Seriously, why is hockey considered a real sport?

Question

Isn't it just a bunch of guys skating around an ice rink while trying to hit a tiny puck into a net?

What other possible skills or strategy is even required to play this game? It's just random movements by a bunch of clumsy skaters trying to hit that puck into a net by luck.

Hey, tic-tac-toe is a game, but you don't see people calling THAT a "sport." Hockey is a game, IF that.

People, there's a reason why NHL ratings are down and why hockey is on the bottom of the totem pole when it comes to popularity on a worldwide scale.

When you compare hockey to other REAL sports, you quickly notice that one could participate in basketball, boxing, football, and baseball all on a cold or hot day, indoors or outside (although playing baseball indoors isn't widely popular or accepted).

Hockey? Umm, it can only be played on an ice rink. That's VERY one-dimensional compared to other sports. It's not always cold out and there's not always ice available. Sure, you could play hockey on the pavement, but besides doing so at the risk of calling it something else besides hockey, it takes out the one skill hockey players even have to say they are "athletes," which is skating.

And yes, skating is a skill, but umm, I just went to an ice skating rink the other day with some kids. It took the kids all of one hour to learn how to skate well without falling down. So it's not THAT big of a skill now, is it? (Try learning how to dribble a basketball correctly in one hour, or hitting a baseball out of the ballpark in one hour, cretins!) I mean, damn, figure skating is more impressive than what hockey players do on ice!

I also did an informal survey and asked ten people I knew for a fact were not sports fans these questions: Who is Michael Jordan? Babe Ruth? Muhammad Ali? Joe Montana? And who is Wayne Gretzky?

An astonishing 100% (that's 10 out of 10 surveyed for all you mathematically challenged morons out there) said they knew who Muhammad Ali was. ("Oh, the boxer!" "He's the famous heavyweight champion from a long time ago.")

9 out of 10 knew who Jordan was, although the person who claims didn't know who Jordan was said the "name sounded familiar; didn't he play baseball?"

Only 6 out of 10 knew who Babe Ruth was, and only a pathetic 30% (three people out of ten) knew who Montana was.

When asking these non-sports people with but a casual knowledge of famous athletes who the so-called "Great One" was, FOUR people answered, "WHO?!?" And only two people knew who Gretzky even was!!! Ah ha! Funny but pathetic, all at the same time.

I don't see any reason why hockey is even worth the effort. Perhaps the upcoming All-Star Game should be cancelled. Better yet, get rid of the NHL, period.

Hockey? Yawn.

Ten points and Best Answer honors to the "puck" who manages to change my mind, although I've proven why hockey not being a real sport is a fact, not an opinion.

Answer 1

I guess you could probably say the same for golf.

Answer 2

Hockey requires more than just skating skill. To be able to control a puck with a stick is very challenging. Hockey can also be played on more than just ice: outdoors like you said or on sports court (haven't you ever heard of roller hockey?).

It's also extremely physical, the only sport where it's legal to fight, so really it's some what of a combination of a lot of the sports you mentioned. Think of how hard it would be too keep your feet under you when someone cross-checks you while you're wearing skates. And there is a certain art to play formation, sort of the same way there is in basketball, something that obviously has escaped you.

It's true that hockey isn't the most popular of sports, a lot of that has to do with the strike that happened in recent years. I would say the other reason would be due to the fact that it's very expensive to play at when you're young, due to all the equipment that you have to purchase to do so, so not a lot of young people get into it early on. Basketball on the other hand, $12 bucks and you're in.

But don't hate on the sport just because you can't play it or because you're so ADD that you can't watch something where teams aren't constantly scoring. Nobody's trying to figure skate, they're trying to keep a tiny puck that moves very fast from going into their goal.

Jerk.

Answer 3

No, you have not proven it is a FACT that hockey is not a sport. Yes, you can learn to skate in an hour but that does not mean you can skate well, just means you can stay upright. You try to get out there on a pair of skates, skate backwards real fast like a defenceman does. Try skating forward with the puck and see how well you do when someone is trying to take it from you. I bet you can't even control it. Then, while you are still skating fast try to shoot the puck. Bet you don't even get near goal. I bet you whiff! Just because people who don't know sports but know who Michael Jordan is but cannot recognize a hockey player does not mean hockey is a not real sport. Knowing who the players are have nothing to do with the skill level it takes to play a sport. It takes skill to play hockey. In hockey you are doing many physical things while skating. Not an easy feat. It is not random movements by a bunch of clumsy skaters. Your skilled players are excellent skaters.

