A DH is an athlete when running for a triple. A pitcher/closer is an athlete when you look at him pitching a whole inning. I don’t consider a goalie an athlete … not in the same regard as centers or forwards. I don’t really want to get into “levels of athleticism”. It’s just funner to say “Not an athlete. La La La La La. Can’t hear you. Not an athlete. Lalalala.” =)
What is your definition/criteria of an athlete? (I am not saying that in an antogonistic way)
I’ve played ballsports and endurance sports all my life and never played golf, but I consider a golfer, a baseball pitcher, a baseball DH, a shooter, an archer and a place kicker all athletes. There are many aspects of athletics. Jumping and running and high heart rate are some, but so is skill, eye hand coordination and concentration. Ever tried the sport of biathlon ? Combines the best endurance and power aspects of triathlon with the skill and concentration of the “skill sports”. Some of you people are just being close minded. Just cause we can run does not make use better than someone who can hit a ball or even drive a car incredibly fast at high G forces in questionable conditions.
Is Michael Schumacher an athlete ? I think so, but perhaps I am in the minority in this forum ?
HA! Don’t let Patrick Roy hear you say that or you might have a stick up side your melon. I only wish I had half the hand-eye coordination, speed, and flexibility of a goalie ,( not to mention the cajones required to stand in front of a 100+mph slap shot) .
I am willing to have a pretty inclusive definition of “athlete”. Not because I think really strongly either way, but because this is one of those arguments that could go on all night and I suspect we all have more important things to do.
I’ve seen him fight, I’ll stand toe-to-toe with Roy. =)
Hockey Goalies require the best “reactions” of any position of any sport … even more than baseball catchers. But, have a camera on them for the whole game and see how much “athleticism” it requires. It is a purely reactionary position, they could smoke a pack of cigarettes with all the extra time they have.
I try to wittle it down some b/c an “athlete” could describe anything from mowing the yard to building a birdhouse to running a marathon. Granted the discussion could go on forever (just what we need, antoher 100_ post thread), but no one seems willing to set up any restrictions on what an athlete is or isn’t.
An athlete is like porn … hard to define, but you know one when you see one.
We have this discussion all the time when we argue athlete/sport stuff among bodybuilders, powerlifters, and strongmen.
Back in the day we used to argue which sport required the best athlete. Baseball were out. Football players were usually as fast and as quick as baskjetball players, so football trumped basketball. I always thought is was hockey players. Fast, quick, endurance, and the sport that demands the best hand-eye coordination ,possibly more than baseball … no one’s trying to bodycheck tyou when you’re hitting a baseball.
Who the heck is John Daly?<<
His website says he’s 230. If he’s 230, I’m 110.
LMAO Cathy.
If he’s 230, I AM 110! =)
His head weighs 95 pounds at least. It’s a melon if I ever saw one. I saw him on TV last night, if he’s under 275 I’d be stunned. He’s probably over 3 bills. He’s getting worse, and he seems proud of it.
Daly burst on the scene in 91 when he won at crooked stick and was the “big driver of the era”. Folks loved his “grip it and rip it” style. His game fell off because he became an alcoholic and has zero work ethic … and boasts about it. His new training regimen is marlboros. He’s gaining weight like crazy, avoiding anything traning that involves more than getting out of his chair (self-admittingly) and is smoking more than Maurice Greene’s track shoes.
Everytime he crashes and fails and exhibits another self-fulfilling prophecy of failure, America empathizes with him . When he has a heart attack, stroke, etc in the next few years I can’t say I’ll feel sorry for him. If you wanna get fat and slobby and smoke like it’s going to be illegal next week, then you can’t act shocked or asked for sympathy when something bad happens.
It’s to the point now where it almost seems as if he feels sympathy is what keeps the crowd feeling affection for him. Announcers say the crowd “understands him” … 300 pounds of smoking slobbery … wow, impressive crowd. John Daly is likely the greatest waste of potential the golf game has ever seen. Laziness, complacency, and acceptance of mediocrity are greater hinerances that alcoholism ever was for John Daly … and he brags about it (his laziness and aversion to hard work) every time he gets on a sports show.
Defining an Athlete?
It seems this thread has morphed into “Defining a Sport.” This question comes up quite a bit, espcially when the TDF rolls around and our favorite football columnists have at cycling. My thoughts on the original post and the notion of whether Daly is an athlete? First off, is golf a sport? I’ll say sure it is. I know first hand that it actually can be exhausting and is a physically difficult game to play. (Difficult with respect to the level of skill required) Does that mean that all people who play golf are athletes? Certainly not.
I think whether or not someone is an “athlete” is largely a measure of the individual rather than the sport/activity/game they play. Athletes strive to constantly improve some type of physical skill. Just possesing the skill is not enough, athletes continually try to improve it. This skill(s) is typically used in competition against other athletes. But, athletes often try to improve their skill by competing only against themselves and attaining a personal “best”. Being an athlete is an attitude, work ethic, lifestyle, and focus.
Does this describe Daly? I dunno, I never met the man. I tend to doubt it.
There are many aspects of athletics. Jumping and running and high heart rate are some, but so is skill, eye hand coordination and concentration.
So my 4-year-old nephew playing GameBoy (which requires skill, eye/hand coordination, and concentration) can be considered an athlete?
John
The motorcycle is a helluva athlete.
No argument from me… motocross is a VERY physical sport that requires fitness AND requires skill. Although, I’m not sure it requires a lot of common sense… hmmm… like swimming 2.4 mi, biking 112 mi and running 26.2 mi. insinuates MORE common sense? - ugh! 
Joe Moya
You don’t have to convince me … I’ve done my share of dirtbike ridin’. Mostly DS80s as a grade schooler and 125’s in hish school. Our town had a local dirt track we used to try and tear up. I’ve got some funny stories about “creek jumping” if the situation ever presents itself. Think one ball corner pocket. Uuuuuugh.