If you were forced to play one professional sport as your job until you were 65, which would you pick?

101 points · 123 comments · view on lemmy.world

123 Comments

tpid98@lemmy.sdf.org · 64 pts · 274d (1 reply)

Darts

LesserAbe@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 274d

I think this might be the answer

jordanlund@lemmy.world · 38 pts · 274d

Curling.

makeshiftreaper@lemmy.world · 34 pts · 274d

Magic: the Gathering

It's a sport if it was on ESPN!

Lodespawn@aussie.zone · 28 pts · 274d

Do I have to me good at it or is someone just going to pay me to do it regardless? I guess motorsport

DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works · 25 pts · 274d

Online Chess is now officially Esport... so that... xD

I'd be the next Hikaru Nakamura, live stream chess stuff and act cool af.

melsaskca@lemmy.ca · 23 pts · 274d (2 replies)

Snooker.

lagoon8622@sh.itjust.works · 7 pts · 273d
sanguinepar@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 273d

This was my first thought. Honourable mentions to golf and darts.

Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world · 18 pts · 274d

Bowling

BackgrndNoize@lemmy.world · 17 pts · 274d (9 replies)

Chess

LesserAbe@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 274d (8 replies)

Are we calling chess a sport? In that case why not magic the gathering or black jack

MotoAsh@piefed.social · 16 pts · 274d

MtG is pay to win these days (by virtue of the series shifts to crazier or more collectible cards) and blackjack is designed to be RNG hell. Why subject yourself to either of those?

SendMePhotos@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 274d (2 replies)

I read something about how some grandmasters think so hard that they burn as many calories as pro athletes. Their brains are going so wild that it can cause extreme fatigue and the shakes.

BackgrndNoize@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 273d

The post said that you'd be forced to play the sport till 65, not that you need to be good at it, I'll have a long career of losing matches then lol

Thassodar@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 274d

Sounds like a alpha version of a Mentat.

Syun@retrolemmy.com · 2 pts · 274d (3 replies)
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idiomaddict@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 274d

As a stoner mtg player, some people can drink and smoke while playing. Some people start taking twenty minute turns

BackgrndNoize@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 273d
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dogdeanafternoon@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 273d

That’s a pretty dumb measurement. Tons of people get in the zone when high. I’m way better at soccer after getting high.

Sport should be a physical thing. If you can play the same game online (chess) then it’s not a sport.

Esport? Sure. Still not a sport, same way an email isn’t a piece of mail.

MagicShel@lemmy.zip · 15 pts · 274d

Swimming.

ExtremeUnicorn@feddit.org · 14 pts · 273d

Archery

qarbone@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 274d (2 replies)

Golf.

TerraRoot@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 273d (1 reply)

The sensible choice.

6stringringer@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 273d

When you retire, you go play randomly at courses & clean up on friendly wagers. That way you can stay fluid in retirement.

Kolanaki@pawb.social · 13 pts · 274d (2 replies)

Ranked Competitive Sex.

Agent641@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 273d (1 reply)

You don't wanna go up against the world heavyweight champion

UltraGiGaGigantic@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 273d

Its okay, thats my weight class

WhatGodIsMadeOf@feddit.org · 13 pts · 274d (3 replies)

Naked twister.

LesserAbe@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 274d (2 replies)

Do people currently get paid to play naked twister? Seems like more of a collegiate level sport

snoons@lemmy.ca · 6 pts · 274d

Depends on the production value, bu most people just use onlyfans these days.

WhatGodIsMadeOf@feddit.org · 1 pts · 273d

Just wait for the next Olympic games.

blackbrook@mander.xyz · 11 pts · 273d

Ping pong. You might think all the humiliating losses as my reflexes slow down might become hard to take, but if they don't bother me now, why should it bother me later?

Denjin@feddit.uk · 11 pts · 274d (1 reply)

Foxy Boxing

rafoix@lemmy.zip · 4 pts · 274d

Finally, a person of culture.

supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz · 11 pts · 274d (1 reply)

Disc Golf!

the_grass_trainer@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 273d

Hear hear!

jcr@jlai.lu · 10 pts · 274d (1 reply)

Chess

SaraTonin@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 274d

Yup. I wouldn’t be very good at it, but it’s indoor work with no heavy lifting or cardio, and if it’s my job until I’m 65 that implies that it’ll pay the bills so how good I actually am doesn’t really matter very much

burntbacon@discuss.tchncs.de · 10 pts · 273d (6 replies)

Rowing or swimming. As long as I'm not trying to be world record level, I won't be ruining my body. If I'm just training as much as they do, it won't be much worse than a full time job.

I would have picked skydiving, but the lead exposure is a little too much for me to want to do it as a 10 jumps a day type of job.

Mesophar@pawb.social · 3 pts · 273d

Swimming for sure

Crozekiel@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 273d (4 replies)

Wait, lead exposure from skydiving?

burntbacon@discuss.tchncs.de · 4 pts · 273d

As the other fellow said, it's the jet fuel. They still use leaded gas. You can definitely smell the difference between it and normal exhaust fumes.