Answer 4

I'd rather watch guys skate around the ice, smacking into each other.. etc then watch something like football where it constantly Starts.. stops.. starts.. stops.. Sorry that just get VERY boring. Yes hockey starts and stops.. but not every 10 secs! Atleast hockey is 100000x's more entertaining! You say all they do is try to hit a puck into a net.. well whats football? Just a bunch of guys tossing a ball to each other and running a little!!! Then they get a breather while they wait to do it again! I'd take watching Ice Hockey over Football or anyother sport any day! Not to mention.. Football teams play what? 1 game a wk! LAME! Hockey teams sometimes have to play games back to back! If you dont like it! Dont watch it and go away!

Answer 5

Have you ever played hockey? It actually takes a lot of coordination to manouever around the rink with all those other people all trying to get the same tiny puck. Ever try to handle a puck with a stick while skating through a bunch of people who are after the puck? It is NOT an easy sport. It takes coordination and endurance and skill. And it isn't only played on ice. I have never played ice hockey in my life. Here in florida, we're a bit short on the cold stuff and we play what is called "street hockey" it's harder than ice hockey and more dangerous but it's an incredibly common sport down here.

Answer 6

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You do know that you're coming across as a caricature of the quintessential ignorant bimbo, right? Seriously. "Versus" hasn't existed in years. I realize Colonial Williamsburg isn't exactly cosmopolitan but one would hope even a lowly sophomore at the College of William & Mary would know that much. NBC and the NBC Sports Network consider their contract with the NHL so valuable that they were absolutely devastated by the lockout. I'm guessing you weren't aware of that either. Something tells me you're the sort of sports "fan" who only follows what ESPN tells her is important. So between that and your life in rural redneck Virginia, I'm guessing you're mighty fond of NASCAR, professional wrestling and college basketball, right? Here's an idea. Why not post your rubbish in those forums (Y!A has sections for each) and that way we won't have to bother answering any more of your insipid questions? Deal? Thank you in advance for going away now. Seriously.

Answer 7

If you don't like it, don't watch it. Hockey's a man's sport,it's the fastest and toughest game on earth. Hockey teams play 3 or 4 times a week, often on consecutive nights, something you only see in a pansy *** sport like baseball, where the only effort you see is someone running after a fly ball.

And I question your claim that hockey is on the bottom of the totem pole when it comes to worldwide popularity. It's obvious you're just an idiot who knows nothing about what you're talking about.

Answer 8

I TOTALLY agree with you!! Hockey is NOT a sport. AT ALL.

Answer 9

It airs 5 of 7 SCF games on NBC. By other major sports, do you mean college football? Because the BCS National Championship game was aired on cable (it aired here on TSN). Not that it matters, but even in a shortened season, US hockey fans will have more games on free-to-air television than US NBA fans will.

Answer 10

hockey IS PLAYED year round

you can play hockey on the street with these things called ROLLER BLADES

you're obviously american. hockey isn't popular in the states, but the states don't rule the world. in canada hockey is the greatest sport.

you shouldn't mock down a sport that you know very little about, do more research my friend

and btw you also have to be very very fit to play hockey. sports injuries are very common if you're not in top shape. groin injuries are quite common if the players don't get enough exercise during their time off

Keep in mind that hockey players are shooting a puck... a small, round, hard, very hard thing is being smacked around, which means players are prone to injury. Hockey players are loaded with protective gear to protect themselves, so keep in mind they are skating as fast as they can, as hard as they can, wearing pounds of thick layers.

And also keep in mind they need to practice stick handling. You think the puck just rebounds off their stick to their teamates stick? Look at ameteur hockey...the stick handling is awful! Plus they can never be in one spot waiting for the puck to be passed,they have to keep moving, and on their feet so their openants don't steal the puck.

Like i said, do more research before you speak so negatively like you know the sport, yet you are completely ignorant about the sport.

Did you parents not make enough money to be able to put you in hockey growing up? See how rude that comment was? Your question was quite rude too.

Answer 11

WHY ARE U CONSIDERED A REAL PERSON?