An Existential Crisis On Sports

If you’ve ever had a conversation with Raff, you’ll know very quickly you start to question your morals. I was innocently sitting in the Nexus office when James bombarded me with a simple question “Is cheerleading a sport?” And before any cheerleaders out there get offended, I originally said “Obviously.” But as the conversation continued, I felt as though I couldn’t tell up from down. Within 5 minutes I found myself forgetting anything I’ve ever believed in, I hope it’s the last time a Gen X made me question everything.  

Raff argues activities such as cheerleading, diving, and ski jumping are not sports but disciplines. The argument is as follows, sports require you to think on your feet and respond to the active “play” of the activity. In field sports (football, rugby, hockey, etc) you respond to how the other team is as you compete. In activities like swimming and figure skating, you simply have a “routine” that has no response based on the other teams or athletes’ performance. To call a sport, a sport, the element of surprise and reaction is necessary. 

My initial response to this argument was “So chess is a sport?” It is a common debate whether activities like chess, poker, and e-sports are “sports” and no offence, but my answer has always been “hell no”. An important part of sport for me is physical excursion. Chess and Co. don’t require any physical talents, which in my opinion, is crucial to call something a sport. Thankfully, Raff agreed. Thus, sports not only need an element of physical exhaustion but need an element of tactically. 

When this conversation began, I wasn’t too keen on it. Now, I don’t like to say I can’t admit when I’m wrong, but sure as hell will fight for my life to prove I’m right. That day was not my fight, though. I’m not sure if Raff is a master manipulator or if he…. was right. 

This was a very entertaining watch, the iPad kids would’ve been going CRAZY. This annual match hosted by the Sidemen at Wembley Stadium, the largest stadium in the UK – and it sold out! There were lots of popular faces in this match including KSI, Logan Paul, Mr Beast, IShowSpeed, Kai Cenat, and many more brain rot youtubers.  

Despite the sidemen starting out as football youtubers, they lost 13-14 to a penalty shootout. Tragic penalties. This included Simon missing a penalty against Sketch. Mr beast took the first penalty (least obvious rage bait) and missed, oops, despite the goalkeeper being Sketch?) 

Logan Paul did a ‘WWE crossover’ in the match, cringe. I think we can all agree everyone who played was pretty much a walking advertisement. Degi came out with an apple vision pro looking like a gooper. xQc was shit, but he did save some penalties from… oh… Mr beast?… good job! Wroetoshaw gave away a penalty with a silly looking lunge in the box, allowing Niko Omilana to score with great ease. Vikkstar123 had a fantastic show considering not being athletic in any way shape or form. Faze Jason did a sad attempt of a bicycle kick when nowhere near the ball, interesting. Fanum made a massive scene when arriving… but didn’t offer much other than that, good sport, I guess. Speed needs to learn the offside rule, but he did end up scoring! 

All I can say is I hope this charity match was for a good cause! 

Sidemen vs YouTube All-Stars Football Charity Match 2025

IS THIS A SPORT?

Calcio Storico

This game is men watching football at the bar gone wrong.

Calcio Storico is a 16th-century Florentine sport that is basically soccer, but everyone’s trying to kill you. There’s 27 people on each team, half playing rugby, half playing World War 2, and one poor soul trying to score.

There are no helmets, no red cards just war and probably a few missing teeth. It’s pretty much a fist-only war in action, and proof that Italians take competition very seriously. 

VERDICT: DEFINATELY A SPORT

SPORTS CRUSH OF THE WEEK

Leah Williamson

Captain of both the England women’s national team and Arsenal FC, Leah Williamson is a household name in the world of women’s football. Under her captaincy, she has taken England through winning the Euros on home soil and the finals of the FIFA World Cup. And won the WSL and FA cup with Arsenal. Williamson has always been vocal about women’s rights in sport and been a women’s health advocate. On International Women’s Day, she engaged in candid discussion about periods. She spoke about her struggles with endometriosis and menstruating while playing sport. She is one boss ass woman that everyone should aspire to be.