First, some ground rules. While I have no actual authority on the matter—my only “authority” being heated debates in my friend’s garage and discussion around the dinner table–I’ve assembled loose criteria for what makes an activity a sport:

* the activity in question must be a game

* there is competition–generally, but not always, involving a point system

* physical exertion

* a specific skill is needed from the participant(s)

* the “sport” may not take place within a separate sporting event (I’ll explain this one later)

With that said, let’s take a look at some of the activities that have been debated and try to put the question to rest.

Track/Cross-Country: I full-heartedly back both of these as a sport. They follow all criteria. A race is one of the oldest and most simple games there is. In this showcase of speed, there is absolutely a clear-cut winner and loser, and the physical exertion involved goes without question.

NASCAR: While I’m sure sure there are a million die-hards in the midwest and south that will shout me down, I do not consider NASCAR a sport. Yes, it’s a race. Yes, there is a point system. Yes, they are skilled drivers, but therein lies the problem–the car is doing the racing. There is really very little physical activity being done by the driver (and before you get started, NASCAR fans, I am aware of the dehydration the drivers suffer–still doesn’t cut it for me).

Equestrian: This activity suffers the same disease as NASCAR, the horse is the real athlete.

Cheerleading/Dance: I was on the fence with these two. While i don’t consider pep squad a sport (see rule #5), I do consider both competitive cheer and competitive dance sports, seeing as they both fit all criteria. However, in this, we’ve discovered our first loophole: adding the prefix “comp” to any activity. Obviously, by saying something is competitive, it automatically meets rule #2, thus allowing many activities to now become sports (namely comp. surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding). Hey, I didn’t say it was fool-proof.

Bowling/Billiards/Poker: I feel these all belong in the same realm. I call it the ESPN2 Zone. It’s a confusing realm where games are thrust into a sports-limbo, considered sports by those who participate, but not by the general public, therefore they only get second-tier television station airtime. While they are all games, and all very fun, I do not consider them sports (nor the participants athletes). They do not meet the physical exertion and skill standards, though bowling does come close.

Table Tennis: I cannot, in good conscience, call this a sport. My logic on this is actually very simple: they took real sport and put it on a table, taking out the physical exertion, making it simply a game. Ask yourself, have you ever heard of foosball?

Crew: Crew is without a doubt a sport. It meets all standards, and though the crewmen do race in a boat, there is so much physical activity involved in rowing said boat it does not fall under the NASCAR curse. Anyone who has ever rowed a boat for an extended period of time is familiar with the physical exertion and skill involved and would agree that it is a crime to consider it otherwise.

Marching Band: This is the big one. With all the myths that are perpetuated regarding its status, it has become the Bigfoot of sports. No matter how you spin this–even by adding “comp” to the beginning of its name–it does not become a sport. There are two criteria it does not meet. For one, it’s performed during a sporting event, which breaches rule #5. If it were truly a sport, it would have its own showcase. This is where marching band members usually, vehemently, inform everyone that there are, in fact, band competitions. This is true, but it still does not meet one huge criteria: it’s not a game. It is physical, competitive, and skilled, but it is not a game. Without trying to belittle its importance, I consider it entertainment. It’s a performance, not a sport.

I’m sure not all of you agree with my verdicts and I did leave some questionable “sports” out, so I open the floor to you. Do you agree or disagree? Are there any other sports you would like to bring into question? Comment, let me know!

Go vote for this blog at www.bloggerschoiceawards.com and search “knowthescore.” please vote!

Last week I talked about the tragic death of Nick Adenhart, but what’s been even more tragic has been the prejudice and racism I’ve witnessed fester out of the situation. I’d like to keep my blog on the subject of sports and sports alone, but with sports being the backdrop in this situation, I feel this is something that needs to be addressed.

The driver of the car, Andrew Gallo, was hispanic. Specifically, Mexican. Great.

The accident happened in California. Specifically, southern California. Great.

Racial tension between Hispanics and, well, just about everyone else in southern California has never reached a comfortable level, most notably in the last decade or so. Incidents regarding immigration, crime, and job availability have proved to be excellent launching pads for irrational hate, distrust and xenophobia in the area, and this horrible situation–which has become a sort of cause-celebre–has done anything but appease public relations.

