https://greensboro.com/news/local/educa ... op-story-1

It may be behind a paywall but I logged out of my account to get the link.

King University, in Bristol, TN announced a while back that they were going to field an eSports team as part of their athletic program and that they would be awarding scholarships just as they do with athletes.

It's exploding in popularity and I don't believe it is going to slow down anytime soon. In fact NC Recreation and Parks Association's(NCRPA) State Wide Athletic Committee(SWAC) will be having their first ever e-sports state tournament this spring.

A number of schools are getting in to the E-sports world. In Hickory, Catawba Valley Community College has a team. Belmont College is getting a team. UNCW even has an Esports certificate program. Quite a few high schools are starting E-sports teams as well. It's becoming a pretty big deal and will be a part of mainstream sports programs soon enough.


At App, like many schools still, it's just a club. This will probably change in the next 10 years.

https://twitter.com/appesports?lang=en

My son is entering college in the Fall and planning on majoring in video game design and computer programming so this type of stuff helps with his job prospects after graduation...so maybe he won't be living in our game room after all...

Another sign of the End Times.

They can have at it all they want. Just don't call it sports.

TurfMonkey wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 26, 2021 9:27 am

They can have at it all they want. Just don't call it sports.

Video gaming is not a sport, but I was shocked to read recently that the eSports team sponsored by Red Bull goes through the same physical fitness regimen as all the other athletes sponsored by Red Bull.

Stonewall wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 26, 2021 9:18 am

Another sign of the End Times.

It’s the Antichrist

eSports is HUGE. I forget what the number is exactly, but just within the last 2 years, the number of people that watch video game streamers has increased something like 1000%. The younger generations love video games and would rather watch that than regular television programming. To each their own..

If I had a child interested in video games, and wanted to take the esports path, I certainly wouldn't turn it down. There are several teenagers making 3+ million a year playing video games...

As far as calling a sport -- I am not sure I would go that far. But, to be at the top level, the amount of training required is tremendous. It's not as easy as just clicking a mouse button or controller button. These teams practice for 8+ hours a day, have regimented eating schedules and plans, etc.

They aren't categorizing it as if its a normal sport. They have all been labeled as Electronic Sports. That community isn't trying to pretend its a traditional sport. So don't get your panties up in a wad too badly. I agree it isn't a sport in the traditional sense. The top level players put in physical training to stay in shape and help their hand eye coordination. Humans call a lot of crazy stuff sports though. We turn left and high speeds 1000 times and call it a sport. Billiards is considered a sport and it has less physical exertion than high level esports. You exert yourself more through a long esports match than you do at an archery competition or skeet/target shooting "sports." Horse racing is considered a sport, the sport of training a horse and beating them around a track. So basically if turning left, pulling a trigger, pulling a bow, and beating a horse are considered sports than I don't really have a problem with them calling them E-sports.

The future.

Formula 1 has gotten big into it, especially when they weren’t racing earlier in 2020. There were pretty big prizes for winning the races. And from what I understand, it’s pretty realistic (minus the physical nature of actual racing).

TheMoody1 wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 26, 2021 11:38 am

The future.

I was just getting ready to draw a Wall-e comparison. It seems to be predicting the future.

appdaze wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 26, 2021 11:26 am

the sport of training a horse and beating them around a track. So basically if turning left, pulling a trigger, pulling a bow, and beating a horse are considered sports than I don't really have a problem with them calling them E-sports.

You have obviously never watched me run to the betting window just at post time to place a $2 bet on a mudder that has to be a sure thing at Tampa Downs. That is some athleticism.

Stonewall wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 26, 2021 9:18 am

Another sign of the End Times.

I watch more eSports now than regular sports (Im 32 btw).Its way more appealing than other sporting television in many aspects...besides being able to play the exact same game as the "pros" if you lucky you can actually play the pros if they are on the same server.

I think the thing I like the most about it is if there is something in the game that needs to adapt with the times, like a playoff expansion or rules change, it happens rather than the establishment (NCAA, NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, etc) not acknowledging there is an issue.

My top concern: career ending injuries.

Stonewall wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 01, 2021 9:29 am

My top concern: career ending injuries.

I imagine carpel tunnel could be a problem actually.

McLeansvilleAppFan wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 01, 2021 3:08 pm

Stonewall wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 01, 2021 9:29 am

My top concern: career ending injuries.

I imagine carpel tunnel could be a problem actually.

You do realize the core demographic for these "athletes", right? Those wrists get plenty of workout, I'm guessing.

Pass the Doritos....