10 Hardest Things to Do in Sports

USATODAY.com

Is there any doubt in anyone’s mind that the people who wrote this are clueless?

The ten hardest things to do in sports, and the number one thing is hitting a baseball?

And the number 10 thing is the Tour De France?

The TOUR DE FRANCE?

I think this list needs some re-ordering. Some of my personal faves that didn’t make the list:

1. Playing goal on a hockey team.
2. Rock Climbing Naked (No harnesses)
3. Motorcross
4. Vert (Be it on Rollerblades, BMX, or Skateboard)
5. Kicking a field goal / Punting

Those are just five things I can think of off the top of my head. Judging from the list, the respondents aren’t terribly athletic.

I’ve hit a couple of great tee shots in my life.

I’ve definitely hit a few baseballs in my life.

I’ve returned a serve, albeit not a professional one.

What’s your opinion on this list?

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  • http://ww.stageleft.info stageleft

    No doubt about it hitting that little round ball coming at you at 100mph requires some significant skill and (as someone who has spent a lot of time between the pipes) goalie definately should be there.

  • http://www.Darrowart.com DrArt

    Well, actually Tour de France was number 8, but even so, I have never seen a fat guy even attempt the Tour de France, and there are a lot of fat guys in baseball.

    I guess my rule is, if a fat guy can do it, it’s not that hard. Hitting a baseball cannot possibly be number one.

    No, I can’t do it, but I’m a fat guy.

  • pete from astoria

    Running a marathon in the form written is questionable. Winning a marathon sure, but to just run one and finish is something that is done by thousands of people every year, many first time contestants.

  • http://www.robertkbrown.com/ RKB

    I’m surprised that an Ironman Triathalon isn’t up there. 5 mile swim, then a 100 mile bike ride, topped off with a 26.2 mile run. Not something many people, whether they can hit a fastball, return a serve, or even “land a quad” are able to accomplish.

  • Ed

    Not hitting a ball but batting in baseball.
    The diference is significant. Not “can you do it once” but how often can you be successful.
    Fail seven times out of ten, you go to the hall of fame.
    Fail eight times out of ten, you are dog poo!
    But then, baseball is all about averages. They don’t play 16 game seasons. a great team loses 4 of 10 games.
    So, anyone can hit a ball, very few can hit consistantly at high level of competition.

  • http://http://www.insignificantthoughts.com Vinny

    Ed, that was truly inspired, but way off base. Here’s the quote that appears on the site:

    Considering that a major-league pitch can reaches speeds more than 95 mph, hitters have only 0.4 seconds to find the ball, decide where the ball is going and swing the bat.

    They’re talking about hitting a baseball, not achieving a .400 batting average.

    And in that respect, even hitting a good drive off a tee is harder than hitting a baseball. Just ask any baseball player who tees off in the off season.

  • http://chapel-perilous.fetishize-me.com/caiterwauling/ Cait

    I once stood in the batter’s box and took a 90 MPH fastball. I played softball many years, and have never been afraid of the ball. But that 90 MPH meatball was one of the scariest things I’ve ever (not) seen. I backed out of the box in a hurry and spent the next 15 minutes pulling my underwear out of my ass, which had sucked my panties right up. I can vote for hitting a fastball as No. 1, especially in light of the fact that there’s no guarantee that the pitcher isn’t going to make the hitter’s head the strike zone.

  • http://www.robertkbrown.com/ RKB

    Cait, I bet if you hung out in a batting cage for an hour a day, you’d be hitting fastballs within a week. Start at 70 MPH on Monday, then move up 5 MPH each day. Heck, give yourself five weeks, even, twenty-five days of practice, and you’d be making contact all over the place.

    With about a month of training, nobody I know would be in good enough shape to compete in the Tour de France.

    That, to me, is why the endurance events will always be closer to the top. Even kicking a field goal is something that any weekend warrior can do if they practice just a little bit.

  • http://www.insignificantthoughts.com Vinny

    I only used being a goalie or kicking a field goal to counter the utter stupidity of putting hitting a baseball at number one. I know a lot of people who hit baseballs and can’t even stand on skates.

  • http://www.robertkbrown.com/ RKB

    Yeah. I thought that “quad” jump one should be much, much higher. I can barely skate, let alone jump and spin and everything.

    Speaking of jumps, what about a ski jump? Or how about doing a 360 out of a half-pipe, either on a snowboard, or a skateboard?

  • http://www.insignificantthoughts.com Vinny

    Funny, but I mentioned vert in the post also. Shoulda been more encompassing and enclosed half pipe, but you’re right… That’s some hard stuff. I’ve done half pipe and it ain’t friggin easy.

    In fact, it’s a hell of a lot harder than baseball.