It has been said by some that Gallo was an immigrant and he fled the scene in fear of being deported. It’s been implied that this is just another case of drunk Mexicans ruining the lives of innocent white Americans. It’s been suggested that not only should he fry, but his parents should too for raising a morally corrupt, uneducated, intoxicated son–some job your parents did.

These people haven’t logically thought out the situation: if he were an immigrant, wouldn’t he have been deported during his previous arrest? He is as American as you or I. Unfortunately, these people are going to have to live with the fact that a fellow American was stupid enough to do something like this. Race doesn’t matter: an idiot is an idiot is an idiot.

I am in no way justifying what Gallo did. My heart goes out for everyone who has suffered from this accident; however I feel the anger directed at Gallo is coming from the wrong place. When you form your opinion of him, make sure it is only of him. Please do not make generalizations. Base it on the individual, not the group–whether it be race or family.

As the famous maxim goes: “Stupid is as stupid does.” And I don’t only mean Gallo.

Adenhart, only twenty-two years old, was killed in a hit-and-run accident Thursday morning.

In addition to having his young life cut short, what was sure to be a fantastic career for Adenhart was cut short as well (voted the top high school pitching prospect in the nation by Baseball America his senior year).

In his first start of this young season–this opportunity given to him because of an injury to regular starter John Lackey–Adenhart pitched six scoreless innings allowing only seven hits, twice pitching himself out of bases-loaded jams. Unfortunately, the Angels’ bullpen could not secure his stellar start, allowing the Oakland A’s to score three runs in each of the last two innings–a final score of 6-4.

Understandabley, the Angels postponed their final game of the series to a date to be named later. Instead, the organization, as well as fans, held vigils at the stadium and used the day for introspective reflection.

Nick hadn’t been with the team for long–being called up only weeks before to fill the empty spot in the rotation–but he made a lasting impression on both teammates as well as those in the front office. Among Nick’s friends on the roster who came up with him in Triple-A were pitchers Jered Weaver and Dustin Mosely, both of whom emotionally addressed the media before the game.

Though it’s impossible to articulate the tragedy of the loss felt by his family and friends, the Angels, and the entire baseball community, we can still take solace in the fact that before he left us, he pitched the greatest six innings of his professional life, in front of his father.

Nick Adenhart, you will be missed.

The envelope please.

10. Gridiron Gang

I saw this movie for the first time very recently, and I loved it. Like many of the movies on this list, it was based on a true story. This was story of an ex-college-football-player-turned-counselor at a juvenile detention center who decides to start a football team in order to give the kids something constructive to focus on. This movie wins the award for Making You Root for the Most Unlikely Group of People–juvenile delinquents. We watch these kids grow from muggers, thieves, dealers and even murderers to a functioning, hardworking team.

9. Miracle

Another true story, this movie chronicles the U.S. Olympic hockey team’s historic victory over the Soviet Union in the 1976 winter games. This movie gets the award for Inducing Unbelievable Patriotism. As if you don’t already know what happens, you sit on the edge of your seat the entire last half hour of the movie as you root for America to crush those commies. Who knows, you might even find yourself crank out a “U-S-A! U-S-A!”

8. Million Dollar Baby

There must be a rule in Hollywood that if you want to make a great sports movie, make a boxing movie. There have been so many good boxing movies it should really a post in itself: “Raging Bull,” “Cinderella Man,” “Ali,” Rocky’s I-III. However in my opinion, of all those movies–and I’m sure this will be disputed–this one takes the cake. Million Dollar Baby gets the award for Saddest Ending In a Sports Movie. Now I’m not going to ruin the ending for you, so you’ll need to watch this one.

7. Hoosiers

This is the only basketball movie that made my list, and it’s a good one. This movie is the true story of a coach with a questionable past who leads a group of undisciplined players to the Indiana state championship in 1954. This movie wins the award for Most Underdogs In a Single Story–split between the coach, the team, it’s members, and the town drunk (we’ll count him too).

