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by Jeff Mcclung

Created on: November 11, 2007   Last Updated: January 18, 2012

Poker has developed a certain legitimacy in the realm of sports. It is a contest involving skilled players and in the professional arena (and smoked filled back rooms) there is much at stake. Companies put up considerable prize money to become known to those who indulge in and enjoy watching such pastimes as card playing. The game has come out of the closet having a bottom line that elevates the best players to economic strata previously reserved for the more commercial athletes in football and basketball.

If you use ESPN as the standard setter these days, poker is now on par with rodeo riding, ice skating, skateboarding and boxing. There are more broadcasting hours to fill than baseball and golf can offer. Poker is entertaining to watch and thus earns air time on the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network.

A sport involves the physical domain to varying degrees. All sports land at different points on the mind/body contribution continuum. Racing an automobile doesn't require the kind of physicality that playing left tackle does. It does require physical skills that are difficult to obtain and are enhanced or blunted when fear and high speeds are added to the mix. How the mind responds to the dangers of the track in the milliseconds between stimulus and necessary actions and is then translated to the subtle motor patterns used to manipulate those terrifying steel missiles is a combination of brain and brawn decidedly favoring the brain, but without extreme eye-hand coordination just steering a car around an abandoned track is difficult.

Sport requires specific ability that is not readily obtained without years of training and a certain genetic disposition. It is not unusual to see stars from the entertainment industry performing well in prestigious poker tournaments. To perform at high levels in more than one area of life, particular in sport is highly unusual. Bo knew football and baseball, Deion Sanders was another exception. Michael Jordan, however, the world's best basketball player, couldn't translate his transcendent ability with a basketball into baseball or golfing excellence. A famous face performing in an unusual environment will make interesting viewing that will increase the revenue of sponsors. Poker provides this opportunity that sports don't.

Sports with a large element of luck are not as desirable as those that rely on ability for success. While the stars must align for the decided underdog to pull off an upset, it can usually be explained in terms of flawless execution by the inferior physical athletes combined with mental strength that overcomes the uncertainty of the more talented opponent. Sports don't rely on the luck of the draw or cards falling as they may.

Some exciting chess matches occurred between Bobby Fisher (US) and Boris Spassky (USSR) with a lot on the line for both players. There was much gamesmanship and brinkmanship in the run-up to their matches. The matches exacted a great physical toll on both players, but their physical abilities had little to do with the outcome of the games. Chess is poker's competition.

Over the course of innumerable contests, the outcomes are ultimately determined by physical prowess. A sport can't be reduced to game theory to describe the outcome. While coaches in professional (and semi-professional Division I college) sports strive to eliminate uncertainty they cannot reduce the game to a set of mathematical equations. An athlete's decisions are not zero-sum. There are an indescribably large number of responses to any game decision an athlete makes. There are possibilities that an athlete is more prepared for than others, but he can never be ready for all outcomes.

An athlete is unlikely to put in the hours required to reach their genetic potential if the outcome of their efforts are dependent upon the luck of the draw. There needs to be a reasonable assurance of a substantial return on the investment of time and energy.

Ultimately, poker cannot be considered a sport. Shooting a deer, throwing a dart, Scrabble, and Donkey Kong are all on the same list with poker. Just by being a competition with a winner and a loser does not a sport make. Being fun to play and watch, even with money to be made, does not lift it to the status of sport.

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