A federal judge rules that leaping sexily about is not a sport

For those who would suggest that cheerleading is not a sport -

I would argue that if you were having drinks with a cheerleader of the likes shown with this article, and she asked you the question, you might very well respond differently.

Your honor, I rest my case.

Sir,

Men like to see sexy young women with perky breasts, good hips, slender waist, and a babyish face jumping about in mini skirts. Now, is this a sport or not? I say, Who cares about technicalities? Just give the cheerleaders what they want, no?

If the IOC gives people gold medals for sweeping ice with brooms then cheerleading must be a sport.

An American Federal judge concluded that this college ended the women's volleyball team as an act of sex discrimination?

Please.

Can anyone imagine that the college weighed the tuition-revenue-attraction vs. cost aspects of maintaining this volleyball team, and came to the conclusion that it was a money-loser, period?

If this college which has been sued over cutting a women's volleyball team still needs to save money, there are some much safer things for them to cut.

How about tossing half of their maths department? Can't see what law would be invoked to sue them over that cost-saving decision.

How can America ever be saved from all of its absurd "laws"?

Maybe it's simply not possible.

That picture is of a dancer, not a cheerleader. I know that most folks don't know the difference, but there is one. Cheerleaders tumble and perform stunts; dancers dance. Cheerleading squads also tend to be co-ed. The trial dealt with competitive cheerleading, not sideline dancers.

@ J. Kemp.

Welcome to the wonderful world of Title IX.

The college doesn't get to weigh any "tuition-revenue-attraction vs. cost aspects".

Anyway, how much sports revenue does the cheerleading squad add to the athletic department?

If bowling is a sport, then cheerleading is a definitely a sport.

I think cheer leading is a daft "sport" thats my take and don't kill me. I have more interest in curling or synchronized swimming. if i want to watch back flips i will watch gymnastics. The crappy dancing does not help it at all

How can Cheerleading not be considered as a sport, while things like synchronized swimming and Ice dancing be considered as a sport and Cheerleading not be? The level physical activity, acrobatics etc is about the same and as for sexiness well that is not that different. What most cheerleaders wear is no more revealing than what tennis players and beach volleyball players wear wear.

Rah Rah Rah!

I'm now going to adopt this as my own sign off.

Rah Rah Rah!

Only in America! Rah! Rah! Rah!

I would not be surprised if one day Cheerleading became a fulltime under-grad course leading to a "BS" in Twinkle Toes - pun intended!!

"very unethical and unmodest as teenage girls dressed half naked on e field dance in seductive manners" ...

NYN, you should have made this point back in 1915 and perhaps gotten congress to outlaw Cheerleading. It's a bit late for that now.

Nevertheless the whole concept of scantily clad women dancing around to egg on their team does seem a bid ridiculous. Do they do this stuff in other countries?

I think of bowling more as a "game", not a "sport". Kind of like backgammon. Anything that involves judging, like gymnastics, cheerleading, diving, stuff like that, I view as a "athletic competition." "Sports" involve scoring points or goals or whatever according to objective rules. Also winning races and stuff is a sport, like track and field and cycling.

Most American sport is about commercial entertainment value anyway so go ahead and consider cheerleading another American 'sport'.

I remember "Bring It On".

If cheerleading is a sport, than so is ballroom dancing.

I have heard Michael Sandel make the distinction between games and sports quite simply. Sports engage the athletic ability of the participant. Games don't.

A simple rule of thumb would be - would it be weird if we build a robot that could partake in this activity? If the answer is Yes - then it probably ain't a sport.

He has a point. I respect cheerleaders in that their sport is challenging and artistic. However I do not like how high school girls use their talent to seduce players on the field and the audience the stands. I think the lust it sparks is very unhealthy in a high school environment and distract the players if anything. Cheerleading overall is an abuse of gymnastic talent, very unethical and unmodest as teenage girls dressed half naked on e field dance in seductive manners. I agree it is a sport, just a very inappropriate one.

Sorry that should read:
How can Cheerleading not be considered as a sport, while things like synchronized swimming and Ice dancing are? The level physical activity, acrobatics etc is about the same and as for sexiness well what most cheerleaders wear is no more revealing than what tennis players and beach volleyball players wear.

@ccusa: ""Sports" involve scoring points or goals or whatever according to objective rules."

Kind of like the "objective" handing out of yellow cards at the World Cup?