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After GAA, Your Second Favourite Sport

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Replying To wishfulthinkin:  "
Replying To PoolSturgeon:  "[quote=wishfulthinkin:  "[quote=Cockney_Cat:  "Sometimes it can be difficult to know what is, and what isn't a sport.

When is a sport not a sport?

What exactly makes something a sport? Does it require physical exertion, a governing body, a high level of skill and technical ability? How does an activity go from being seen as a game or a pastime to being officially classified as a sport?

The Council of Europe charter on sport uses the following definition: "Sport means all forms of physical activity, which through casual or organised participation, aim at expressing or improving physical fitness and mental well-being, forming social relationships or obtaining results in competition at all levels".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/what-constitutes-a-sport/z4vfmfr"
It's not a sport when you don't have to change your clothes to play it! Like golf, darts, pool and snooker!!"
Perhaps there is a distinction to be made between what is a sport and what is a game? In my book golf is definitely a sport because it involves sustained physical activity, but the other ones you mention I would categorise as games."]so when people ask if i fancy a game of football, i should correct them!!"]Fair enough. But that means darts, pool, and snooker are sports then!

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 1902 - 26/03/2020 15:47:52    2274747

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In no particular order

Aussie Rules
NFL
NCAA mens basketball and football
Baseball
Hurling
Rugby Union

I used to really enjoy soccer ( followed my team all over the country and ) but the all the money in the premier league together with VAR has now killed it for me.

MartinEgan (UK) - Posts: 78 - 26/03/2020 16:29:59    2274751

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The late Sean Wight moved to Ireland from the UK in his teens having excelled in a wide range of sports. He played in an All Ireland minor football final before moving to Aussie Rules where he had a successful career. Jimmy Magee interviewed him after he had spent some time 'Down Under' and asked him what was his favourite sport from the wide range he had experienced. Sean's answer was 'Cricket'.

A work colleague of mine played gaelic football and amateur golf to a very high level. He once remarked that darts was a great test of a sportsman.

I think the more you learn about a sport, the aims of the players and the qualities needed, the greater is your appreciation of it.

tommy58 (Dublin) - Posts: 169 - 26/03/2020 17:02:15    2274758

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with the extra free time at home have been watching the quite a few things on youtube, just wondering if anyone had any recommendations.

ESPN - 30 in 30 some great sports documentaries, mainly of US sports but some good international ones also, favourite was Once Brothers, about two players from Yugoslav basketball team who ended up in NBA, one Croat one Serb, but grew apart due to the war.

COPA90 - do some good programmes on football rivalries, its more about the fans than the football though.

Not on youtube but, I believe in Miracles, story of the Great Nottingham Forest team is good.

Rosineri1 (UK) - Posts: 2099 - 26/03/2020 17:41:34    2274760

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Replying To MartinEgan:  "In no particular order

Aussie Rules
NFL
NCAA mens basketball and football
Baseball
Hurling
Rugby Union

I used to really enjoy soccer ( followed my team all over the country and ) but the all the money in the premier league together with VAR has now killed it for me."
Hurling is GAA if I am not mistaken

maroondiesel (Mayo) - Posts: 1196 - 26/03/2020 17:50:41    2274761

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Replying To Rosineri1:  "with the extra free time at home have been watching the quite a few things on youtube, just wondering if anyone had any recommendations.

ESPN - 30 in 30 some great sports documentaries, mainly of US sports but some good international ones also, favourite was Once Brothers, about two players from Yugoslav basketball team who ended up in NBA, one Croat one Serb, but grew apart due to the war.

COPA90 - do some good programmes on football rivalries, its more about the fans than the football though.

Not on youtube but, I believe in Miracles, story of the Great Nottingham Forest team is good."
There's a good series of soccer docs on YouTube called footballs greatest teams which I am currently enjoying it's got both international and club including the Milan rossoneri

Breezy (Limerick) - Posts: 1236 - 26/03/2020 18:11:18    2274764

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Replying To madmeath:  "Passion for GAA football, nothing comes close but the next best for me is American Football, then National Hunt Horse Racing, Hurling, Golf, Ice Hockey and Soccer."
I'd actually like to get into American football, but the stop start nature of it is I think what turned me off it. I'll watch the majors in golf, I play it a bit, I can hit the ball well I've been told, but I've also been told I suffer from the happy Gilmore's, can't get the bloody thing into the hole. Putting is my downfall.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 26/03/2020 18:44:09    2274768

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Replying To Rosineri1:  "with the extra free time at home have been watching the quite a few things on youtube, just wondering if anyone had any recommendations.

ESPN - 30 in 30 some great sports documentaries, mainly of US sports but some good international ones also, favourite was Once Brothers, about two players from Yugoslav basketball team who ended up in NBA, one Croat one Serb, but grew apart due to the war.

COPA90 - do some good programmes on football rivalries, its more about the fans than the football though.

