Scrabble, That's a Sport!

[TexasTerror]

A new low. Scrabble is showing on ESPN2. There are fans in the "stadium room" watching this and there is a big board that is showing their moves on a bigger board so the fans can see it. There's a play by play and color commentator as well...

They keep talking about shutting down lanes. Ridiculous! Oh no, just a handful of tiles are left in the bag, David is being careful with how he plays! And what's even funnier, there's a guy with a dictionary sitting right next to the board checking all the things they are doing.

Oh wait, there's the big "play of the game"...I got to get back to watching this critical game!

[polsongrizz]

I just saw that, talk about insane. but yet no time for IAA football.. :eek: :bang: :bang: :bang: :o :( :(

[grizchik]

That is insane!!! I'll bet if it was naked scrabble there would be more interest. :eek:

[TexasTerror]

As one player said, "It's a great balance of offense and defense. I like the big scores also. But I like to think defensively too, give my opponent fewer things to do. And that's a big part of the game. It's a balance of offense and defense."

Maybe some football coaches can watch this and gain some perspective about "offense" and "defense".

[ngineer]

Oh my, don't tell me...my wife is a champion scrabble player--kicks my butt all the time--I think I've beaten her 3-4 times in 25 years, and then only when there are multiple players. It's a great game, but it's not a sport.

[Hammerhead]

It probably draws higher ratings than NHL hockey did. :)

Maybe someday they will show people playing Madden 2005 on ESPN Jr.

[eaglefan452]

No different than showing poker, bowling, or the spelling bee on ESPN, what a waste of good programming time in my opinion.

[TexasTerror]

No different than showing poker, bowling, or the spelling bee on ESPN, what a waste of good programming time in my opinion.

And worst off all is that the ESPN network is growing with more and more channels yearly it seems. They are going to have fill time one way or another, especially when a sport like hockey is a no go.

[Fordham]

agreed on it not being a sport, but i think this interest in showing it comes from a recent Discovery Channel documentary that followed a few of these pro Scrabble players around to tournaments. It made for pretty gripping tv; however, that was only for two reasons - one good one was that the memories on these guys is almost ... what's the word I'm looking for? ... oh, yeah - inconceivable ... and one bad one since it's kinda like watching a car accident since these guys have, for the most part, such ridiculously poor social skills.

[mlbowl]

No different than showing poker, bowling, or the spelling bee on ESPN, what a waste of good programming time in my opinion.

Are you freakin kidding me...........you're going to lump bowling in with spelling and scrabble :asswhip:

[TexasTerror]

Are you freakin kidding me...........you're going to lump bowling in with spelling and scrabble :asswhip:

Most definitely! We got some SWAC fans who would take offense since they are the only conference that backs bowling, I believe. And we've seen what happens when you rile them up, they drop the race card. :eek:

[mlbowl]

Most definitely! We got some SWAC fans who would take offense since they are the only conference that backs bowling, I believe. And we've seen what happens when you rile them up, they drop the race card. :eek:

When was the last time the Olympic Committee looked at adding poker, scrabble or spelling as an Olympic sport (1988 marked the debut of bowling as an Olympic exhibition sport, when the Summer Games were held in Seoul, Korea. 20 nations competed in bowling's first Olympic finals.)? Bowling requires as much, if not more, technique, flexibility, and strength as lets say golf......I don't hear anybody badmouthing golf :bang:

[putter]

It may not be on a sport and should not be on ESPN but the winner got $50k. Best reason to study the dictionary if you ask me.

[89Hen]

Bowling requires as much, if not more, technique, flexibility, and strength as lets say golf......I don't hear anybody badmouthing golf :bang:
Hey now! When was the last time you had a bad lie while bowling into the wind over water? :D

[polsongrizz]

Hey now! When was the last time you had a bad lie while bowling into the wind over water? :D
Which brings me to the thought... When the hell are courses going to add bumper rails to help my handicap out? :confused: :confused: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :D :D ;) ;)
http://www.dragonbowling.com/images/Otros/CHICOS2.jpg

[Grizo406]

I think pols would do real well with this if they had a "Four Letter and Hyphenated Word" version of Scrabble.

It might not be compelling TV, but it would be amusing. :D

[greenG]

Most definitely! We got some SWAC fans who would take offense since they are the only conference that backs bowling, I believe. And we've seen what happens when you rile them up, they drop the race card. :eek:

Actually, there are seven collegiate bowling conferences, including the SWAC.

http://www.bowl.com/downloads/pdf/cbusa_CONFBREAKDOWN.pdf

[mlbowl]

Hey now! When was the last time you had a bad lie while bowling into the wind over water? :D

You won't hear me badmouth golf cuz I love the game ;) but I recall a few years ago ESPN aired an outdoor PBA final


slides (http://www.nyc.gov/html/sports/html/pbaslide.html)

[TexasTerror]

Actually, there are seven collegiate bowling conferences, including the SWAC.

http://www.bowl.com/downloads/pdf/cbusa_CONFBREAKDOWN.pdf

That posting is misleading. Only two of those are NCAA-backed conferences, MEAC and SWAC. Sam Houston State is listed in a conference, but that's the club team, so I am assuming knowing many of those schools on there that are NCAA Division I schools, that those are club teams. Only two of those conferences list NCAA under them and I'm know other schools participate in NCAA bowling, but it's a very limited group.

So, you checked the facts, but not entirely correct for the angle we were looking for.