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The Instigator
wingnut2280
Con (against)
wingnut2280
Losing
19 Points
The Contender
esmith1617
Pro (for)
esmith1617
Winning
40 Points

NASCAR is a sport

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Voting Style: Open Point System: 7 Point
Started: 2/20/2008 Category: Sports
Updated: 14 years ago Status: Voting Period
Viewed: 3,199 times Debate No: 2796
Debate Rounds (3)
Comments (4)
Votes (17)

 

wingnut2280

Con

I was just watching sportscenter and they had intense coverage of last weekend's Daytona 500. I don't see any way in which NASCAR can be considered a sport. It's hardly athletic and is more of a competition that a sport.
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esmith1617

Pro

I disagree that it is not athletic. Have you ever tried to hold onto a stearing wheel and make those turns at that speed?

What is a sport?
-something that is athletic and usually competitive.

Nascar is both athletic and competitive. Therefore, it is a sport. In fact it is a popular sport, the second most popular in the US behind football
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 Debate Round No. 1
wingnut2280

Con

I didn't say NASCAR wasn't hard. Just because something is difficult does not make it athletic. Playing the guitar is hard. Taking Calculus 4 is hard. That doesn't make them sports. I couldn't step in and do it well at all. But, that doesn't make it a sport.

Also, holding a steering wheel is hardly physically challenging. Out of shape middle aged guys can do it with one hand, so its hard to argue that it is uniquely physically or athletically challenging. The reason they came out sweating is because they drive hot machines in hot conditions. This equivalent to people sweating in saunas. NASCAR is in no way atheltic and therefore not a sport.
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esmith1617

Pro

Nascar indeed is uniquely physical. it has a lot to do with coordination, much like golf. One doesnt necessarily need to be strong or even fit to be good at these sports but they are still skilled in a physical sense.

You admit that you could not do this yourself. You do not have the unique physicallity to be a nascar driver. You could not play this sport.
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 Debate Round No. 2
wingnut2280

Con

Whoever said golf was a sport? There simply isn't enough athleticism involved in NASCAR for it to be a sport. its not just a matter of strength but one of physical exertion and ability. NASCAR isn't primarily dependent on atheltic ability. Under your interpretation things like darts and shuffleboard become sports. NASCAR isn't an athletic activity. Coordination is a mental ability. There is virtually no atheleticism involved and therefore isn't a sport.
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esmith1617

Pro

The definition of coordination is "Harmonious functioning of muscles or groups of muscles in the execution of movements.".
That sounds like it has a lot to do with athletics. In fact coordination is the key to athletics in every sport; soccer, basketball, tennis, etc.

Where do you draw the line? According to you Nascar and Golf are not sports because the athletes are not always in great shape. By this logic baseball also is not a sport since many baseball players have big guts and cannot move well.

I challenge you to tell us: What other sports that are widely accepted as sports are not sports? and where do you draw the line? Are you simply trying to rewrite the definition of sports?

My theory is that you look down on Nascar people. You are a snob and you are just trying to feel better about yourself by bringing it down. You could never drive Nascar, it's a sport that goes way over your head.
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 Debate Round No. 3
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4 comments have been posted on this debate. Showing 1 through 4 records.
Posted by CP 14 years ago
CP
Since the definitions for "game" and "sport" are so closely related, I adhere to the below guidelines for defining a sport:

1. Predefined Rules
2. Significant althletic ability & physical skill
3. Competition by direct impact of players on each other (i.e. a sport could not be played by oneself)

#3 is what eliminates games such as golf, track & field, swimming, darts, weight-lifting, etc. Games such as these do not necessitate another contender, because the result of a single player is not directly impeded by another.

Nascar fails the litmus test because it lacks #2 (emphasis on "significant"). But again, that's based on my interpretations and distinction of a sport.
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Posted by toria_2metal 14 years ago
toria_2metal
nascar is a joke. just like this debate (:
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Posted by blond_guy 14 years ago
blond_guy
wingnut wins.

25 characters
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Posted by mattresses 14 years ago
mattresses
i still don't know if i consider Nascar a sport, but one thing is for sure: it is the most boring thing ever. minus a few other non-voluntary things, of course.
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17 votes have been placed for this debate. Showing 1 through 10 records.
Vote Placed by CentristX 7 years ago
CentristX
wingnut2280esmith1617Tied
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Total points awarded:13 
Reasons for voting decision: Conduct goes to the Con, because an unnecessary comment by the Pro at the end, "My theory is that you look down on Nascar people. You are a snob and you are just trying to feel better about yourself by bringing it down. You could never drive Nascar, it's a sport that goes way over your head." If that had been excluded, all my points would have gone to the Pro. However, even though I disagree with the Pro, I still believe that he made a better argument for the subject than Con.
Vote Placed by Akemi_Loli_Mokoto 12 years ago
Akemi_Loli_Mokoto
wingnut2280esmith1617Tied
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Vote Placed by jbob 12 years ago
jbob
wingnut2280esmith1617Tied
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Vote Placed by Placebo 14 years ago
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wingnut2280esmith1617Tied
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Vote Placed by Revid 14 years ago
Revid
wingnut2280esmith1617Tied
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Vote Placed by sexyjesse0720 14 years ago
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Vote Placed by skiies23 14 years ago
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Vote Placed by FunkeeMonk91 14 years ago
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Vote Placed by dabigdood 14 years ago
dabigdood
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Vote Placed by kenicks 14 years ago
kenicks
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