FlyingCircus@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 273d (1 reply)

Fumes from aviation fuel.

Crozekiel@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 273d

OH. Ty.

anedm@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 273d

Probably the chute

solrize@lemmy.ml · 9 pts · 274d (5 replies)

Marion Tinsley died at age 68 while still holding the World Checkers Championship. A number of chess players including Ivanchuk and Anand are in their 50s and still mighty strong, though not WC strength.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marion_Tinsley

Siethron@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 273d (4 replies)

Isn't checkers solved? I guess it wasn't back then, but it's not exactly repeatable now.

solrize@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 273d (3 replies)

At that time it wasn't solved and it was unknown whether Chinook was at Tinsley's level. Now it's solved in the sense that a humongous computer search has proved it to be a draw, but there is still competition between humans. Chess is generally believed to be a draw too. A mathematical or computer proof of that wouldn't change things very much though. The best way to beat another human might involve playing into positions that are lost for you, if you can get into a complex enough position to confuse your opponent into a mistake.

anomnom@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 273d (2 replies)

My brother and I would tie checkers every time if we were paying attention.

It’s basically like ticktacktoe. You have to be unaware of like 3 moves to lose.

Edit: Oh I guess when all pieces are stuck the last player with a move wins? We never knew that and would just call it a draw and play a different game instead.

solrize@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 273d (1 reply)

I'm not a checkers player but really strong players do win games against each other. Also it was 8x8 checkers that was solved. Human competitive play is sometimes 10x10 which is probably beyond current technology to solve the same way. Tinsley played 8x8 though.

anomnom@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 273d

Yeah TIL in order not to be stuck moving your last piece before the other player, you need to make a smart sacrifice then force the other player into running out of moves or pieces first.

zlatiah@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 274d (1 reply)

If esports count, I'd like to be like this guy and get a contract to play rhythm games professionally

Otherwise... Probably swimming or race walking, not too many professional sports I could think of that one can do into their 60s without wrecking their body

MBech@feddit.dk · 4 pts · 274d

I could totally swim profesionally until 65. Wouldn't be winning anything. Would probably get a lot of "slowest 50m" records, but I could totally lose on a daily basis for a living.

Jerb322@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 273d (1 reply)

Billiards.

Obi@sopuli.xyz · 5 pts · 273d

Can I get pool instead, billiard is hard.

jqubed@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 274d (3 replies)

Race car driver

actionjbone@sh.itjust.works · 8 pts · 274d (2 replies)

Jerry?

MourningDove@lemmy.zip · 6 pts · 274d (1 reply)
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FigMcLargeHuge@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 274d

I love you two!!!

Flickerby@lemmy.zip · 7 pts · 273d (3 replies)

Quidditch, because it would change the laws of physics and everything would probably explode in a hilarious hellfire

Rednax@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 273d (2 replies)
Flickerby@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 273d (1 reply)

No idea how to respond to this. They run around with actual broomsticks between their legs? Well, whatever floats your boat lol

Rednax@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 273d

No need to have a good response. I'm with you in being a bit weirded out by it. I just felt I shouldn't be alone in my state of being weirded out by this.

yermaw@sh.itjust.works · 7 pts · 273d

Do esports count? Because that.

Eulenspiegel@feddit.org · 6 pts · 274d

Darts

SkaraBrae@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 274d

Cricket. There are many different roles in the team and you get to hang out outside with your teammates all day. Also, if it rains you go inside and have something to eat.

msokiovt@lemmy.today · 6 pts · 274d

Professional wrestling for me.

GreenKnight23@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 273d (3 replies)

chess.

I'm lazy but like RTS games.

sturmblast@lemmy.world · -2 pts · 273d (2 replies)

Chess isn't a sport

pyria@kbin.melroy.org · 6 pts · 274d (5 replies)
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LesserAbe@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 274d (4 replies)

The wizard who is forcing you to do this said you have to actually be playing, you can't be in a manager or commentator type role

pyria@kbin.melroy.org · 0 pts · 274d (3 replies)
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burntbacon@discuss.tchncs.de · 3 pts · 273d

Nah. Managing or ambassador roles aren't playing. Unless op edited the title, it says "play."

LesserAbe@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 273d

The wizard is not a reasonable guy

mudkip@lemdro.id · 2 pts · 273d

It says "play"

otp@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 274d

Disc Golf

Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 273d

Every last one of you could have chosen drone racing and yet none of you did.

Drone racing.

Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 274d

How about E Sports? I'm not competitive good, but I can play video games all day.

