Sport or not a sport? That is the question

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, March 29, 2006

There are some days when I sit at the keyboard and want to cover so many topics, but there's just not enough room.

So, let's just take a few at a time while I tickle my ebony and ivory keyboard.

There are a number of activities that are often questioned as to whether they are a sport or not.

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How about pool or billiards?

It must not be much of a sport when one of the top players was named Minnesota Fatts.

I would imagine anyone with fat or anything to do with obesity would not be referenced as a sport unless it's Sumo wrestling.

Then there's poker.

Sport or not?

I've heard sports radio talkshow hosts debate about this very game. Generally the debate ends with the summation that since it's shown on a sports cable channel as often as it is, then it must be a sport.

While you ponder other so-called sports like bass fishing or spelling bees, since it, too, is shown on the same sports cable channel, I'll help clear up any confusion you may have regarding what constitutes a sport.

A former colleague of mine in Montgomery put it simply: &#8220If you can't bet on it then, it's not a sport.”

Now, that's a sound reason.

So when I heard Monday morning that the hottest bet going in Las Vegas this week is deciding who will be the winner of &#8220American Idol,” I wondered to myself if Idol is now a sport?

If you use the reasoning of my former colleague, then there's no question that singing for a lucrative contract is now a sport.

My how the sporting world has grown.

Oh by the way, Chris is a 4-to-1 favorite over Mandisa (9-to-2).

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I told you so: I told you last week that the national media would be eating crow if two teams from the Southeastern Conference advanced the NCAA Tournament's Final Four.

The media doesn't seem to be eating as much crow as I suspected since it has embraced George Mason as their new darling of the week until this Saturday when Florida clobbers the Patriots.

I'm sure the national media will embrace the SEC more once LSU and the Gators take care of business.

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Who gives a splash?: Auburn University swimming coach David Marsh guided his men's and women's team to another national championship in the past two weeks, but who would know since the stories have been buried by injury updates from spring football practice and preseason polls.

Since Marsh has been at Auburn he's led the women's team to its fourth national title in the past five years and the men's swim team completed a four-peat in Atlanta.

Does anyone care?

Doesn't seem so.

Maybe if Brandon Cox swam the anchor leg of the 400 freestyle relay that would put the swim team on the map.

Just an idea.

Well, I need to run. I'm putting a cool $20 down on Mandisa.

Kevin Taylor is sports editor of The Greenville Advocate. Call him at (334) 382-3111 ext. 122 or e-mail kevin.taylor@greenvilleadvocate.com.