I have a hard time watching and listening to guys who throw a football, hit a golf ball or shoot a basketball get so much praise and admiration when men who put their lives on the line for their pure desire and love of something get nothing. Of course it isn't about the recognition or fame or accolades but climbers/mountianeers, astronauts, downhill skiiers, cyclist speeding down mountains with nothing around them, these are true sportsmen. Putting up your life as collateral for an adventure has so much more meaning to me and such a higher degree of thrill and satisfaction.

Putting up your life as collateral for an adventure

I have a hard time watching and listening to guys who throw a football, hit a golf ball or shoot a basketball get so much praise and admiration when men who put their lives on the line for their pure desire and love of something get nothing. Of course it isn't about the recognition or fame or accolades but climbers/mountianeers, astronauts, downhill skiiers, cyclist speeding down mountains with nothing around them, these are true sportsmen. Putting up your life as collateral for an adventure has so much more meaning to me and such a higher degree of thrill and satisfaction.
I know everyone is just going to say stop paying attention to everyone else and how they feel and just do what you enjoy but I am just asking to get a discussion going because I think it is a good topic.

It's all about what floats your own boat, ya dig?

I highly doubt that a football player would consider his sport to have a lack of adventure. Men get paralyzed playing football, they break things, etc. Even a 'boring' sport to some, like baseball, invokes passion in those who choose to immerse themselves in it.

There are fanatics of everything out there. You feel that way about sports such as football and basketball, because well, you're not a football or basketball player. It doesn't thrill you, so you found something that does. Which just happens to be rock climbing. Is that any different from the person who found that bowling makes their heart thump loudly?

Should we declaim any sport in which the participants don't hurt themselves as much as us? Is blood the way we measure ourselves to be men (or women)?

"There are only three sports--mountain climbing, bullfighting, and motor racing--all the rest being games." Ernest Hemingway

Not so, my friend. Perhaps not monetary compensation or adoration from the general public, but we get paid handsomely for our exploits. Our lives are enriched by experience.

As for the other "mainstream" sports, they hold little or no appeal to me, other than keeping the outdoor areas clear of human traffic on big game days.

"Team sports are for people who can't excel on their own". As you can tell we're two rather bigotted anti-Football/Basketball/Baseball/etc types :-)

i could not disagree with you more.

climbing is very much a team oriented sport or activity. in no other sport do you have to trust your teammates with so much... your life.

i have played individual sports and team sports since i was 5 years old and i have never had the comradely and trust in other team sports as i have found in climbing.

i guess you were just the kid who was picked last for kickball at recess

mtman

"There are only three sports--mountain climbing, bullfighting, and motor racing--all the rest being games." Ernest Hemingway

in my oppinion climbing is one of the most athletic activites u could ever do................................u never feel like u got hit by a train the next morning after throwin a ball around the day before.............................