Natanael@slrpnk.net · 5 pts · 274d

Biking or swimming

KurtVonnegut@mander.xyz · 5 pts · 274d (2 replies)
ITGuyLevi@programming.dev · 3 pts · 274d

Hmm... Now that is a sport I think I could watch, at least once or twice!

neidu3@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 274d

Years ago we tried Karate-Chess at my Dojo. It was fun as hell.

sin_free_for_00_days@sopuli.xyz · 4 pts · 274d (2 replies)

Snooker.

palordrolap@fedia.io · 3 pts · 274d (1 reply)

This or some other cue / billiard sport. The question doesn't specify I have to be good at it.

sin_free_for_00_days@sopuli.xyz · 3 pts · 273d

I figured with the way my body is broken down already, there is no way I could play a traditional sport.

wreckedcarzz@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 274d

Esports/mlg. I actually wanted to explore video gaming as a competitive career as a kid, throughout my teens and a bit beyond. Disability and near-death struck at 21 and dashed that, though. I still play rather well for racing games, but fps I struggle competitively due to partial blindness and loss of the use of my right hand. I use an ambidextrous Logitech G903, using both sets of side buttons (both left and right side), if you're wondering; all critical functions and movements go on the mouse, with secondary (like map, equip/use, toss item, inventory/hotbar...) remaining on the keyboard.

Also, while not a sport... ::: spoiler Spoiler I also looked into being a 'working guy'. My sex drive has always been -really- high, and that stupid saying 'find something you love and you'll never work a day in your life'... well, I definitely love pleasing people. Nearly all my relationships failed because of, or directly linked to, my unquenchable needs (it's not my fault you are studying for a full load of courses and I've been at it for 4 hours, okay?), so... :::

zout@fedia.io · 4 pts · 274d

Darts.

toiletobserver@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 274d (1 reply)

Football kicker

jqubed@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 274d

For the non-North Americans, the place kicker specializes in kicking the ball through the goalposts. In a sport where most pros have retired by age 40, the best kickers will often play until they’re nearly 50.

davidgro@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 274d (2 replies)

Table Tennis. (A.K.A. Ping Pong, but that's actually a trademark)

treadful@lemmy.zip · 4 pts · 274d (1 reply)

or badminton.

davidgro@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 274d

Also good. I can reach over the net in that one. (Doesn't mean I can win, just not lose as bad)

Chippys_mittens@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 273d (1 reply)
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YiddishMcSquidish@lemmy.today · 3 pts · 273d

Kicker with a good line could make it to their fifties if their back holds out.

phoenixz@lemmy.ca · 4 pts · 274d

Karate.

AceFuzzLord@lemmy.zip · 4 pts · 274d

Why not pick the laziest sport and try to become a real world Happy Gilmore ( minus all the rage enduced swearing or childish antics on the field ).

RBWells@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 273d

Oh powerlifting, and I wouldn't be competitive. Just lift whatever I could, and lose the competition, forever. I guess that's amateur though? Hmm.

I cannot imagine anyone paying me to play any sport at all.

30p87@feddit.org · 4 pts · 274d (2 replies)

CS... never was good at it, never will be, but it's somewhat fun at least

ExtremeUnicorn@feddit.org · 3 pts · 273d (1 reply)

Counter-Strike? Cybersex?

30p87@feddit.org · 2 pts · 273d

Both

gigachad@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 274d

Table tennis

tiredofsametab@fedia.io · 3 pts · 274d

Table tennis

RampantParanoia2365@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 273d

Skiing, as I actually enjoy it.

ptolemy@infosec.pub · 3 pts · 274d

Fencing

rob_t_firefly@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 273d
MourningDove@lemmy.zip · 3 pts · 274d (1 reply)
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Denjin@feddit.uk · 10 pts · 274d

Major League Baseball Baseball

gerryflap@feddit.nl · 3 pts · 273d

Ice skating and/or inline skating. Not sure how safe that is to do for so long, but I like going fast.

WellroundedKi@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 273d

Running or cycling.

m4xie@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 273d

Olympic walking. I'll be taking it really really easy. I'll have headphones and an ice cream cone

Libb@piefed.social · 3 pts · 274d
ace_garp@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 274d

Badminton

Takapapatapaka@tarte.nuage-libre.fr · 3 pts · 274d

Not the most professional, though there are world cups, but playing pétanque is surely something you can do til 65 and beyond!

Hossenfeffer@feddit.uk · 2 pts · 273d

Sumo. I reckon the other wrestlers would just gently push me out of the ring and I’d be ok with that.

SlartyBartFast@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 273d

Pie eating, for suresies

Inucune@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 272d

Volleyball.

Nemo@slrpnk.net · 2 pts · 274d

Baseball, easy.

neidu3@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 274d

Does chess count?

bstix@feddit.dk · 2 pts · 273d

Skateboarding. It has enough variety to keep it interesting for that long. Unlike many other sports, there's an infinite number of tricks to learn. Even if you're old.

dkppunk@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 274d

Field hockey

I already know the rules since I played as a kid. There is no physical contact, so it’s safer than some other sports, unless you get hit with the ball or a stick to the shins.

HollowV@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 273d

Taekwondo

fubarx@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 274d

Penmanship.

snoons@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 274d

Shogi

sturmblast@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 273d

Triathlon

klemptor@startrek.website · 1 pts · 272d
webpack@ani.social · 1 pts · 272d

if esports counts, I'd go with Minecraft or super smash Bros melee

otherwise I'd prolly do fencing since that's basically like a fighting game (I played back in high school)

krooklochurm@lemmy.ca · 0 pts · 273d

Porn