"Major Sporting Event Coming to Portland" Announcement 11am today (It's Indy Car)

Having 170+ BPM for 90-120 minutes is definitely an athletic fit. Being able to handle the g forces for hours is an athletic ability. You really think you can train with Tour cyclists if you are not an athlete or finish the triathlon in such fast time if you are not? These guys train as long as top athletes from any other sport.

I do not believe they can run as fast, jump as high or lift as much as the top athletes from other sports - but I assure you that most of these guys will not be able to handle the tasks these guys perform in race cars for long periods of time at the speeds they need to perform them either.

The dictionary definition - https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/athlete - is

Definition of athlete
:a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina

Check, check and check.

 

For future reference stop using the dictionary.

1st, I could give a fuck what Merriam Webster thinks.
2nd, This subject is... subjective.

I don't need stats. I don't need figures. IMO Racing isn't a sport.

 

Why? Words have meanings.

You are entitled to your opinion.

 

You can pay to see cars drive at fast speeds in Portland now? Well you sure as hell arent going to sse that on I-5.

 

Yes but it matters who defines those words.

“History is written by the victors.”

- Walter Benjamin

 

I don't necessarily disagree with you. I don't quite know where I draw the line myself. Without giving it too much thought, I agree with your "definition", but the problem is you're using the word to define itself.
I think that you can do something that requires you to be in good physical shape without being an athlete...and somehow, the opposite is also true. As an example, I think F1 drivers have a far more physically taxing job than baseball players - yet baseball players are clearly athletes. I'm inclined to agree that drivers are not. F1 drivers are more akin to fighter pilots or astronauts - something that requires you to be in peak physical shape, but goes well beyond that - there's a whole mental aspect that is absolutely necessary to do these things, that can be utterly absent in athletes (see: Aminu).

 

Pfft. Don't quote me on Victors and come at me with a Walter.

- Change your opinions, keep to your principles; change your leaves, keep intact your roots.

Victor Hugo.

 

This quote literally has nothing to do with what I'm saying at all.

Bottom line:

Merriam Webster is crap and I don't accept definitions from them.

 

Do not be so uptight. It was a joke about Victor.

 

It's NHL, haven't you been reading the thread?

 

The internet hides voice inflection. I wasn't uptight at all.

 

Good. Because I was that close to unleashing a Victor Oladipo quote on you.

-- I'm just abnormal. I'm a weird dude.

Victor Oladipo.

Damnit.

 

I love the old quote. "Racing is the only sport you have to remind yourself to breathe"

Anyone who has raced cars etc. knows how real that is.

Not looking to convince anybody of anything. Just don't think people realize how tough it really is.

 

I have no doubt it's tough. Badminton is also tough.

 

I like this one:

“Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.”

― Mark Twain

 

Would have been better if it was said by his unknown twin - Victor Twain.

 

Thank god the season finally starts, I'm tired of scrolling through those pointless discussions

 

Can confirm. Went for a ride with someone who had raced pro Go Karts once. If you think those guys aren't trained or professionals at what they do, you don't know shit. They drive 80 like you are 25 mph. I had my heart beating as loud as John Bonham's bass drum by the third stop. It's amazing how until you actually experience something, you don't get the full "OH THIS IS A WHOLE NEW BALLGAME type feeling.

 

Is a pro Esport gamer an athlete? They have to have really fast reaction times and the ability to stay focused too for long periods of time.