Cheerleading: Activity or Sport?
You know, I had heard before that cheerleading is really dangerous and girls get injured way more than football players and stuff like that. I had no idea that one of the reasons for that could be Title IX and the influence of Varsity, the company that makes all the cheerleading uniforms and stuff. Now, granted, Penn and Teller are big time libertarians and that undoubtedly colors their take on this, but their Bullshit episode on cheerleading is pretty amazing. Maybe this is just amazing propaganda, I don't know, but this was just unfuckingbelievable.
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whoops...
part 2.
http://tinyurl.com/27b6ccv
"Blalock in the cleanup spot makes gives me agita." - Dustin
Activity
"The 2010 Rangers...winning despite Ron Washington"
In the interest of quicker games Ron should just tell the ump he's pulling the Feliz card and the ump should rule the inning over.--Sherman McCoy on Sept. 4, 2009
In his defense, you are a retarded cuntbag by LiamP on Mar 4, 2010
activity
only because it has to be judged and can’t be scored objectively, although I guess you could make the same argument for baseball.
Section 239, Row 1, Seats 1&2
It's classified as a sport for Title IX purposes.
"Blalock in the cleanup spot makes gives me agita." - Dustin
Because they needed more girls' sports.
I've been trying to convince my family of the magic of cumin. They won't listen to me. It makes almost everything better.- PhilKid3, 8/16/2010.
Are gymnasts or cheerleaders "athletes?"
"Blalock in the cleanup spot makes gives me agita." - Dustin
They perform an athletic activity without question.
But being an athlete does not mean what you do is a sport.
I've been trying to convince my family of the magic of cumin. They won't listen to me. It makes almost everything better.- PhilKid3, 8/16/2010.
Sticking feathers in your butt does not make you a chicken.
Sure.
I think if you’re on a team, doing an athletic activity, competing against another team, that’s a sport.
"Blalock in the cleanup spot makes gives me agita." - Dustin
Not necessarily.
There is more to a sport than being an organized athletic activity involving teams.
Cross country involves teams, but it’s not a sport. It is an organized athletic activity.
I've been trying to convince my family of the magic of cumin. They won't listen to me. It makes almost everything better.- PhilKid3, 8/16/2010.
I might take this back.
Under the criteria I espouse, cross country would be decided objectively and would be a sport.
It’s a fine line, I think everyone can agree on that.
I've been trying to convince my family of the magic of cumin. They won't listen to me. It makes almost everything better.- PhilKid3, 8/16/2010.
If you suggest that CC
is not a sport then you knock out any race. Racing is pretty much the first sport. It was first played in 80,000 BC by Org and Gorp. Org was caught by the saber-toothed tiger and thus lost. Making Gorp the first world champion.
That's why I changed my mind.
I've been trying to convince my family of the magic of cumin. They won't listen to me. It makes almost everything better.- PhilKid3, 8/16/2010.
Without a doubt.
'Waiting for a girl and she gets me into fights
Waiting for a girl we get drunk on Friday night'
Maybe it's not a question.
Are you having a stroke, Brett?
"Blalock in the cleanup spot makes gives me agita." - Dustin
Sorry to disappoint you, Brett, but "obsessed" isn't the word I'd use.
by Black Francis on Oct 8, 2010 7:18 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm still trying to figure out what the enigmatic question marks meant.
"Blalock in the cleanup spot makes gives me agita." - Dustin
to clarify a little
…I’ve seen that episode before and it gives some compelling reasons for it to be classified as a sport. It’s an activity that should be recognized as a sport for safety purposes, basically.
by Black Francis on Oct 8, 2010 5:21 PM CDT up reply actions
They have topless cheerleaders...
in multiple parts of the episode.
"Blalock in the cleanup spot makes gives me agita." - Dustin
it wouldnt be an episode without a topless girl of someform
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
That's why I said "primarily."
They go to a handful of competitions, but they perform way more often at other sporting events.
I thought competitive cheer squads were usually separate from the ones that performed at games?
At least at the college level…
Didn't know that.
So would just the competition squad be considered a sport? Or do they get scholarships for everyone and call the sideline squad the farm team?
I dunno how it all works scholarship-wise, or if even most schools have them split,
but I look at the “spirit squad” type stuff as more like playing catch compared to actually playing baseball.
Activity, not a sport.
I've been trying to convince my family of the magic of cumin. They won't listen to me. It makes almost everything better.- PhilKid3, 8/16/2010.
The Bullshit episode...
has titties in it, surely that counts for something.
"Blalock in the cleanup spot makes gives me agita." - Dustin
You chase them for sport.
But that’s also not a sport.
I've been trying to convince my family of the magic of cumin. They won't listen to me. It makes almost everything better.- PhilKid3, 8/16/2010.
I know it is hardly authoritative
But the wiki definition of sport:
A sport is an organized, competitive, entertaining, and skillful physical activity requiring commitment and fair play, in which a winner can be defined by objective means.
I bolded the most important part.
