Poker + Sports

I came to poker late after motor racing and golf. I raced 125cc karts in the late 80s and then did Formula Renault in 1991 where I raced alongside Jason Plato and current Mclaren F1 reserve driver Pedro de la Rosa.

I say raced 'alongside them' cos I never got anywhere near them...lol

It was all good fun until a friend died in front of me at Oulton Park and I subsequently ran out of money.

So, as you do, I took up golf and have only recently packed it in. I can hit every shot in the book apart from the 330 yard tee shot and I just got so frustrated that someone like me is just not allowed to compete because the powers that be have allowed golf to be totally dominated by power rather than skill. Bastards.

So now I like poker because ANYONE can play it and it tests so many facets of your character.

The money situation however is remarkably similar to golf and motor racing - i.e. the more money you have behind you the easier it is. Boo hoo..

I think it's interesting that a lot of us played sport before poker and it shows how you really have to be of a competitive ilk to be good at it.

But do I think poker is a sport?

No way!

It's an immensely challenging game, requiring intelligence, discipline, character, honesty, guile and cunning. But it's not a sport in the true sense.

Would I rather win the WSOP or the Open golf championship? The golf, which is why I think poker can't really be a sport in my eyes.

Don't get me wrong, I love it and wished I'd found it sooner, but I think we'd all rather have succeeded at our chosen sports - or does anyone disagree??