6. Rudy

Ah, Rudy. Anybody who has seen this movie instantly falls in love with it. A classic hero’s journey set to the backdrop of a Notre Dame football field, Rudy will accept the award for the Most Epitomized Underdog. I mean come on, it’s the story of a 5-foot-7 kid who wishes to gain acceptance to Notre Dame and then play defensive end for their dynasty of a football team. How can you not love this story?

5. The Rookie

I’m just as surprised as you are that Disney made a decent sports movie. In fact, it’s a great sports movie. This movie wins the award for Best Baseball Movie Not Staring Kevin Costner. This movie follows the story of a middle-aged high school science teacher and baseball coach who wins a second chance to making it to the majors after his players discover his cannon of an arm. After being coached to an amazing season, his players force him to attend a minor league tryout. He eventually works all the way up to the majors and finally lives his dream, pitching for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. That’s right, ”Devil” Rays as in “before they were good”. I’m sure he still had a good time.

4. Field of Dreams

Apparently Kevin Costner was in a few baseball movies? In case you didn’t know, one of his most famous was Field of Dreams. In this movie he plays a farmer who hears a voice tell him, “If you build it, they will come,” which clearly means he should build a giant baseball diamond in the middle of his corn field. The advice works though, and he meets all eight banned players from the infamous 1919 Chicago Black Sox scandal. This movie receives the award for Best Sports Movie Starring James Earl Jones. You wouldn’t believe the competition for that one.

3. Bull Durham

Another baseball movie starring Kevin Costner? After the shock wore off, I found this to actually be my favorite of his baseball movies. Although, this movie isn’t entirely about him. Bull Duhram is actually about a young minor league pitcher with a wild arm who struggles his way through his first season in Duhram. In order to give him some guidance, the team signs veteran catcher Crash Davis–this is where Costner shows up. What I love most about this movie is the way it depicts the not-so-glamorous side of profesional baseball: the minor leagues. This movie wins the award for Funniest-But-Still-True-T0-The-Game Sports Movie. Sorry, Dodgeball.

2. Remember the Titans

I definitely remember this movie–I think everybody does. This movie follows T.C. Williams high school through its first year of integration and the struggle of its football team as it tries to unify under their new, African-American head coach. Along with a new coach, the team also doubles in size as they receive new black players who formerly attended other schools before the integration. At first, the team looks to be in a state of disrepair as clashes arise over the depth chart and obvious racial tension. Defying the odds, Coach Boone manages to pull the team together despite incredible differences and win a state championship. This movie steals the award for Team Most Against the Odds.

1. Friday Night Lights

I love this movie. I mean I really love this movie. This story follows the 1988 Permian Panthers football team as they fight their way to the Texas State Championship. Like so many of the other movies on this list, it is a true story. Although unlike the other movies, this story was actually based on the best-selling book by H.G. Bissinger, who actually followed this West Texas team around and documented everything about their 1988 season. Aside from being my favorite sports movie, it wins the award for Most Real Sports Movie. Everything about this film from the documantary-like camera work to the scenes on the field to the characters themselves make you feel like you’re in a small, football-crazy, West Texas town. Anybody who has ever played a sport should watch this movie. You will immediately connect with the sacrifices the kids make for the game.

Well there you go, my ten favorite sports movies. I know I left a lot of good ones out (“Brian’s Song,” “Chariots of Fire”). If you think I left any out, tell me. What are yours?

I’m sure you’ve seen them or heard about them, the photographs of Michael Phelps smoking a bong at a party while on a tour of colleges. This is unfortunate in so many ways. Many fans obviously feel let down and he has soiled his reputation at a time where his name can be used for so much good (not to mention the endorsements he will lose).

Obviously, this controversy has stirred-up a lot of chatter. Does he deserve all the scrutiny he is recieving? Should we really hold him to such high standards only because he is an athlete in the public eye?

Absolutely.

Don’t forget, these pictures were taken after the Olympics. The man who set the record for most Olympic gold medals should realize everything he does will be looked at a little more closely than the average American 20-something. He must realize he is truly an American hero and he needs to do everything in his power to keep his reputation clean. Is it completely fair that he is subject to so much criticism and publicity? No. But when you’ve won fourteen Olympic gold medals you’re not allowed to complain about a whole lot.