I've been trying to convince my family of the magic of cumin. They won't listen to me. It makes almost everything better.- PhilKid3, 8/16/2010.
I don't know if you've watched the links Ben provided
But if you watch it, I bet you’ll be willing to make an exception.
by Black Francis on Oct 8, 2010 5:30 PM CDT up reply actions
Involving a high degree of injury is irrelevant
Hard work is irrelevant. Whatever else they might show is irrelevant. Cheerleading competitions are decided by subjective judging, that means cheerleading is not a sport.
I've been trying to convince my family of the magic of cumin. They won't listen to me. It makes almost everything better.- PhilKid3, 8/16/2010.
You're missing my point.
I agree with you that it’s not a sport, but it should be considered a sport by schools so these girls will have better coaches, trainers, access to school subsidized insurance for injuries, and on and on.
by Black Francis on Oct 8, 2010 5:35 PM CDT up reply actions
For the purposes of Title IX, sure, call it a sport.
Get those girls the things that they need to participate safely and at the highest level.
I've been trying to convince my family of the magic of cumin. They won't listen to me. It makes almost everything better.- PhilKid3, 8/16/2010.
I think...
there’s also the possibility that if it were a sport, there would also be “illegal moves.” That is, you can’t do this move in competition because it’s too dangerous.
"Blalock in the cleanup spot makes gives me agita." - Dustin
Possibly.
Most likely we’re approaching a time where, in order to win, squads will have to throw girls higher, do more flips, or just add elements of risk that they didn’t have to do in the past. The standard pyramid ain’t getting it done anymore.
I've been trying to convince my family of the magic of cumin. They won't listen to me. It makes almost everything better.- PhilKid3, 8/16/2010.
Yep
Much better regulation at least at the High School and Junior High School level. I don’t know how you’d regulate the little kids. Maybe they wouldn’t train for the dangerous stuff since they’re not going to be doing it in HS, who knows…
by Black Francis on Oct 8, 2010 5:46 PM CDT up reply actions
There are illegal moves
at each level certain types of moves are outlawed based on safety
"Calmer than you are dude"
I’m only slightly smarter than a sea sponge
by brettgardner on Sep 10, 2010 12:03 PM PDT
by Arlington Stadium Legend on Oct 11, 2010 3:18 PM CDT up reply actions
sport
"Drinks are on me if Lewis posts >168IP and an era lower than 3.86." by RangerMad on Jan 20, 2010 12:36 PM PST
If gymnastics or diving is a sport
I don’t see why cheerleading isn’t.
"I wanted to go out there and punch Julio" - Ron Washington
That's why I don't consider either of those things sports, either.
I've been trying to convince my family of the magic of cumin. They won't listen to me. It makes almost everything better.- PhilKid3, 8/16/2010.
There are a lot of Olympic
“sports” that aren’t more legitimate than cheerleading.
"I wanted to go out there and punch Julio" - Ron Washington
sport
Cheer prior to 1985 was probably not. Now it most definitely is.
Requires athleticism
But without objective scoring, not a sport. If cheerleading is, where is the line? Ballet? Singing? Marching band?
"Only the strong survive, but the strong still get their ass whipped." -Nick Saban
The scoring
is as objective as figure skating, synchronized swimming, gymnastics, or diving, amongst others, I would think.
"I wanted to go out there and punch Julio" - Ron Washington
That is to say, not.
None of those are sports.
I've been trying to convince my family of the magic of cumin. They won't listen to me. It makes almost everything better.- PhilKid3, 8/16/2010.
I've seen some very unathletic cheerleaders at my college
Genesis 1: 3-4 (Rangers Edition): And JD said "Let there be Lee," and there was Lee. And JD saw the Lee, that it was good: and JD divided the Rangers from the Angels. by Aquaman56
"Josey drives to games??? I always assumed he rides in on his high horse" jam0152
What about
the very athletic Benji Molina, Eddie Guardado, and Rich Garces?
"I wanted to go out there and punch Julio" - Ron Washington
Courts have ruled it's not a sport for Title IX purposes.
I wrote a column about this for the sports section of the small local paper I work at. the local high school cheer team sends me pictures and info from competitions and I run them. In the column, I basically said, “Don’t worry. Even though the courts don’t love you, I’ll still run your stuff.”
The Bullshit episode...
argues that by classifying it as an activity and not a sport, we are needlessly allowing more injuries.
"Blalock in the cleanup spot makes gives me agita." - Dustin
That decision didn't make a lot of sense to me
It basically said that someday it would probably be a sport under Title IX, but right now there’s not a defined season for it, and is underdeveloped in the way of coaches and stuff. I’d argue that if it were Title IX, it would have all of that.
by Black Francis on Oct 8, 2010 6:18 PM CDT up reply actions
I love this topic...
(sits back giggling devilishly waiting for someone to mention the ‘g’ word.)
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
Gash?
Don't listen to me. I'm a fucking moron.
by hornedfrogs45 on Oct 8, 2010 9:05 PM CDT up reply actions
At the very least the cheerleaders are athletes.
