[Elecraft] [elecraft] Is ham radio a sport?

[Jeff Cathrow]

Whether ham radio is a sport or not is probably a moot point in this day and age yet I am responding here (my first time since subscribing about three years ago) since I enjoyed reading Bill Leonard's 1958 article so much.  Thank you, Paul, NF8J, for posting the link to such an intelligent, well-written piece about our marvelous pastime-hobby-passion-sport.  It was a solid joy to read! Despite being obviously a bit dated in parts, Bill's Sports Illustrated article still provides the current lay reader with plenty of insight into what motivates all of us in our great hobby.   He portrays us crazy contesters, rabid DX chasers, casual ragchewers and electronic tinkerers as diverse equals bound by one common interest; radio communications.  We are not only cast in a favorable light but our operations are explained well and made enticing to the reader.   Leonard's article portrays us sharing the fun, usefullness and thrills inherent in amateur radio.  We are shown to do so in the interest of simply communicating with our fellow man---both near---and afar.  Ham radio is made accessible and even some basic radio theory is interjected without being unfathomable.  Kudos to Bill Leonard! By the way, wasn't the author the past head of CBS at one time?  He was also a ham if I recall correctly. I printed out a few copies to have on hand here in my shack.  I deem this vintage gem of an article actually worthy of attracting new hams into our realm since it conveys such a broad range of information so timelessly.   Perhaps we might want to have copies of this available at Field Day or other public events, too---it's truly "good press" in my book! 73,
 
Jeff Cathrow, NH7RO K3 #5528  P3 #1397  KPA500 # 0250