Not on youtube but, I believe in Miracles, story of the Great Nottingham Forest team is good."
If you like boxing there are all the old great fights from the 1970',80's on there; Ali, Frazier, Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard, Duran etc. A month ago I watched the first fight between Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2446 - 26/03/2020 20:02:13    2274777

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As like many here i used to love soccer but i couldn't sit and watch a full game anymore, find it very boring.. mma would be my 2nd favorite sport

achara (Monaghan) - Posts: 561 - 26/03/2020 21:10:34    2274783

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Replying To Cockney_Cat:  "If you like boxing there are all the old great fights from the 1970',80's on there; Ali, Frazier, Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard, Duran etc. A month ago I watched the first fight between Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard."
thats my weekend sorted there ;)

Rosineri1 (UK) - Posts: 2099 - 27/03/2020 08:38:36    2274800

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Replying To Breezy:  "There's a good series of soccer docs on YouTube called footballs greatest teams which I am currently enjoying it's got both international and club including the Milan rossoneri"
TG4 do a semilar series on Saturday mornings I do see the young lad watching it a lot and he'd be asking me about the Barresi"s and costacurtas and Maldini"s.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 27/03/2020 08:48:37    2274802

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There are very few sports I couldn't sit through in all honesty (though I'm not the biggest fan of golf or horse racing). Was a big soccer fan when I was younger but IMO top level ball has been sullied by the filthy lucre now. It's hard to watch a Champions' League game with any great enthusiasm knowing where a lot of the money is coming from.

https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/soccer-files-fairplay/

Ice hockey is probably my number two these days, there's a team near me that I'd watch semi regularly. It's a perfect blend of balletic grace and brute force, great to see fellas going at it hammer and tongs rather than trying to cheat the ref the whole time.

On the question of whether the likes of snooker and darts are sports, I'd definitely be in the Yes camp. Sport isn't just a physical test but also a mental one IMHO.

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 27/03/2020 14:52:42    2274834

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Replying To Rosineri1:  "thats my weekend sorted there ;)"
Some mighty boxing stuff on YouTube to pass your weekend. Off the top of my head have a look at Hagler /Tommy Hearns, Ali / Foreman in its entirety and Arguello/Pryor . There's a great compilation on Sugar Ray Robinson by a fella called Reznik, he really was something else ,considering that there is no footage of him remaining when he was in his prime

UtahBlaine (Galway) - Posts: 145 - 27/03/2020 20:59:31    2274851

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gaa, coursing, golf.rugby.

kavvie (Clare) - Posts: 505 - 27/03/2020 22:24:04    2274854

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Football probably an equal first place for me.. would estimate i would attend at least five times as many football fixtures as GAA over the year when I factor in my local junior team and Sligo Rovers. Love Athletics as well especially the various European championships as it's were Ireland really only has a chance these days

superos (Roscommon) - Posts: 46 - 27/03/2020 22:48:39    2274855

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Soccer without a doubt, possibly more than GAA if I'm being honest. Lucky enough to still be able to play a bit of both of them, but those days are numbered. Play a bit of golf too. Absolutely love cycling and boxing. Used to love F1 during the 90s and 00s, not so much anymore but I'd watch the odd race. After that, I'd tend to watch most sports. Enjoy NFL/ NCAA football, Rugby League, golf, horse racing, Cricket, NBA. Not many I wouldn't watch. Tennis probably one of the few I don't enjoy watching.

God I miss sports !

HandballRef (Donegal) - Posts: 520 - 27/03/2020 23:08:32    2274858

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Replying To UtahBlaine:  "Some mighty boxing stuff on YouTube to pass your weekend. Off the top of my head have a look at Hagler /Tommy Hearns, Ali / Foreman in its entirety and Arguello/Pryor . There's a great compilation on Sugar Ray Robinson by a fella called Reznik, he really was something else ,considering that there is no footage of him remaining when he was in his prime"
Corrales / Castillo 1 is the best fight of all time in my opinion. But I don't think anything will ever top that Hagler/Hearns round 1. A few other fights worth a watch are Barrera/ Morales trilogy, Gatti/Ward trilogy. Marquez/ Pacquiao 1, De La Hoya/ Quartey, Chavez / Whittaker. Whittaker got robbed in that one . YouTube is full of a lot of old gems.

HandballRef (Donegal) - Posts: 520 - 27/03/2020 23:28:42    2274859

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Replying To UtahBlaine:  "Some mighty boxing stuff on YouTube to pass your weekend. Off the top of my head have a look at Hagler /Tommy Hearns, Ali / Foreman in its entirety and Arguello/Pryor . There's a great compilation on Sugar Ray Robinson by a fella called Reznik, he really was something else ,considering that there is no footage of him remaining when he was in his prime"
That first round in the Hagler-Hearns fight might be the best round of any fight ever. Brutal but breathtaking. I think Hagler got screwed in his fight vs Sugar Ray Leonard. Should have been a draw. He was so disgusted that he walked away from boxing and started acting in Italy I believe.

Trump2020 (Galway) - Posts: 2113 - 28/03/2020 00:28:38    2274863

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Replying To tommy58:  "The late Sean Wight moved to Ireland from the UK in his teens having excelled in a wide range of sports. He played in an All Ireland minor football final before moving to Aussie Rules where he had a successful career. Jimmy Magee interviewed him after he had spent some time 'Down Under' and asked him what was his favourite sport from the wide range he had experienced. Sean's answer was 'Cricket'.

A work colleague of mine played gaelic football and amateur golf to a very high level. He once remarked that darts was a great test of a sportsman.

I think the more you learn about a sport, the aims of the players and the qualities needed, the greater is your appreciation of it."
In the spirit of the comments made, I can watch 'curling' for hours - like cricket and darts - people would wonder where my head is at :)
Although, I'd put soccer, RU, AFL, NFL ahead of it.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2570 - 28/03/2020 00:31:18    2274866

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Lads did any of ye watch the documentary on Diego Armando Maradona on chanel 4 during the week.

Wow what a legend.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 28/03/2020 02:58:42    2274869

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