If you look up the definition of the word "sport" in thedictionary, you will find, "An activity involving physical exertionand skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and oftenundertaken competitively."
According to this definition, events such as football,basketball, soccer, baseball and so forth are definitely consideredsports.
But what about activities such as golf or bowling?
Both are widely considered sports however.
In that same breath, why do some not consider cheerleading asport?
This old argument has gone on for years, and The U of Mcheerleading squad would like nonbelievers to consider this - TheUniversity of Memphis cheerleading squad generally practices about20 to 25 hours a week and run miles to stay in shape.
The squad gives out 12 scholarships a year on top of allthat.
Every year, The U of M cheer squad competes in a nationalcheerleading competition, in which they usually excel, and it is avery physical sport, said Neil Hardin, a cheerleader on The U of Msquad.
"I'm hurt right now," said Hardin pointing to his wrist sprain."Pretty much half the guys on the squad are hurt right now."
Hardin, who also played for The U of M club volleyball team,said that he sees a lot more injuries in cheerleading thanvolleyball.
"Everybody's taped up somewhere or another," Hardin said. "Andif you consider rowing a sport, you might as well considercheerleading a sport."
First-year U of M coach Frankie Conklim, who also works with theindependent cheering club Memphis Elite said cheerleading does notget the attention it deserves.
"As far as athletic activity, they go head to head with thepracticing and getting ready just as a football team would,"Conklim said. "Cheerleading is definitely on the backburner acrossthe nation. We can't even get in the newspaper."
You would think that as big as cheerleading is in Memphis, whichConklim considers the biggest cheerleading city in the country, thesport would get more attention.
Why cheering doesn't get more attention is a question mostcheerleaders have asked at one point or another.
Chelsey Crawford, a member of the U of M cheer squad, has alsorun track and said that as far as the physical aspect, both sportsare similar.
"You work just as hard and sweat just as bad," Crawfordsaid.
As far as injuries, Crawford has had everything from sprainedankles to hyperextensions. As far as the sport or not a sportargument, Crawford said, "Until you try it, you don't need to makean opinion about it."