The one’s at my school go through some of the most insane workouts. They go to private lessons for 2 or 3 hours a night and its almost entirely fitness. The things they do in the weightroom is stuff that I can’t come close to doing and I’m a very competive athlete.
"Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor."-Capote
i saw that episode
in fact i was gonna come in here to say that ive seen it. that’s about it
i remember there was a comment penn made about one of the spokeswomen’s haircut that had me in stitches
If it's a sport, why don't they have cheerleaders?
Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. If they get mad, you're a mile away AND you have their shoes.
by Caradoc on Oct 8, 2010 8:24 PM CDT reply actions 6 recs
What about NASCAR?
The outcome can be judged objectively, obviously. I’ve heard people make the case that racers go through a lot physically during a race.
But I can’t classify it as a sport. You’re relying on a machine to provide your locomotion. It’s the same reason I don’t classify horse racing as a sport, at least not for the humans.
by Past A Diving Michael Young on Oct 8, 2010 10:45 PM CDT reply actions
Any kind of motorsport is a sport as far as I'm concerned
These people drive cars at speeds you could never dream of. It takes endurance and incredible eye-hand coordination. If you lose control of the car, you’re risking hundreds of thousands of dollars much less injury or, in rare cases, death. Plus, you cannot be fat and be a professional race car driver. I’ve seen some chubby NASCAR drivers but it’s unheard of in real racing. Weight is at a premium and the driver has to be in shape.
I’ve never gone more than 10 or 15 laps on a track at a time, and even that is both mentally and physically draining.
by Black Francis on Oct 9, 2010 2:38 AM CDT up reply actions
Since the following are NCAA sports
Men’s and women’s gymnastics, Bowling, Rifle, Men’s and Woman’s Diving,
I have zero problem with Cheerleading being a sport.
By the way, Congratulations to TCU on the firest ever Rifle title.
"I wanted to go out there and punch Julio" - Ron Washington
It might be a sport, but it seems like they spend less time competing and more time just cheering the team on
But I guess I’ll watch the show (when I have more time) to see what point it makes. Right now, I don’t see why I should care either way.
And I will say that the guy cheerleaders
require more strength and coordination than a lot of other sports out there.
Honestly, I'm kinda biased against it being a sport
b/c it means more scholarships for women’s sports that I actually enjoy watching
So it doesn't matter to you
…that these girls doing back filps and getting thrown way up into the air get hurt a lot, and there is a high incidence of catastrophic injury. You just care about the sports you enjoy. Fuck those paraplegic ex-cheerleaders who should be in the gene pool, perhaps going on to make a better looking wife for your sons and a better looking husband for your daughters. Selfish prick.
by Black Francis on Oct 9, 2010 1:11 PM CDT up reply actions
The one in the Bullshit episode...
is a quadrapalegic, actually.
"Blalock in the cleanup spot makes gives me agita." - Dustin
Have you ever thought about being a lobbyist?
by Black Francis on Oct 9, 2010 1:55 PM CDT up reply actions
you can make a good living just lobbying in Austin
by Black Francis on Oct 9, 2010 2:33 PM CDT up reply actions
Who would I have to contact to get that gig?
"Blalock in the cleanup spot makes gives me agita." - Dustin
Well
I’m thinking about going all in, but I happen to know a lot of business owners who are currently unorganized and without a lobby. I’m thinking about doing everything…setting up an interest group, a pac, and lobbying.
If you know a lot of people like that I would think it would be a pretty natural transition. I think you’d be good at it. You identify issues you care about and can make concise arguments.
There are probably lobbying firms in Austin, but most lobbyists there will work directly for their interest group or will work independently for many. In DC, of course, there are a lot of firms and I guess you’d have to work yourself up the ladder.
by Black Francis on Oct 9, 2010 3:12 PM CDT up reply actions
I understand
I laugh when I think of you trying to work in a firm with other lawyers, who are usually human beings.
by Black Francis on Oct 9, 2010 3:52 PM CDT up reply actions
Now that that's settled...
we can go back to focusing on how to get Title IX sports recognition for cheerleaders so we can protect cheerleaders. Sweet, nubile, luscious, cheerleaders.
"Blalock in the cleanup spot makes gives me agita." - Dustin
I appreciate all those straw men.
Especially the one about me fucking paraplegics who can still do “back filps”
I enjoy watching
Cheerleaders than any other women’s sport.
"I wanted to go out there and punch Julio" - Ron Washington
Activity
In a sport, you need a defense (ie. you must impose your will on someone else in an athletic fashion). Tennis = sport. Golf = activity. Cheerleading = activity.
Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!
Lots of pot smoking and discussion amongst friends in college
Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!
by ElMerkoMuffley on Oct 9, 2010 11:02 PM CDT up reply actions
I agree with this...
be careful though…now you’ve mentioned the g word.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
So
you just eliminated swimming and track and field…..and probably many more sports that aren’t coming to me now.
Hellcats
8pm Wednesday on CW — for true fans of the, um, sport.
Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. If they get mad, you're a mile away AND you have their shoes.

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