MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[markerickson]

Hmmm...the definition of a sport.

Is chess a sport?  What about goofy rhythm gymnastics or synchronized swimming?  Billiards?

[dansand]

Hmmm...the definition of a sport.

Is chess a sport?  What about goofy rhythm gymnastics or synchronized swimming?  Billiards?

Just my opinion, but one criteria I'd use is that the outcome is not solely the result of subjective judging. So goofy rhythmic gymnastics and synchronized swimming fail the test (so do "regular" gymnastics, figure skating, ice dancing, cheerleading, Dancing with the Stars, American Idol, etc.). I'd consider chess a game rather than a sport because it takes no actual physical skill. I guess billiards would marginally qualify. Like I said, just my opinion.

[markerickson]

What about boxing?

[dansand]

Hmmm...the definition of a sport.

Is chess a sport?  What about goofy rhythm gymnastics or synchronized swimming?  Billiards?

Just my opinion, but one criteria I'd use is that the outcome is not solely the result of subjective judging. So goofy rhythmic gymnastics and synchronized swimming fail the test (so do "regular" gymnastics, figure skating, ice dancing, cheerleading, Dancing with the Stars, American Idol, etc.). I'd consider chess a game rather than a sport because it takes no actual physical skill. I guess billiards would marginally qualify. Like I said, just my opinion.

What about boxing?

Well, there's nothing subjective about knocking someone unconscious, so the outcome isn't solely based on subjective judging. I guess you do get into a gray area when they go to a decision. Of course, back in the day they didn't have decisions. They went 'til one guy couldn't continue. I tend to be a purist and like it that way.

[CCIWFAN3]

I knew I'd start something:)

[Hardwood]

Dansand,

Are the gold glover from central Illinois?

[dansand]

Dansand,

Are the gold glover from central Illinois?

Um...no...I'm the tomato can from western Illinois.

[CCIWFAN3]

Western Il?....must be an Auggie support huh?

[Mr. Ypsi]

Pre-season Top 25 poll is up.

Wheaton placed #15, IWU would be 26th.  ORVs: Augie (18 pts), Elmhurst (12), and Carthage (3).

[CCIWFAN3]

Mr. Ypsi, where do you see this poll?

[John Gleich]

Mr. Ypsi, where do you see this poll?

http://d3hoops.com/top25/

The link is on the top of the main page, two down from the "Posting Up" link.

[CCIWFAN3]

Got it.  Thanks PointSpecial.

[dansand]

Western Il?....must be an Auggie support huh?

Yes. That would explain my icon or avatar or whatever you call it and the link to our basketball webcasts at the bottom of my posts. 

BTW, just one "G" in Augie.

[Hardwood]

   Wow -- How does Elmhurst receive more votes than Carthage? Or any for that matter of fact.  "Q" who are the other voters from the midwest?

[Gregory Sager]

Hmmm...the definition of a sport.

Is chess a sport?  What about goofy rhythm gymnastics or synchronized swimming?  Billiards?

Just my opinion, but one criteria I'd use is that the outcome is not solely the result of subjective judging. So goofy rhythmic gymnastics and synchronized swimming fail the test (so do "regular" gymnastics, figure skating, ice dancing, cheerleading, Dancing with the Stars, American Idol, etc.). I'd consider chess a game rather than a sport because it takes no actual physical skill. I guess billiards would marginally qualify. Like I said, just my opinion.

I agree with you on the subjective judging criterion, Dan -- especially since one of the things that I hate the most about mostly-non-subjective-judging sports is when subjective judging impinges upon them (e.g., a controversial call by a ref at the end of a game).

Chess is a sport, because if you don't have a strong hand it might cramp while you're holding onto a piece and mulling over whether or not to let go of it.

Billiards? That's hand-eye coordination. It's as much of a sport as golf. Of course, the old rule of thumb was that any activity in which you could drink alcohol while you were participating wasn't really a sport. That would eliminate billiards (of all types), golf, bowling, and, for a lot of people, 16" softball.

What about boxing?

It's not a sport. It's a sweet science.

   Wow -- How does Elmhurst receive more votes than Carthage? Or any for that matter of fact.  "Q" who are the other voters from the midwest?

Elmhurst might not have received more votes than Carthage. We have no way of knowing for sure, unless Pat tell us. Elmhurst got more points (12) than Carthage (3), but that could've been a matter of three voters putting Carthage 25th on their ballots, or one putting Carthage 24th and another putting Carthage 25th, while only one voter had Elmhurst on his ballot (in which case he would've put the Bluejays 14th). Pat doesn't publish a breakdown of the votes, so the only team whose voting pattern we can know is Wash U, since the Bears were #1 on all 25 ballots.

Remember, a first-place vote is worth 25 points, a second-place vote is worth 24 points, and so on, down to a 25th-place vote, which is worth one point. A total of 625 points (#1 on all 25 ballots, as is the case with Wash U in this particular preseason poll) is the maximum a team can receive (25 x 25 = 625), while one point (one solitary voter picking a team 25th) is the minimum. No team got the minimum this time out; three teams (Carroll, Ohio Northern, and Ohio Wesleyan) each got two points, which means that each of them either received two 25th-place votes or one 24th-place vote.

Some voters simply don't do their homework where specific teams are concerned, and the voter or voters who picked Elmhurst fall into that category. But, to be fair, even the ones that do would have a very hard time sorting out this year's preseason Top 25. We've been discussing over in the Top 25 room just what a grab-bag it is this year once you get past the top ten or so teams.

Bob and Pat are, to the best of my knowledge, the only two voters who have chosen to make their identities public. In fact, Bob posted his ballot over in the Top 25 room.