Cheerleading story from Detroit News

Problem is, that would eliminate boxing.

 

You could modify it by adding "or where you can win without a judges' decision". In boxing, a hard right hand that sends your opponent to the mat for the 10 count gets you a win, even if he's up by 10 points on all three cards heading into the final round. Just try that in gymnastics. No, seriously, try it; I might watch it that way.

 

Then box to the knockout, or to the count.

 

Why is that a problem? It would also get rid of figure skating and diving...

 

A boxing match can be decided by definite means, though. A knockout or TKO and you don't worry about the judges. That puts in a separate catgory from gymnastics, diving and, yes, cheerleading, IMO.

Oh, and since no cheerleading thread would be complete without it, I give you:

 

I was being facetious about boxing.

 

Good. Exactly where it belongs.

This is a battle that needs to be fought, and won.

 

Hey. The Metro Section works hard too and deserves recognition just like the sports page does...

 

Cheerleading is an activity, not a sport. It only exists to take place during real sports. But it also doesn't mean they can't be athletic.

Debates aren't sport either, but at least there's competition between schools.

But just because cheerleaders get together and are "scored" against each other in some events on summer weekends meant to drain mom and dad of their hard-earned dollars, that doesn't make it a sport either. And Lord knows jsut because it's on ESPN doesn't qualify it as a sport. (See: Hot Dog Eating. Competition, but not a sport.)

And just because something is an Olympic "event" that doesn't make whatever that is a sport, either (See: Synchonized swimming).

 

That's prime quality.

 

If you eliminated diving what would all the soccer players do for a living?

 

Without getting into a bitching match, I'm down with cheerleading.