BOB COSTAS RIPS POKER!!!! [Archive] - Two Plus Two Older Archives

Smoothcall

08-16-2005, 03:34 PM

Did anyone see Costas Now this week? At the end of the show he does a commentary on poker. He portrays poker players as degenerate, pasty faced, overweight losers. And shouldn't call poker a sport.

I got a question for Bob. Why does he glorify professional athletes in the football, baseball, basketball, etc.. and say what they do is a sport and deserve praise. And think a poker professional are degenerate losers that deserve to be looked down upon? Because a human can be born and abnormal size and put a ball in a hoop or over a wall(probably with the help of steroids) are the people he feels he and the nation should praise. But a poker player who uses his brain to make decisions to win the event should looked down upon?

I guess poker players should apologize for being intelligent and using there brains. And start taking steroids and use braun(like cavemen) to win Bob over!

Btw his commentary is exactly how the public that knows nothing about poker has seen it for years. Just as we start turning the corner we get dopes like Costas bashing it. You would think someone in his position would want to know somehitng about poker before making a commentary bashing it.

Boris

08-16-2005, 04:19 PM

The point that poker is not a sport is valid. So is the point about poker being full of over weight, pasty faced white guys.

JayLear

08-16-2005, 04:24 PM

Regarding that, what is with the need to have an event validated by having it referred to as a sport? I happened to be watching ESPN at one point and came the hot dog eating contest. I couldn't help laughing hysterically as the commentator referred to the event as a sport and insisted upon calling the contestants "finely tuned athletes". Poker players, chess players and competetive eaters are certainly not athletes.

drewjustdrew

08-16-2005, 04:27 PM

Costas is overrated. He once bashed football as being too violent, now he will be working with NBC on the NFL. I give him no credibility even though I know that is not the general consensus..

TimTimSalabim

08-16-2005, 04:50 PM

[ QUOTE ]
The point that poker is not a sport is valid. So is the point about poker being full of over weight, pasty faced white guys.

[/ QUOTE ]

So, bowling and golf aren't sports either?

JayLear

08-16-2005, 04:53 PM

IronDragon1

08-16-2005, 06:32 PM

<blockquote>In Antwort auf:<hr />
<blockquote>In Antwort auf:<hr />
The point that poker is not a sport is valid. So is the point about poker being full of over weight, pasty faced white guys.

[/ QUOTE ]

So, bowling and golf aren't sports either?

[/ QUOTE ]

To me they aren't

Quicksilvre

08-16-2005, 07:01 PM

He said that poker is not a sport. He is right.

SomethingClever

08-16-2005, 07:04 PM

Poker isn't a damn sport.

However, the state of professional athletics isn't something I'd be overly bragging about, Bob.

Boris

08-16-2005, 07:53 PM

Bowling and golf both require a certain amount of athleticism and repetitive physical training.

Jordan Olsommer

08-16-2005, 08:08 PM

At the risk of sounding blunt, who gives a sh*t whether or not poker is a "sport"?

If you enjoy poker or curling or snooker or fly fishing or whatever, you don't need to justify it to anybody.

TimTimSalabim

08-16-2005, 08:09 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Bowling and golf both require a certain amount of athleticism and repetitive physical training.

[/ QUOTE ]

You haven't seen the way I train to push my chips into the center in just the right way every time /images/graemlins/grin.gif.

JayLear

08-16-2005, 08:37 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Bowling and golf both require a certain amount of athleticism and repetitive physical training.

[/ QUOTE ]

You haven't seen the way I train to push my chips into the center in just the right way every time /images/graemlins/grin.gif.

[/ QUOTE ]

At the time I push, there aren't many chips left, so it really requires almost no physical effort.

MCS

08-16-2005, 08:44 PM

[ QUOTE ]
He portrays poker players as degenerate, pasty faced, overweight losers. And shouldn't call poker a sport.

[/ QUOTE ]

Eh, fine with me.

Also, Costas doesn't strike me as a guy who mindlessly praises athletes, so I think your criticism there is off base.

BigBaitsim (milo)

08-16-2005, 08:49 PM

Poker is not a sport.

