When, exactly, did poker become a sport? It's a game, to be sure, but a sport? Well, it must be. After all, no television network shows more poker tournaments than ESPN, the nation's 'round-the-clock sports broadcaster. And stories about the recently completed World Series of Poker appeared in -- where else? -- the sports sections of America's newspapers (including the Freeman).

Funny, I always thought of poker as the consummate anti-sport -- an activity undertaken mostly by overweight, out-of-shape, cigar-champing, beer-drinking men who would run out of breath before reaching first base in the company softball game. But apparently this age-old, sit-around-the-table card game is, in the 21st century, an accepted form of athletic competition.

Seems silly to me, but the upside is that next time my wife suggests I get off the couch and do something athletic, all I have to do is invite a few friends over for some hands of five-card draw, seven-card stud and Texas hold 'em.

I just hope I don't have to lift too many chips. That could be strenuous.