The Other Sports Thread

[John Arne]

We don't seem to have a thread for other sports, not worthy of their own thread.

The Sumo Spring tournament is currently underway, and the daily NHK 30 minute wrap-ups are great viewing.

Day 9


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUfGcB55t_o&ab_channel=NHKWORLD-JAPAN

[Giggles]

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[-james-]

https://www.youtube.com/live/B_FQ3g-d0Ag


First climbing world cup event of the season is live on YouTube (with a us vpn) and maybe Eurosport. I think it's a pretty neat spectator sport even as an outsider. This is the lead discipline where the aim is to climb as high as you can (on a previously unseen route).

GB's Toby Roberts goes in the men's. He is a proper phenom and medal hope for Paris. At the moment he's only outshone by Japanese child Sorato Anraku, they should be top two.

In the women's, Slovenian Janja Garnbret is a cut above the competition and frankly a ridiculous athlete.

[Lewis]

Is climbing one of those things, like downhill mountain biking, where the main attribute - other than early exposure to it - is having the head for it (being a mental case)? Because presumably you can train the physical side of it to anyone with a reasonably favourable build.

[-james-]

Is climbing one of those things, like downhill mountain biking, where the main attribute - other than early exposure to it - is having the head for it (being a mental case)? Because presumably you can train the physical side of it to anyone with a reasonably favourable build.

The two biggest disciplines, sport climbing and bouldering, are more or less safe so head game is a non issue for the elite. It takes people varying levels of time to convince their brain that it's actually okay to lob off a piece of rock, but most intermediate and above hobbyists that go climbing outdoors once a week are probably not limited by fear.

"Trad climbing", which involves placing the (often dodgy) protection in the rock yourself, is more about maintaining composure in the face of a maiming (or worse) if you fall off rather than strict difficulty of the climb. Your brain definitely has to be wired different for that.

The cream of the crop are generally genetic freaks (in terms of finger strength and/or muscular metabolism) that have been doing it since they were toddlers. But it's also a skill sport, Adam Ondra is clearly the best to ever do it and there are plenty who have better raw strength numbers than him.

[Giggles]

It's Munster final weekend, you could argue it's bigger than the All Ireland final.
Just pretend it's Taiwanese or something, get a stream and revel in it :cool:

[Giggles]

Pat Collins :drool:


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[niko_cee]

That has to be the hands down maddest sport going.

[Boydy]

How hard is the ball? It's hard, right? Surely taking that shot to the chest is enough to crack a rib or two?

[Giggles]

About baseball hard, but the raised stitches can leave some interesting looking bruises.

[Giggles]

Final on BBC today, no ads :drool:

[Lewis]

This is pretty fun. How long are they allowed to hold it in their hands between the paddle(?) and hitting it?

[Giggles]

This is pretty fun. How long are they allowed to hold it in their hands between the paddle(?) and hitting it?

3 steps not really enforced, more like 4 or 5, can take it in the hand twice.

[Lewis]

Are they all unpaid amateurs, or do they get money for playing? If so what sort of extras can the top blokes pull in?

[Lewis]

Was that miss at the end as shit as it looked?

[-james-]

Whatever I just watched is better than football or rugby.

[Giggles]

Are they all unpaid amateurs, or do they get money for playing? If so what sort of extras can the top blokes pull in?

They get a certain small amount of they live away from their county and have to travel for draining but it's very little. They're all full amateurs and you can only play for where you're from, though the setups and training are probably gone very close to full pro level.


Was that miss at the end as shit as it looked?
Probably should have been a free for the jersey pull.

[Giggles]

Get on BBC2NI, shit will happen :cool:

[Lewis]

I was wondering why they weren't slotting goals from forty yards but it turns out that the pitch is massive.

[Giggles]

I'm going to drive up to Armagh now and I'm ringing in sick tomorrow. Fuck it.

[Giggles]

I was wondering why they weren't slotting goals from forty yards but it turns out that the pitch is massive.

It's a fair bit bigger, plus smaller goals and heavier ball.

[Ben]

BBC's top news story on this match.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1vdlzdqy92o

[Jimmy Floyd]

Seagull recuperating. FFS.

[Giggles]

Bastard birds.

[Giggles]

Was a shit match in the end watching it back, until the last 10 or 15 minutes anyway, but at least it was something different to Dublin and/or Kerry.

[John Arne]

This is great. Hans Neumann ripping chess.com a new one whilst being interviewed by chess.com


https://youtu.be/ZFBAuihQYgw?si=PWvniCUAhoDrCfpC

[niko_cee]

Assuming there isn't a bespoke baseball or American Sports thread: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/baseball/articles/c8703yv7094o


"It's not the year we wanted," said Grady Sizemore

:D