sports and politics discussion thread link
 

http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=71428
(Mods -please don't combine duplicate threads, I'm posting this in sports for a reason.)

I posted a thread about the presidential candidates and their sports involvement, assertions, and achievements on the politics board on the thread above. I know many of the people in here (and elswhere) stay away from the politics forums, but I'd hoped that some of the sports fans would comment on it too. Mainly because y'all offer a far different perspective from the somewhat jaded and occasionally caustic discussion that goes on there.

The gist of the topic starter was a question about whether sports matter in taking the measure of a man. There's a group trying to defeat Kerry because he's not good at sports, and has perhaps fudged the truth about whether he's run a marathon.
While I think it's silly to pick a candidate based on whether they throw like a girl or can catch or not, I've heard it said that, "Sports don't build character, they merely reveal it."

What do y'all think?

Didn't Edwards play for the Vols ? Which is a lot more than I can say about Cheyney ;)

I think it's rubbish expecting a politician to be good at sports and then deciding on it. I think the whole point of sports is to have fun playing them. Yeah it's awesome to win, but if you don't like playing it in the first place there is not much point.

I don't think a candidate has to be knowledgeable, good at sports or even athletic to be Presidential. It does help though, as sports evokes competitiveness, which is traditionally a "measure of a man". Obviously, in this area, GWB has the upper hand (huge baseball fan, former part owner of the Texas Rangers, throws perfect strikes when throwing out the first pitch).

I DO think though, that you shouldn't lie about it.

-Mikey

Although I don't think being involved in sports is part of the presidential requirements. I have to say that it does show an individual how to dedicate and improve themselfs with physical results (ex : "I can run faster now that I've been training at it !").

Doing sports & leisure activities is an essential tool for maturing kids, which brings me back to presidential candidates... *coughs* ;)