People who do track will defend the fact they think they are track “athletes”, respectfully so. However I would defend the fact that they are not athletes, and that track a sport. As a baseball player I do one of the hardest things for a human to do, that is hit a baseball from 60 feet away. I do not think you need a ball to have it be a sport, because wrestlers are top notch athletes. I also do not think that just because track is in the Olympics that it automatically makes it a sport, because wrestling is not in the Olympics.

            You put some baseball players and most basketball players onto a track and they will do alright, they probably would not win, but they would do alright. Now you put that track “athlete” onto a basketball court and they would do mediocre at best. Put them into a batter’s box and they will fail. Even if you pinch ran them and told them to steal second base, they would fail.

            Sports Science proves what the hardest things to do for a human are. They determined that the hardest thing was to be a goalie and stop a penalty kick in soccer. They are 12 yards away and the ball is going about 75 mph. with movement. However they also proved that the second hardest thing to do is hit a baseball. That ball is 90 mph from 60 feet away; the ball is no bigger than your fist. Some people throw harder than 90 mph, in fact most people can throw 90 mph. So those people that you think are “out of shape” is doing the second hardest thing that anybody can do.

            Yes, track people are probably more in shape than some baseball players. All I am saying is this: running from point A. to point B. does not make it a sport, nor does it make them athletes. My dog can run so is he an athlete? How about my mom she can run is she an athlete? My mom has to run to the kitchen to get the roast out of the oven before it gets destroyed, BAM! I just invented a sport, our very own Usain Bolt lady and gentlemen. Now that I think about it that is probably how they got to track. Then added a gunshot and fit men. Running is not a sport, it is a hobby. Anybody can “do” track but nobody can not just dribble a ball while sprinting 90 feet then dunking it or shooting a 20 foot shot, or just hit a baseball. Bring the nasty comments and e-mails because track is not a sport.