Over the summer Phelps became a symbol in this country for patriotism and unity as every single person in the nation backed him and cheered for him during the Olympic Games. I don’t think anyone was ever so excited to watch a 400 meter medley relay. These photos cause everyone to wonder who we were really rooting for.

The smart thing Phelps has done amist all this controversy is not deny his actions. It shows maturity on his part and may be the thing that can help him salvage his reputation.

Let’s open the forum. Do you think the Phelps controversy has spun out of control, or are we justified in our shock?

So here it is.

Every year the Super Bowl is extremely exciting for a couple million people, mostly in the two states that are home to the two teams. Where does that leave the rest of the country? All of our teams were eliminated in earlier rounds or, in some cases, didn’t even come close to making the playoffs (sorry Cleveland). However, we are obligated to root for somebody. I mean it is the Superbowl.

So you might be wondering, “How do I pick a team?” Let’s use this year’s contenders as an example.

1. Pick the Team You Hate the Least

I, personally, have nothing at stake in this Super Bowl. I’m not from either state. I’m not a huge fan of either team. I didn’t pick either of them to go all the way in a fantasy league before the season. But come Sunday I will be cheering for the Cardinals.

My reasons?

A large section of my family is centered in Texas. This means Cowboys fans. This means an inexpressible distaste for the Steelers. The Steelers and the Cowboys, along with the 49ers, are in a neck-and-neck race for most Super Bowls won by a franchise (five a piece). Therefore, a Super Bowl hosting either Pittsburgh or San Francisco will, without a doubt, have a hundred Sanchezes in San Antonio rooting for the opposite team. (And oh how we pray the inevitable 49er-Steeler Super Bowl will never come.)

2. Lock on a Player

If you don’t want to cheer for a team because they screwed one of yours over, look for a standout player on either side. For some, this might be Troy Polamalu on the Steelers. For me, it’s Larry Fitzgerald on the Cardinals. Not only does he have the most receiving yards in the league, but his disciplined work ethic and his impeccable character put him above and beyond all other NFL receivers, a position known for churning out divas. 

3. Take Part in the History

Every Super Bowl has its own interesting stat. When was last time a Super Bowl hosted two quaterbacks who have won the Big Game before? The only other time I can recall is Superbowl X with Roger Staubach and Terry Bradshaw. Both of this year’s quarterbacks–Kurt Warner and Ben Roethlisberger–have Super Bowl rings. Both received them in the last decade, as well. If you don’t care much for either team, this odd occurrence alone should tie you in. Who do you want to win it all: the over-the-hill quarterback who fought his way back for one last hurrah before retirement or the young captain who has the possibility of turning his team into a dynasty?

Of course, if you’re not that into football in the first place and you are attending your friend’s party purely for the chips and dip, you can do three things: pick the team with the better colors, cheer when everyone else cheers, and sit tight while you wait for those hilarious commercials.

Numbers

The reasons behind an athlete’s number choice are numerous– it’s almost a science. Sometimes it’s a number we’ve had since we were five-years-old playing AYSO soccer. Sometimes it’s a number that plays a significant role in our lives (house number, birthday, etc.). Other times it may be a number we got stuck with one year in Little League and subsequently gave us the best season in our young, athletic life. Sometimes we think it just looks good on us. Some numbers are “slimming” (single digits) and some numbers make you look bigger (the double-number: 33, 44, etc.). Most commonly, a number is chosen to honor a sports hero in our lives–from a Hall of Famer to our father. No matter the origin of choice, an athlete’s number has sentimental value.

Don’t take the number situation lightly, either. I’ve heard stories of tears being shed over not being able to have their lucky number. This kind of deprival is known to happen quite often too, usually because of an upper-classman or someone else on the team who has already claimed it for his or her own personal reasons, and in this case every athlete goes to the universal Plan B: the backup lucky number (we all have one).

No matter whether your sport is soccer or football or basketball, no matter whether you’re a boy or a girl, every athlete has “their” number. It’s one of the few universal truths. For reasons only known us, the number we wear on the field or court matters immensely. As we all know, it can decide how well we play in any given season. Numbers you may see me wearing are 3, 12, 24, and 25.

What are your lucky numbers?