Most diverse sport in the world?

[Honey]

Inspired by speedplays topic questioning whether TT may be the most complex sport in the world - whilst we all don't agree on that, maybe we can agree that TT is the most diverse sport in the world?

One of the reasons why I love TT so much it can be played at so many levels, and by so many different types of people. You don't even have to be good at it to enjoy it, or understand the rules even. There is something that seems to satisfy people about hitting the little white ball back and forth. It's such a simple game, ever so simple really at a basic level, yet on contrast, the pro level is ever so complicated. It's awesome. The range of people that play it too, different shapes and sizes, young and old, lots of different cultures, countries etc. Even people that can't play TT (according to them) can never resist playing a game of it!

Unless anyone else can think of any other sports that can be so diverse?

[speedplay]

Football, collect a random number of guys, throw them a ball and soon you will see them playing. The main thing that speaks in favour of TT is age, as in TT, a 70+ can compete with a 15 year old, will this is highly unlikely for football.

[Der Echte]

Could be poker.... at least they have the ratings and the $$$.

[speedplay]

Could be poker.... at least they have the ratings and the $$$.

Yes, but I thought we were talking about sport here, and the fact that sport channels broadcast poker don't make it a sport to me. It is a social game, just like Chess and Monopoly.

[blue_smartie68]

Great thread Honey! 
 
I agree totally... and it's one of the reasons I love the sport!
The cross-section of people who play is virtually all encompassing! Go for a walk down the street in a strange town and I bet you would have no idea which of the people you see are table tennis players!!!
Pretty girls chatting near the mall, the over-weight old guy lighting a cigarette by the lamp post, the two middle-aged ladies having a coffee, the young punk kid with tats riding a skate board or the smart looking executive in a suit rushing to a shareholder's meeting somewhere.....!!
All these people could conceivably be playing against each other, that night in the local TT competition (and possibly at a pretty high level too!).
Is there any other sport where this could be possible???
TT crosses boundaries that others don't cross! People will play a game (and enjoy it!) against others who they would not normally give the time of day too, if they saw them in any other situation! It's a strange bond which (for short time periods) can disolve social, economic, age, gender and racial boundaries.
 
Just on the age thing alone... there are not many competitive sports where you can quite easily have a 3-"man" team with 3 generations of the one family.
 
Cheers,
Chris

[Der Echte]

Speedplay, I was expecting a much stronger reaction from you. I should have baited it better. You know how I feel about TT.

[speedplay]

 

I must admit that I was surprised when you mentioned Poker, but some people actually considers it to be a sport

[pingpongrob]

What about 10 Pin Bowling. Its a Very Diverse Sport, can be played at all ages, very little experience is needed, and it can be extremely difficult.

I played it for about 1 year, and the highest score I ever made was just over 275. My average was about 150. Nice sport, just a little to slow for me.

Its also quite difficult to get a perfect score - lots of technique.

[Honey]

What about 10 Pin Bowling. Its a Very Diverse Sport, can be played at all ages, very little experience is needed, and it can be extremely difficult.

Thats a good one Rob. I would argue though that kids need the bumpers down. With TT though, its a level playing field as long as your able to hit the ball over the net.

[RebornTTEvnglist]

Agree with bowling, I also played in a league for about a year. Found a diverse range of people there. Also have found a diverse range of people playing golf throughout my life. Its funny how you can get a certain view of a person based upon their sporting prowess, which may not actually reflect their station in the rest of the life! I found this especially true through my eyes as a teenager. Even today though, I find if you only know someone through sport, it can be quite eye opening to find out what the rest of their life is about. Does anyone else have this experience?