Is it a Sport: X Games?

I've gotten a couple of comments lately on my debate about the merits of cheerleading as a sport, so I thought now might be a good time to pull out another Is it a Sport post.

And since the X Games 13 (wouldn't that be confusing if they used Roman numerals) is just starting, I figured that would be a good place to start.

I don't know many people who participate in extreme sports -- which to my knowledge include skateboarding, BMX biking, motocross, and a few other events -- but it seems like everyone who does has broken one bone at least once, if not multiple bones multiple times. Would the millions of weekend warriors lay it all on the line for an activity that isn't a sport?

Why the X Games might be considered a sport

I thought I'd stumbled upon something when I couldn't find anything about the X Games on ESPN; then I realized ESPN had created an entirely separate EXPN site. They must take it pretty seriously, or at least believe they can make a lot of money in the deal.

And then there is the risk factor mentioned above. In this morning's highlights of yesterday's action, I saw a skateboarder attempt a huge jump, only to lose his board and freefall 40 feet to the ramp. Ouch!

From what I can tell, the risk is a big part of what makes these activities so appealing. And take a look around: millions of kids around the country are getting into the so-called extreme sports, so much so that building skate parks has become a fad in many US cities.

Why the X Games might not be considered a sport

X Games activities are all about big speed, big jumps, big risk. But only since 1995 have these activities had a major forum for competition. And as we've discussed before, competition is a critical component for qualification as a sport.

Here's what I mean: if you take an activity that has historically been considered purely recreational, create a venue and throw some money at it, does that qualify it as a sport?

The other thing is physical fitness. If you're thinking right now that I couldn't do that stuff, save your breath. I can't. But I also can't do accounting, engineering, or architecture. While many of the X Games participants are extremely athletic, I'm not sure how much of an edge physical fitness gives them.

No one out there is fat, of course, but are these guys lifting weights, sprinting, or even jogging to better their chances at gold?

Final Ruling: X Games are not sports
Certainty: Varying degrees. Skateboarding is a lot closer to being a sport than motocross. Perhaps I shouldn't have lumped them all together.