    And being an Olympics addict, I almost forgot, but the rings and the balance beam in gymnastics are definitely harder than anything in baseball.

  • http://ww.stageleft.info/ stageleft

    No doubt about it hitting that little round ball coming at you at 100mph requires some significant skill and (as someone who has spent a lot of time between the pipes) goalie definately should be there.

  • http://ww.stageleft.info/ stageleft

    No doubt about it hitting that little round ball coming at you at 100mph requires some significant skill and (as someone who has spent a lot of time between the pipes) goalie definately should be there.

  • http://www.Darrowart.com/ DrArt

    Well, actually Tour de France was number 8, but even so, I have never seen a fat guy even attempt the Tour de France, and there are a lot of fat guys in baseball.

    I guess my rule is, if a fat guy can do it, it’s not that hard. Hitting a baseball cannot possibly be number one.

    No, I can’t do it, but I’m a fat guy.

  • http://www.Darrowart.com/ DrArt

    Well, actually Tour de France was number 8, but even so, I have never seen a fat guy even attempt the Tour de France, and there are a lot of fat guys in baseball.

    I guess my rule is, if a fat guy can do it, it’s not that hard. Hitting a baseball cannot possibly be number one.

    No, I can’t do it, but I’m a fat guy.

  • pete from astoria

    Running a marathon in the form written is questionable. Winning a marathon sure, but to just run one and finish is something that is done by thousands of people every year, many first time contestants.

  • pete from astoria

    Running a marathon in the form written is questionable. Winning a marathon sure, but to just run one and finish is something that is done by thousands of people every year, many first time contestants.

  • http://www.robertkbrown.com/ RKB

    I’m surprised that an Ironman Triathalon isn’t up there. 5 mile swim, then a 100 mile bike ride, topped off with a 26.2 mile run. Not something many people, whether they can hit a fastball, return a serve, or even “land a quad” are able to accomplish.

  • Ed

    Not hitting a ball but batting in baseball.
    The diference is significant. Not “can you do it once” but how often can you be successful.
    Fail seven times out of ten, you go to the hall of fame.
    Fail eight times out of ten, you are dog poo!
    But then, baseball is all about averages. They don’t play 16 game seasons. a great team loses 4 of 10 games.
    So, anyone can hit a ball, very few can hit consistantly at high level of competition.

  • Vinny

    Ed, that was truly inspired, but way off base. Here’s the quote that appears on the site:

    Considering that a major-league pitch can reaches speeds more than 95 mph, hitters have only 0.4 seconds to find the ball, decide where the ball is going and swing the bat.

    They’re talking about hitting a baseball, not achieving a .400 batting average.

    And in that respect, even hitting a good drive off a tee is harder than hitting a baseball. Just ask any baseball player who tees off in the off season.

  • http://chapel-perilous.fetishize-me.com/caiterwauling/ Cait

    I once stood in the batter’s box and took a 90 MPH fastball. I played softball many years, and have never been afraid of the ball. But that 90 MPH meatball was one of the scariest things I’ve ever (not) seen. I backed out of the box in a hurry and spent the next 15 minutes pulling my underwear out of my ass, which had sucked my panties right up. I can vote for hitting a fastball as No. 1, especially in light of the fact that there’s no guarantee that the pitcher isn’t going to make the hitter’s head the strike zone.

  • http://www.robertkbrown.com/ RKB

    Cait, I bet if you hung out in a batting cage for an hour a day, you’d be hitting fastballs within a week. Start at 70 MPH on Monday, then move up 5 MPH each day. Heck, give yourself five weeks, even, twenty-five days of practice, and you’d be making contact all over the place.

    With about a month of training, nobody I know would be in good enough shape to compete in the Tour de France.

    That, to me, is why the endurance events will always be closer to the top. Even kicking a field goal is something that any weekend warrior can do if they practice just a little bit.

  • http://www.insignificantthoughts.com/ Vinny

    I only used being a goalie or kicking a field goal to counter the utter stupidity of putting hitting a baseball at number one. I know a lot of people who hit baseballs and can’t even stand on skates.

  • http://www.robertkbrown.com/ RKB

    Yeah. I thought that “quad” jump one should be much, much higher. I can barely skate, let alone jump and spin and everything.

    Speaking of jumps, what about a ski jump? Or how about doing a 360 out of a half-pipe, either on a snowboard, or a skateboard?

  • http://www.insignificantthoughts.com/ Vinny

    Funny, but I mentioned vert in the post also. Shoulda been more encompassing and enclosed half pipe, but you’re right… That’s some hard stuff. I’ve done half pipe and it ain’t friggin easy.

    In fact, it’s a hell of a lot harder than baseball.

    And being an Olympics addict, I almost forgot, but the rings and the balance beam in gymnastics are definitely harder than anything in baseball.