Atticus Fish and bemoan the fact that none of your coworkers think that it's funny.

[DocD83]

You were seriously considering naming your cat "Chairman Meow."