A Poem - What Is It About Sports?

"Sports: activities involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment."

—

The exception sometimes makes the rule.

Watching football teams go at it

may be entertaining for the fans;

but is it entertaining for the players?

"Smash mouth" is a term that comes to mind.

Physical exertion is the common "exercise",

but is normal walking really a "sport"?

Speed Walking definitely is,

but where did it transition to become a sport?

Playing ball with my cat is not bowling, is it?

Video games want to be an Olympic sport.

They do require exertion and skill,

but so do billiards and regular pool.

Which should qualify first for the gold?

Should gang shootings also qualify?

That's silly, you say.

There is exertion, skill, done at times

for little more than entertainment,

with stakes much higher than win or lose.

Fly fishing has seen its days, too.

Advertisers make sports caricatures of

Baseball and frankfurters,

Football and beer,

exertion and skill....

that chewing, drinking, and sitting?

Sports---the more like war, the better?

Rooting for the underdog seems American.

Now dog fights are illegal.

Some matches are mismatched.

Stadiums full as hopes spring eternal, dollars flow.

Tennis anyone?

Golf: hit, walk, fume?

Is hiking a sport, or not?

Sportsmen riding horses, chasing a fox?

Coon dogs and hunting are done on foot.

Television brought them closer;

even better seats at home than there.

Favorites? You bet, just name a few.

Heroes? To some, for luck, for skill.

Since ancient Greece, and before.

The athletes tire.

The fans there were go home.

The announcers, coaches, crew.... .

The lights and all shut down.

Janitors rule with exertion and skill, for gold.

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© 2020 Demas W Jasper All rights reserved.