Live data from Hacker News

Why hasn't there been a new major sports league?

humaninvariant.substack.com

21–30 of 70 posts

Re: Why hasn't there been a new major sports league?

#21
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And yet it's not a "new major sports league" ?

There's a weird perception that's floating out there claiming that video gaming cannot be "a sport", just because it's more mental than physical (although even that varies per game, for example high-level Guitar Hero players require extreme endurance and stamina). I also would wager a non-zero percentage of people with such mindset would also deny that chess is a sport, unless they grandfather it in due to the sheer…

This doesn't strike me as that weird. Playing a guitar also takes extreme stamina, for instance, but it takes a great deal more technical skill to hit the rhythmn and fingering. (Or at least if that isn't the case, that's certainly the perception.) Many guitarists also write their own music, and the truly impressive ones improvise.

Many sports require full-body coordination. I would also consider, say, a skilled ballet dancer much more obviously impressive and intriguing than being the best video gamer in the world. The only reason one might not consider it a sport is that it's not as competition-oriented (and I may be completely wrong in that; I can't feign deep knowledge of ballet).

I don't think it's disparaging to not consider video games a sport, either, it just seems like a category error. Much of the skill is simply not visible to people not intimately familiar with the game, the mechanics, and what might be difficult about it. I would put it in the same category as, say, live coding, or watching an expert artisan at work. I also can't fathom, say, the skill it takes to operate a crane as a world-class expert, or ice carving, or fixing a mechanical watch, or blowing glass.

Frankly, I also don't consider most streaming to be a "real" job. But that's probably related to the fact that I don't respect most content that emerges. But you could say the same thing about podcasting, or being an opinion columnist, or a pundit/talking head. This doesn't mean it doesn't take skill or effort; I just think it's not producing much of value.

Re: Why hasn't there been a new major sports league?

#22
post #13

Can we please stop pretending that WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) is a sport? Clue: It’s got “entertainment” right there in the name.

Within kayfabe, WWE is a sport. Outside of kayfabe, it's not. :)

Medical dramas are not medicine, courtroom dramas are not court, wrestling dramas are not wrestling.

Re: Why hasn't there been a new major sports league?

#23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

ESports is a sizeable chunk of the article?

And yet it's not a "new major sports league" ?

"Esports" is not a league. That would be like saying "sports" is a league.

There are leagues around some games (like the ones mentioned in the article). There are also events with "league" in the name that are not really leagues (like ESL Pro League). In any case, none of them are financially successful in the US.

Re: Why hasn't there been a new major sports league?

#24
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All sports are entertainment. No one watches the Jets expecting them to win.

I assume you’re being facetious, but just to be clear: WWE is scripted, while the Jets have a fair chance to win any given game.

But you can place bets on WWE games:

https://www.sbo.net/wwe/

If they are not 100% transparent about it, then it's matchfixing.

Re: Why hasn't there been a new major sports league?

#25
post #14

The bit about getting the government to invest with a goal that isn't financial ROI reminds me of the Olympics during the cold war. All that investment to "prove" the dominance of one economic system or another.

The scourge of unfettered capitalism. Everything boils down to "how much money does it make" Small-time capitalism is good. But beyond a certain size, it falls apart and can even become quasi-governmental. When is somebody going to blend the best part of all political isms to get closer to the best possible form of society

Best for who though? There just is no one size that fits all. Personally I would be happy in a more equal socialistic society but I recognize that others prefer the individuality and excitement of playing the game of chance in our capitalist system.

What I’m looking for is perhaps more at a smaller level of local community, not “state” level.

Re: Why hasn't there been a new major sports league?

#29

The popularity of the English Premier League in the US is a factor not considered anywhere in the piece.

Probably because it’s not a “US league?”

I might consider F1 in that case as it has gained in popularity a lot, and technically it’s owned by a U.S. company, but I’d never think of it as a U.S. league.

Re: Why hasn't there been a new major sports league?

#30
post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I assume you’re being facetious, but just to be clear: WWE is scripted, while the Jets have a fair chance to win any given game.

But you can place bets on WWE games: https://www.sbo.net/wwe/ If they are not 100% transparent about it, then it's matchfixing.

yea, betting on the script. Like betting on the content of a new book coming out.
Post reply on HN