2007-05-28 12:47:14 · 8 answers · asked by kngharley 1 in Sports ➔ Other - Sports
It's a little tough to define the word "professional." Track and field athletes have been around since the Greek Olympics, and they no doubt received special favors for their work.
Professionalism as we know it -- direct payment -- probably comes with the industrial revolution. The National League started in 1876. I would guess boxing was just starting to pay fighters in one form or another at that point. Does horse racing -- through jockeys and purses -- figure in here? Maybe.
2007-05-28 16:59:48 · answer #1 · answered by wdx2bb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
MLB is older than the other pro leagues in the US. Who knows when people started getting money for sports. but one of the oldest sports is track and field
2007-05-28 12:51:03 · answer #2 · answered by Sharp Marble 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not 100% sure it is the oldest, but a permutation of basketball dates back over 1000 years (best guess) and was played by the ancient Aztecs.
2007-05-28 13:04:10 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the oldest professional sport is greco-roman wrestling, which is wrestling consisting mainly of standing throws.
2007-05-28 12:58:48 · answer #4 · answered by bigmattmatt55 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Prostitution.
2007-05-28 12:49:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
For US sports im pretty sure its baseball
for anysport I wanna say soccer but it might be cricket
2007-05-28 12:49:23 · answer #6 · answered by hipo8000 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whoring!
2007-05-28 12:54:01 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Prostitution!
Seriously - I would think it would be judo or wrestling...
2007-05-28 12:51:10 · answer #8 · answered by e_spehr_99 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