Many poker players are degenerate, pasty-faced, fat guys, and most poker players lose.

JayLear

08-16-2005, 09:17 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Many poker players are degenerate, pasty-faced, fat guys, and most poker players lose.

[/ QUOTE ]

I fit that description precisely...

Smoothcall

08-16-2005, 10:29 PM

If poker is not a sport than neither is bowling, pool, and golf. And many BET on the side in these sports. So they may be even more degenerate than poker players. As in poker betting is a part of the game. In the others it is not, it is added for there degenerecy. These 3 sports are also filled with pasty faced overweight guys.

I'm not say these sports are filled with degenerats. What i'm saying is the world is filled with degenerates and can be found in all sports in some fashion. Is Michael Jordan(and many other b-ball players) a degenerate gambler? I think there can be an argument for that. But i don't hear him bashing basketball for being filled with degenerates. So the point is his commnetary is filled with just preconcieved notiins of what he thinks poker is becuase he doesn't know anything about it or like it. He likes baseball so that is a "great game" to him. We have degenerates but so does evetry other sport or event. He was way unfair with the bashing and his prejudices.

MCS

08-16-2005, 10:45 PM

[ QUOTE ]
If poker is not a sport than neither is bowling, pool, and golf.

[/ QUOTE ]

Why not? The others are physical activities. They require certain physical skills. Poker does not.

That's just horribly bad reasoning.

Overdrive

08-16-2005, 10:49 PM

Yes, poker is not a "sport." For it to be a "sport" I think the rule is that the players must be 90% black.

2+2 wannabe

08-16-2005, 11:53 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Yes, poker is not a "sport." For it to be a "sport" I think the rule is that the players must be 90% black.

[/ QUOTE ]

haha nh

what about....ummmmm....tennis?

Overdrive

08-17-2005, 12:00 AM

I don't know. But what I do know is that Poker is much better than any 'sport.'

How in the world any grown man can sit around watching pro sports is beyond me. (Unless he is betting on it though I guess.) I also can not believe that some people actually care about who wins this and that or whatever or what some multi millionaire blinged out pro athelete thinks about this or that.

battschr

08-17-2005, 12:08 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Yes, poker is not a "sport." For it to be a "sport" I think the rule is that the players must be 90% black.

[/ QUOTE ]
Hockey?

octop

08-17-2005, 04:27 AM

Poker golf and bowling are not sports. I like poker and don't like the other two. I have no idea why its on ESPN but they show a lot of crap that isnt a sport ( hot dog eating contests. spelling bees, pool etc.)

Smoothcall

08-17-2005, 05:29 AM

My reasoning being they are events where they don't need to be an excellent athelete. They are events where you use a skill that you have but don't have to be a great athelete to play them professionally. By Bob's example saying poker is filled with pasty faced overweight guys he is trying to show that it is not a sport because you can be out of shape and play them. In Golf, pool, and Bowling you can be out of shape. Or is John Daly gonna be on the Wheaties box next month to promote fitness? How is my reasoning now?

riverboatking

08-17-2005, 08:37 AM

have some insecurity issues?
what the fxxk do you care if bob costas thinks poker isn't a sport?

ps. what i'd really like to know is what vince thinks of all this.

sammysusar

08-17-2005, 09:09 AM

dont forget to include skinny asian dudes who cant speak engligh when you talk about the overweight pasty white guys

JayLear

08-17-2005, 09:14 AM

[ QUOTE ]
My reasoning being they are events where they don't need to be an excellent athelete. They are events where you use a skill that you have but don't have to be a great athelete to play them professionally. By Bob's example saying poker is filled with pasty faced overweight guys he is trying to show that it is not a sport because you can be out of shape and play them. In Golf, pool, and Bowling you can be out of shape. Or is John Daly gonna be on the Wheaties box next month to promote fitness? How is my reasoning now?

[/ QUOTE ]

Your making the common mistake of confusing the difference between an athlete and somebody that has athletic skill. Bowling or swinging a golf club require precise athletic skill, yet doesn't necessarily require the participation of an elite athlete. Poker requires absolutely no physical skill whatsoever. If Poker is a sport then so is my mother's counter-cross stitch. Give me a break.

