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Originally Posted by artdutra04
 Yes, this is just my opinion, but I have to disagree with the above statements. As one of the drivers for my team, I know exactly what it is like to be under the spotlight, to get your robot from point A to B while avoiding the opponents, and cordinating your actions with those of your alliance partners.
Examples: Maintainance of the car robot, fuel battery conversation, driving techniques, the skill it takes to drive at those speeds the robot successfully with two drivers, the considerations the drivers have to take (surface, temperature other robots, weather the quantity of poof balls left in your alliance's goals, the number of poof balls in the opponent's goals, how easily the other alliance will will score, etc, and much more!). The amount of strategy that goes into winning is immense. What about alliances? The amount of strategy that goes into coordinating your moves with your alliance partners to maximize your score with your team's abilities is unparallel in NASCAR.
FIRST is an "apples to apples" comparision with NASCAR, and because of the intensity of both they are both sports. 
I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with this as well. By calling FIRST a sport, you are not trivializing what real athletes do. In fact, you are calling to light what real FIRSTers do. If someone was to spend 30 hours a week at robotics meetings, staying up until 3 AM every night working on their team's website, teaching themselves CAD and Inventor along the way, being the co-driver for their team, being on multiple sub-teams, and much much more, would you say that this person trivializes what real athletes do? On the contrary, I think this person would prove how much effort really goes into FIRST, and would prove that FIRSTers are not trivializing athletes.
Trying to be humble: All of those describe what I do for my team, so yes, those are based of a real person. |
About the NASCAR comparison, you're missing the point. The reason I said that NASCAR could be compared to FIRST in some aspects is because of the things you pointed out, however, the fundamental difference is that NASCAR drivers are put under much more pressure than FIRST participants. Those drivers are out there risking their LIVES for that competition. FIRSTers are just risking their pride. Yes, on a fundamental level, NASCAR and FIRST are quite similar, but FIRST is no where near as intense as NASCAR. Do I think NASCAR is a sport? As stated already, no. However, it is a much more intense "competition" than FIRST. I was a driver too, and I'll agree that it's intense, but it can't be equated to being under the lights on a football field. pwilczynski hit the nail on the head.
As far as trivializing the work of athletes goes, I once again think you're missing my point. I think we can all agree that a person couldn't just walk up and do some of the things that we as FIRSTers do (IE: Building robots, formulating strategy, etc). By the same token, not just anyone can walk up and do what some athletes do. If you call FIRST a sport, you imply that the participants are athletes, which seems to trivialize not only the work that real athletes do, but the work we do as well. Would you say being able to run fast is the same as being able to construct a championship-quality robot? No, they're completely different. Don't try to make the two equal.
As Dean has said, FIRST is similar to a sporting event, but there are key differences. Let's not try and make FIRST be a sport, because it's far different. Remember, I'm not trying to say that FIRST is inferior because it's not a sport. FIRST and sports are similar, but different. Neither is better than the other, they are each worthwhile in their own right.