First off, lets start with the actual definition of Athlete.

ath·lete –noun

So judging by that explanation, one would think of a basketball player, football player, track runner, etc...

Well, I bring this up because as I watch sports shows, I hear some of the "talking heads" on ESPN call race car drivers, horse jockeys, bowlers and golfers athletes.

While I am not writing to bash anyone that is a participant of any of those sports, the sport is just that, sport. Yes, they all require a set of skills that need to be practiced and mastered. I will not take away any of the time and effort that these people dedicated to their craft but are they athletes?

Lets explore some different athletes. 

Bowler
A professional bowler is not an athlete. Unless, you're Big Ern from Kingpin...Okay, maybe not. I will have to give the PBA a big thumbs up for presenting their big names as world class athletes though! Nothing beats turning on the TV and seeing a little guy like Norm Duke come walking out from backstage with small pyro and smoke going off everywhere and people saying Norm's big arena chant of a single low tone, Duuuuuuuuuuuuuke!" Bowling athlete moves include three small steps, a backwards arms motion and a forceful upwards thrust and follow through of the arm. When you go bowling next, look down the lane and tell me if you see a figure such as A-Rod shooting for a perfect game.

Golfer
Tiger Woods is no doubt the greatest golfer that I have ever seen and he is built like a linebacker but I bet he runs a 5 flat in the 40 yeard dash. Golf requires the player to be extremely physically fit, well toned and coordinated. Lets take John Daly for example.......... Nevermind.

And on a random Tiger, side not, do you think he goes and plays hockey when his season is over? I know that Mike Modano hits the links when his season is over, I'm just wondering if Tiger got a little more physical when his leisure sport isn't in season. I think people would be more inclined to call him an athlete if h did.

Race Car Drivers
What about Carl Edwards or Little E? Can a race car driver be considered an athlete? I respect every inch of life they cling to while purposely driving 800 miles an hour and I admire the skill and patience it takes to do what they do but again, not athletic. Grueling? Yes. Is it a double whammy to be a race car driver and then go golf in the off season? Those guys are never going to get any athletic cred if that's the case.

Lumber Jacks
You know who I would consider athletes? The guys and gals that compete in the lumber jack events that you see on ESPN on Saturday afternoons. Those guys swing an axe, stick a plank of wood in the crevice they just cut, jump on it, cut another crevice, stick another plank in, jump on that one and then chop off the top of a huge log! That's some athleticism. Or how about the pole climbing event? They grab a strap of hefty leather, swing it around a 80 foot tall limbless tree, swing it around the trunk and then use it to help them run up to the top o the tree! Once at the top, its pretty much a free fall back to Earth as they barely stick their spiked shoes in the wood. That's athletic!

Fishermen
Fishing? Not so much. I will give the fisherman the benefit of the doubt that it does take some skill to make the perfect cast and some serious skill untangling a massive backlash. I've had extensive practice with the latter. I do love fishing though! It great when you roll up on a big school of hungry Bass! Greatness!

Horse Jockeys
I really got going on this topic in my head the other day when it was said that Kent Desmorneaux, the horse jockey for Big Brown, was called an athlete. How in the world can you call that guy an athlete? I know that people in that business call the horses athletes and I am perfectly okay with that, even though, it is a little weird. But the jockey? Horse racing isn't Polo. Its not equestrian events where you have to perform skilled moves with a horse. Well, okay, maybe it is but its not jumping fences or calf roping. You sit on top of a horse, whip it, yell at it and let it run.

Poker Players
Here's one I'm not sure about but I think I would be really upset if I were to hear that some of these poker players that make a living off betting their houses on hands of Texas Hole Em were called athletes. That's a competitive arena but is it sport? I would say to a degree it is sport but don't call those guys and gals athletes.

Disc Jockeys
No way! I was once an athlete, no doubt. I still have a competitive spirit and this is a competitive business but I haven't broken a sweat doing this job ever. Well, there was the one time that I ate some bad food and could leave the studio... TMI? Probably so.

Cyclists
The biggest person of question to put on this list is none other than Lance Armstrong. I've heard this guys name tossed around in the athlete or not debate for years. Whats your take? Or do you have some "athletes" that might fit into this list. Let me know!