JayLear

08-17-2005, 09:19 AM

[ QUOTE ]
If poker is not a sport than neither is bowling, pool, and golf. And many BET on the side in these sports. So they may be even more degenerate than poker players. As in poker betting is a part of the game. In the others it is not, it is added for there degenerecy. These 3 sports are also filled with pasty faced overweight guys.

I'm not say these sports are filled with degenerats. What i'm saying is the world is filled with degenerates and can be found in all sports in some fashion. Is Michael Jordan(and many other b-ball players) a degenerate gambler? I think there can be an argument for that. But i don't hear him bashing basketball for being filled with degenerates. So the point is his commnetary is filled with just preconcieved notiins of what he thinks poker is becuase he doesn't know anything about it or like it. He likes baseball so that is a "great game" to him. We have degenerates but so does evetry other sport or event. He was way unfair with the bashing and his prejudices.

[/ QUOTE ]

Is whether or not an event can be gambled on your basis for what can be considered a sport? Because my buddies and I used to bet to see who could piss the farthest off my balcony when we were liquored up. Would that be considered a sport? If so, I'm pretty sure I could medal in that.

Look, basketball, football, and baseball probably are filled with more degenerates than poker. Michael Jordan is most likely 10 times the degenerate gambler that Greg Raymer is. So if that's your problem with what Costas said then fine -- I agree with you. But who cares?

But if your problem is that he said that poker isn't a sport and doesn't require athletic skill, then give it up.

ChipWrecked

08-17-2005, 09:47 AM

[ QUOTE ]

I guess poker players should apologize for being intelligent and using there brains.

[/ QUOTE ]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v382/aksooted/morans01.jpg

FrontonPoker

08-17-2005, 10:16 AM

you will always find people like that.. im a huge soccer fan but constantly see it ripped in this country (usa).. likewise, in some countries people just dont see the fascination with american football or baseball.. like they say people fear what they dont understand.. let it go, everyone is entitled to their opinions, dont let stuff like that bother you

Smoothcall

08-17-2005, 10:16 AM

???? If you want to respond to my post by answering the questions asked by all means go ahead. If not don't respond. You chose your own door of asking you own quesitons. Make a post of your own asking these irrelevant quesitons you have and maybe i'll answer your quesitons. But not in my post.

Smoothcall

08-17-2005, 10:43 AM

No i'm not sayig a sport is determined by whether you can bet on it. I don't see how you made that mistake. The point of the whole post isn't whether poker is a sport. That was just a side note to show some people like costas think golf is a sport but doesn't think poker is. And part of his reasoning being that you can be fat and out of shape to play poker. But you can be fat and out of shape to play golf and bowling. The point of the post was to show how his insults about poker being filled with degenerates that should be looked down upon was unfair. As in any sport or event(whatever you want to cal these events and sports) you have degenerates. But just because you play poker doesn't mean you are a degenerate. You seem to agree with this. And i care thats why i wrote the post. You shoulda been able to figure that one out. It annoyed me that some guy who probably knows nothing about poker, probbaly not a great athelete himself, would go on national television bashing it and almost everyone who plays it. Saying basically if you play poker your making a mistake with your life. Your a degenerate gambler and should loooked down upon. Since this is my life i am ofended he would make such insults when it is nothing more than a stereotype he is going by to make these attacks. And who is he to say my life is garbage. How do you think he would feel if i became very famous then went on naitonal television and did a commentary on sports broadcasters. Saying they are a bunch of degenerate wannabee's that since they couldn't play sports decided to tlak about it. And they are losers for dong so. That they should go and and get a real life and stop wasting there time and disrespecting themselves by being a broadcaster. I bet he wouold make nother commentary on tv saying what he thought of me and my insults and sterotypes just as i am him. it doesn't seriously upset me what he thinks(he is just ignorant) about my lifestyle. But it just irked me in his tone and insults(and his arrogance) when he probably has never sat down at a table or been in the world to make these assertions. i thought i would share with other poker players to see what they thought. Remember he is insulting you to by his comments. As he is insulting all people in the poker world. So you should be irked too. But to each his own.

