League of Legends now a professional sport?

[Xarsah16]

So, according to articles from Gamnesia and IGN - League of Legends was just legally accepted as a sport by the United States Government - placing it in the same category as basketball, baseball, football, soccer, etc... actual real sports.

What do you think of this? Personally, I believe it is incredibly stupid. Videogaming is either just a hobby, or an industry depending on which side you're looking at it from.

I never liked MMO games- but to just single out one and not include others like WoW seems really strange to me. I'm also wondering what's becoming of the US Government. XD

Sources:
http://www.gamnesia.com/news/us-gov...Gamnesia)&utm_content=FaceBook#When:21:28:00Z
http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/07/12/us-government-recognizes-league-of-legends-lsc-as-sport

 

[Foxi4]

I never liked MMO games- but to just single out one and not include others like WoW seems really strange to me.

The difference between WoW and LoL is that one is an MMO and one is a MOBA - two very different genres entirely. One requires strategic thinking and teamwork, one both require you to have no life - guess which one is the sport.

In any case, this isn't the first time something like this happens, really. Starcraft is practically Korea's national sport since the day it was released. Unlike in other Asian countries, it is not the social standing or occupation that determines whether the father of a maiden accepts you into the family and allows you to propose to her - it's your position on the Battle.Net ladder and whether or not you can beat him 1/1 on Lost Temple. If you no prey cybersport, you disgrace to famiry. ;O;

 

[Xarsah16]

The difference between WoW and LoL is that one is an MMO and one is a MOBA - two very different genres entirely. One requires strategic thinking and teamwork, one requires you to have no life - guess which one is which.

I've seen both consume friend's lives in equally the same way - so I don't think there's a difference in that regard XD

 

[BORTZ]

This makes me hurt on every level of my conscience, my being, and existence.

 

[Foxi4]

I've seen both consume friend's lives in equally the same way - so I don't think there's a difference in that regard XD

...you have a point.

One requires strategic thinking and teamwork, both require you to have no life. How does that sound?

 

[BORTZ]

I really really dont want to live on this planet anymore.

 

[Celice]

I dunno... for people so seem to rankle over its inclusion, I'd suppose you would have to also be bothered by chess being considered a sport as well.

Unless you're cool with inconsistent beliefs. You cool with that?

 

[Deleted_171835]

So I'm guessing this will boost the public's perception of professional gaming from incredibly pathetic to pretty pathetic.

 

[Xarsah16]

I dunno... for people so seem to rankle over its inclusion, I'd suppose you would have to also be bothered by chess being considered a sport as well.

Unless you're cool with inconsistent beliefs. You cool with that?

Not really. Sitting there and exercising your brain is different than physically getting out and hitting a ball or passing it to your team while running to the hoop at the other end of the court. Chess should have remained just a world famous board game - sport is taking it a little too far.

So I'm guessing this will boost the public's perception of professional gaming from incredibly pathetic to pretty pathetic.

Yeah, that sums it up nicely.

 

[Celice]

Not really. Sitting there and exercising your brain is different than physically getting out and hitting a ball or passing it to your team while running to the hoop at the other end of the court. Chess should have remained just a world famous board game - sport is taking it a little too far.


Yeah, that sums it up nicely.

In that case, what are you saying not really to? You're agreeing that neither LoL nor Chess are sports.



As for what constitutes a sport, I've seen opinions divided over the necessity of physical activity and the necessity of competition. One of the problems of using physical activity as a standard is what constitutes the threshold of a sport and a non-sport--and is that threshold arbitrary? If so, is that even a good measure of what a sport ought to be considered?

 

[mrtofu]

deleted

 

[Bobbyloujo]

As Celice said, you really have to define 'sport'. The first definition on Dictionary.com states that a sport is "an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess". However, if you look at the more general definitions you'll see definitions like "diversion; recreation; pleasant pastime." In this case, there is no need for physical activity.

The most general definitions of 'sport' don't require there to be any physical activity. The idea that 'sport' implies physical activity may just be a connotation.

 

[The Catboy]

Just why? .-.

 

[Hop2089]

This is from the same government who said Pizza was a vegetable, they can't be taken seriously anymore.

 

[Bobbyloujo]

This is from the same government who said Pizza was a vegetable, they can't be taken seriously anymore.

They said that the tomato sauce on the pizza counts as a vegetable not the entire pizza itself. They said this so that pizza could still be served in school. I don't know about other schools, but the "healthy" crap they served at my high school was awful. Kids aren't going to want to eat nasty food. Unhealthy food is better than no food at all.

 

[Danny600kill]

I can kind of see why they would class this as a sport , especially knowing how big things like starcraft are in certain nations. I don't understand why people are hating or "losing faith in humanity" due to this , there are many sports such as the above mentioned Chess or extreme ironing that you wouldn't naturally associate with sports, this doesn't ruin sports.

Sports can be broken down into categories , such as Extreme / Team / Water ect so I don't understand why there can't be a video game/interactive media sub category?

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

Great, this means people like BI can claim he's an athlete.

 

[emigre]

If darts, F1 and fox hunting are regarded as sports than I can accept LoL.

 

[Flame]

someone who plays LOL is not going to get a blowjob from a hot top model.

 

[ThatDudeWithTheFood]

Racing and Fishing are sports so yeah I'm alright with it.
Actually I'm not because it's League of Legends. Why not any other game?