What, In Your Opinion, Is the Most Demanding Sport

What, In Your Opinio

What are your thoughts on what is the most demanding sport (both physically and mentally)?

My vote is tennis.

I know that sounds strange but here's the evidence:

Most tennis players peak BEFORE age 30 due to the EXTREME physical demands of the sport

Most players burn out quickly due to the intense physical training required to maintain the exquisite timing it takes to be a top player

What are your thoughts?

 

Physically - Football then Baseball - Pitchers and Catchers

Mentally - ?

 

hmmmm thats a tough one, i'm gonna have to sleep on it

 

This vote is for a combination of both. I would agree that football is THE most physical of all sports. If you combine physical and mental stress - what sport wins in your estimation?

 

If you combine the two, I don't think baseball even comes close, not with oversized pitchers like David Wells excelling in the sport.

 

Actually, Physically I don't think Baseball even comes close either. I would rate Tennis, Football, Basketball, Soccer, Cycling, Track & Field and Rugby before baseball (I would almost rate ANY sport higher than baseball physically, except maybe golf and bowling).

 

i'd have to say the "World Pie Eating Champion" winner.

It is truly a mental battle to have the will to go one pie beyond anyone else. And as far as physical, well if you can fight the upchuck reflex after the 15th pie, you've got a pretty good shot at the title. As far as training in the offseason, all of these candidates are prime quadruple bypass candidates so that fear factor is with the athlete every day. Winning could mean dying, but thats what it means to be at the top of the game.

 

Damn! THAT was an unexpected addition!

 

the force is strong with this one....

 

The one sport you've forgotten is the WORLD CHAMPION HOT DOG EATER. This little Asian guy beat out WILLIAM "THE REFRIGERATOR" PERRY in his last command performance. He's a frickin' eating machine baby!

 

surprised no one has mentioned Hockey

 

Raptor - GIVE ME THE EVIDENCE BABY!!!

Hockey - I can see phsyically, but what's the mental demand on the toothlessly challenged?

 

sorry for derailing your thread for a bit, but had to do it....

ummm serious answer would have to be boxing. In the beginning these guys do have some intelligence. They learn how to read the other guy so that they know what punch he is going to throw before he throws it. How to counter each punch thrown and developing the reflex action to effectively succeed with the counter move. Multiply that single thought by every second in a round, times a maximum of fifteen rounds.

As far as physical, have you ever tried to even go 5 rounds with someone? All that time on your toes really wears you out, really exhausting. Not to mention keeping your hands up, avoiding punches constantly, throwing punches, and then having to keep your hands up again waiting for another series of punches.

As for the long term effects of being in the sport for an extended period of time, getting punched in the head repeatedly makes you an idiot and can lead to brain damage therefore ruining the enjoyment you can get out of the rest of your life. Death (or cannibalism) is always a possibility as well.

Ever wonder why boxers get paid so much for a title fight? (20+ million each regardless of outcome) Yes betting has some to do with it, but in order to lure quality prize fighters consistantly requires baiting the hook quite severely in order for those guys to subject themselves to the onslaught of punishment solely for your viewing pleasure.

In my opinion the only thing that could possibly touch boxing would be the Ultimate Fighting Championship, but that league is still young and we have yet to see the effects that "no holds barred" fighting has on prize fighters.

 

I think the thing that makes hockey so tough is the fact that they dont get a week between game like in football. instead they play pretty much every other night and there is pretty much no offseason.

 

so the mental would be lack of relaxation/healing and time away from family.... i could see that.

 

OMG you have know idea the mental capacity needed to play hockey, it is the same as any other sport, needing to have a good sense of where the puck is gonna go on the ice. And talk about goalies, they have a hell of a lot of mental weight on their shoulders not to mention the reflexes they need to stop 100+ MPH slapshots, which comes 30 or so MPH shy of a male tennis serve by Andy Roddick. So I think hockey should be one of the leading canidates, cuz you also have to do all of this on ice on two metal blades.

 

Hmmm. regarding nights off, I think Basketball takes Hockey.

Woob, you've got a point w/boxing, but I don't think it takes money to lure a fighter to another fight. Once they get enough punches to the head, they'll kinda fight for any reason:

My evidence:

Muhammed Ali and his successor to the SHAKES INDUCED THRONE: Evander Holyfield - who didn't recognize the time to retire after being beaten into the ground by James "Lights Out" Toney!

Your post was a good one as boxing is indeed IMMENSELY physically demanding - i'd forgotten about it.

I'd have to judge boxing as No.1 and Tennis as No.2 - good post!!!!

 

oh yea (pumps fist) BOOYAH (spins twice, does splits) OWWWWW!!! (grabs groin and limps back to the keyboard)

damn this is more physically demanding than i had expected, and mentally i'm feeling tired...

 

Of the 4 major pro sports, in order:

Hockey
Football
Basketball
Baseball

 

Relaxation/healing time away from family can apply to ANY sport. I would make Boxing No. 1 in that regard, Football No. 2, Tennis No. 3 and Baskeball No. 4.

To those fans of hockey, YES it's phsyically demanding, BUT you're gliding around on blades versus taking a physical punishment on your joints as Basketball, Tennis, and Football ALL experience. MUCH different when it comes to recovery time.