Smoothcall

08-17-2005, 10:54 AM

There is a difference in your example about american not understanding or liking soccer. And Europeans not getting baseball and american football. The difference is i wouldn't mind if he didn't get poker or enjoy it. Like in your examples. That is fine. To each his own. But he said more than that. He put poker in a very negative light. Saying people who play it are degenerates and making a mistake with there life. Or something close to that. Thats is alot more than just saying i don't see the fascination with it. He is condemming poker players. Do you see that difference? Btw it doesn't upset me very much. Just irks me when some weasel thinks he's important because he's on tv and can condemm a lifestyle and many people. Based on generalizations as i bet he has never sat in a live casino and played poker. that is all.

Smoothcall

08-17-2005, 10:56 AM

There is a difference in your example about american not understanding or liking soccer. And Europeans not getting baseball and american football. The difference is i wouldn't mind if he didn't get poker or enjoy it. Like in your examples. That is fine. To each his own. But he said more than that. He put poker in a very negative light. Saying people who play it are degenerates and making a mistake with there lives. Or something close to that. That is alot more than just saying i don't see the fascination with it. He is condemming poker players. Do you see that difference? Btw it doesn't upset me very much. Just irks me when some weasel thinks he's important because he's on tv and can condemm a lifestyle, and many people based on generalizations. As i bet he has never sat in a live casino and played poker. that is all.

FrontonPoker

08-17-2005, 11:08 AM

i hear ya, but the reason i used soccer, is it gets bashed all the time in the sports talk media like jim rome and the like.. they assume we are all thugs or hooligans just there to get drunk and start fights, etc.. and i think the same thing, i think they probably never watched a match in their lives..

Boris

08-17-2005, 12:07 PM

Well then we can't forget about the Angry Persian Man phenomenon either.

meow_meow

08-17-2005, 12:46 PM

Poker isn't a sport.
Neither is chess.

I had a wacky friend in school who was on the football team and liked to argue at great length about how baseball wasn't a sport because most of the players were doing nothing most of the time. He was a moran. Nobody liked him. In the end, what difference does it make whether poker is a 'sport'?
Don't be that guy.

MicroBob

08-17-2005, 12:51 PM

I didn't see the TV show you mentioned...but I do believe that Costas has ALWAYS had a rather negative view towards gambling in general because his father was quite the degenerate sports-bettor.

So he does have SOME personal experience with degenerate gamblers.

And I find it hard to disagree with him if his general idea was that people who play a ton of poker are wasting their lives.

I'm not sure he really portrays the athletes of the other sports in such a positive light all the time either.
He's been around...and he certainly knows what jerks/degenerates can also be found in sports such as baseball and basketball can be.

FWIW - I don't consider poker to be a 'sport' either and think that it's silly to consider otherwise.

I'm a chess-player too....and a few years ago there was a serious movement in the international chess federation (FIDE) to make chess an olympic 'sport'. They thought it would be good for the worldwide appeal of chess.
One of the first steps was instituting drug-testing at their major events...because chess couldn't be considered an olympic sport unless they started doing that first (or something like that).
Most chess players thought it was completely idiotic.

I view the whole 'poker as sport' argument to be about as ridiculous as the movement in chess to get into the olympics.

However - if pissing off of Jay Lear's balcony were an olympic sport...you better believe I'd be watching. Ratings would be sky-high for that 'sport'!!!!

AndysDaddy

08-17-2005, 01:38 PM

What, this again?
From Dictionary.com: Sport (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=Sport) The relative entries:

Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively.
A particular form of this activity.
An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.
An active pastime; recreation.

Note the use of words like "physical" and "active". By this definition:
Football, baseball, hockey, etc: Sport
Golf: Sport
Poker: Not Sport.

There is still room for argument, of course. Note the absence from the definition anything about particular skills or talents. Also, how much physical activity is required to pass the sport threshold?

