by Bob Howell

Created on: February 12, 2009

First we have to list some of the various sports that are part of the great wide world of sports. Things like golf, running, bowling, horse racing, swimming, cycling and fishing are among the list of sports I found. What makes a good sport? The idea that many people of various abilities can participate in the actual playing of the game. That there are also many levels and that the game or sport does not eliminate the rank amateur. The sport must not qualify only if you are paid a lot of money to play or have to belong to any organization in order to play. Does the sport or game lure the beginner and make them interested because there is a possibility to get better and better so you can play with a degree of professionalism at some point.

Poker can answer those questions with a resounding YES across the board. Can beginners play, yes with very little instruction. Can you advance and play at intermediate levels, yes because there are a lot of levels in any casino. Now it is getting to be a sporting game that helps charities all around the country. Many charities sponsor games that have low buy-ins to some very steep buy-ins promoted by professional poker players. There are large tournaments all over the world that will let in basically anyone that has the money for the entry fee. These tournaments have been won by many players that would be called beginners because they have only been playing for a year or so. Many events are shown on TV and are getting quite an audience following.

Now let us look at some of the sports that are listed as sports. Horse racing, do you have to be a jockey in order to be involved? I don't think so. How about swimming? You can swim in very little pools and you do not have to qualify for the Olympics in order to be a swimmer and can say that you participate in that sport. Bowling and golf both have a lot of pro-am tours where a virtual unknown can play and win at a very high level that is usually won by the professionals but some rank amateurs have done very well in those events. Most sports are for involvement, enjoyment and participation and are played for the fun of it and yes poker qualifies there also. Poker is one of the few sports that can boast that most any level of physical ability does not disqualify you from joining in the fun. Are you disabled, that is OK, blind, there is a very good blind player that plays in the World Series of Poker, young, that is OK but not for money until you are old enough, old, that is OK also. If you are disabled, young are too old you may not be able to play football, skiing, baseball, cycling, and many other sports.

Poker by most any standard is a true sport. Young, old, amateur, disabled, male, female, strong, weak, can all join the game and have a ball.

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