It is because of this that I question, say, pool. Other than the ability to get around the table and stroke a queue(note that the special skill or talent of stroking the queue in a particular maner is not relevent, according to this definition), there is very little that is physical about playing pool. I lean toward calling it a sport however.
--
Scott

Smoothcall

08-17-2005, 04:50 PM

Your the one saying poker isn't a sport. So your being "that guy". And this original post was more based on his poker in a bad light and making generalizations and stereotypes that are unfair. But many seemed too concerend about the sport or not sport comment rather than the major jist of his comments and my post. Don't be one of those guys that miss the big picture. Nobody likes those guys either.

MicroBob

08-17-2005, 08:16 PM

[ QUOTE ]
more based on his poker in a bad light and making generalizations and stereotypes that are unfair.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't think the generalizations and stereotypes are that unfair at all.
Many times when I play live I'm not exactly impressed with the quality of people I'm sitting with.

BigBaitsim (milo)

08-17-2005, 08:52 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I
I'm a chess-player too....and a few years ago there was a serious movement in the international chess federation (FIDE) to make chess an olympic 'sport'. They thought it would be good for the worldwide appeal of chess.
One of the first steps was instituting drug-testing at their major events...because chess couldn't be considered an olympic sport unless they started doing that first (or something like that).
Most chess players thought it was completely idiotic.

[/ QUOTE ]

I hear that the Bridge Federation, or whatever the [censored] they call themselves was considering drug testing for the same reason.

Imagine drug testing poker players after the WSOP.

MicroBob

08-17-2005, 10:50 PM

Yes...they had a story about the Bridge thing on the Daily Show a few months ago.

I don't know how serious the Bridge movement was....but it was a big deal in the chess world.
Almost every issue of Chess Life magazine had some various letters to the editor or editorials for several months, etc etc.

Various top players were willing to do it if they thought it was for the long-term good of chess...while others were refusing to participate in any tournaments that were parttaking in these ridiculous policies.

I believe that even the USCF (US Chess Fed) came out with their own official position that FIDE (Federation International de echess or something like that) was really out of bounds for their militant stance on this whole 'drug-testing so we can get in the olympics issue'.
Most chess players acknowledged that it was pretty much a ridiculous long-shot anyway (and whether or not 'chess is a sport' came up as well similar to how 'poker is/isn't a sport' came again in this thread).

Of course, also involved in that argument was whether any drugs could help one's mental abilitiers at the chess-board anyway. Is there some sort of mental-power steroid out there?
The whole bit about Ginseng being good for one's memory was considered...but I don't think Ginseng was on the list of banned substances anyway.

It's not like steroids or pot are likely to HELP one's ability at the chess-board.

Anyway, the whole chess drug-testing for olympic-consideration situation got REALLY out of hand.
To my knowledge..that's all in the past (but I'm not much of a chess-player anymore and don't keep up on the politics as I used to)

PairTheBoard

08-18-2005, 12:29 AM

otoh, you know what they say about publicity. He effectively advertised the new NY Times sports page Poker column, embedded in the unique subtle currents of Costas humor. Remember, earlier in the show they were talking about how silly it is to take good natured ribbing too seriously.

PairTheBoard

nothumb

08-18-2005, 01:31 AM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The point that poker is not a sport is valid. So is the point about poker being full of over weight, pasty faced white guys.

[/ QUOTE ]

So, bowling and golf aren't sports either?

[/ QUOTE ]

Poker is not a sport, not because it is played by fat white guys, but because it involves little physical skill. Bowling is a sport now populated mostly by pretty fit white guys; most pros do some serious weight training, etc on the PBA tour.

NT

Voltron87

08-18-2005, 02:43 AM

1. poker isnt a sport

2. why is the thread title in caps

Timer

08-18-2005, 03:26 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Did anyone see Costas Now this week? At the end of the show he does a commentary on poker. He portrays poker players as degenerate, pasty faced, overweight losers. And shouldn't call poker a sport.

[/ QUOTE ]

I didn't see this show, so assuming the quote is correct it looks like Bob Costas is my new hero. Way to go, Bob! Tell it like it is!

Smoothcall

08-18-2005, 04:24 AM

Many people play poker. There are all walks of life in any activity. To say there all lowlifes is unfair. Heis essentially calling you a degenerate lowlife beause you are a poker player. Is that fair?

Smoothcall

08-18-2005, 04:28 AM

3) why is it important to you whether its in caps?

4) You are making Bob's comments about poker players a little more understandable. I hope your not the majority or Bob may be right!

Quicksilvre

08-18-2005, 11:29 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Is there some sort of mental-power steroid out there?

[/ QUOTE ]

Caffeine.

08-18-2005, 11:40 PM

Didn't you hear the part at the end, where he makes fun of the HBO lineup of high-quality fare like "Cathouse" and "G-String Divas"; the tongue was embedded in his cheek.

beernutz

08-19-2005, 01:09 PM

Are there any other physical skills in poker other than not giving off tells (or giving off false tells)?

JayLear

08-19-2005, 01:36 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Are there any other physical skills in poker other than not giving off tells (or giving off false tells)?

[/ QUOTE ]

Chip tricks?

MicroBob

08-19-2005, 03:14 PM

These are certainly stretching it....but:

putting out the number of chips you really intended to (not making some sort of mistake....which actually HAS happened in chess as when a player accidentally grabs the wrong piece).

seeing the cards correctly (both the board as well as one's own cards). i played live for a little while yesterday. Kinda new player to the table...but I read him as fairly solid in my initial impressions...raises UTG. I fold.
He plays whatever hand out...and then flips over his cards. It's J3o.
He looks at it and is shocked "Oh s--t. I must have looked at the same card twice. I swore I had a pair of jacks."
It was pretty funny.

Also - some would argue that sitting on your butt in the aame seat for hours upon hours while withstanding the odors of the players around you could qualify as a physical skill.

SuitedSixes

08-19-2005, 04:01 PM

Poker is a game.

djk123

08-20-2005, 03:12 AM

golf is clearly a sport that requires a lot of athletic skill. i'd say bowling is definately a sport too.

lastsamurai

08-20-2005, 04:31 AM

[ QUOTE ]
He portrays poker players as degenerate, pasty faced, overweight losers.

[/ QUOTE ]

I guess you ever been to the bicycle club. As much as i love poker I really hate going to the casinos because i use to work in one.

08-23-2005, 04:51 PM

Costas is just upset because last time he went to play at a casino the staff had to get him a booster seat so he could see his hole cards.

MrJinx

08-24-2005, 12:50 AM

Poker is not a sport.

Athletes play sports.

Does Greg Raymer look like an athlete to you?

What poker is, is the greatest GAME in the world. So Bob Costas can still kiss my hairy ass.

08-24-2005, 11:08 AM

Check this blog entry about Costas...
http://whatthefoker.blogspot.com/

Dead on!

08-24-2005, 01:06 PM

Congratulations Bob Costas!! You are nominated for induction into the "Nash Clown Hall of Fame."

http://hcs.harvard.edu/~hsp/Article%20Images/Issue_07/33%20Costas/Lynch.jpg

08-24-2005, 01:18 PM

I don't see how poker can qualify as a sport any more than bridge, chess, backgammon or scrabble. There was recently a ridiculous attempt by the World Bridge Federation to get bridge classified as a sport by the Olympics. Not surprisingly it was a failed attempt.

Budget Boy

08-25-2005, 12:59 PM

I haven't read this whole thread, but Costas ripping something makes me feel even better about playing.
The first person the use the phrase "douche-bag" as an insult, was staring right at Bob Costas.

masse75

08-27-2005, 08:20 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Poker isn't a sport.
Neither is chess.

I had a wacky friend in school who was on the football team and liked to argue at great length about how baseball wasn't a sport because most of the players were doing nothing most of the time. He was a moran. Nobody liked him. In the end, what difference does it make whether poker is a 'sport'?
Don't be that guy.

[/ QUOTE ]

Should've pointed out to him that the average football play takes less than 5 seconds, then about 45 seconds between plays.