For my research essay I will be examining Competitive video gaming (or eSports) and discussing its validity as a professional sport, such as: Soccer, football, tennis or basketball. To start one has to understand just how large this industry is. Based on data gathered by Newzoo.com, 23% of all regular CNN viewers have watched or participated in eSports, followed by MTV holding 21%, Cartoon Network with 17% along with ESPN also at 17%. Some of the championship events in eSports have even beat out some of sports most popular televised championships. Events like the 2014 Masters tournament had a viewership of 25 million but the 2014 League of Legends tournament had a viewership of 27 million people along with a sold out arena in Seoul of 40,000 people. What makes this industry even bigger are the sponsors behind big name eSports teams. Sponsors like Nissan, Red Bull, Logitech and Coke.
Whether one considers competitive gaming a sport or not they cannot discredit the fact of how similar both eSports leagues and Sports leagues, like the NFL, are managed. One of the bigger arguments against eSports not being a sport is how competitive gaming requires no physical expertise, and only “real” sports require this. But with competitive gaming one has to have the stamina, reflexes and game knowledge to win. Pro eSports players even have longer practice hours than pro athletes do, and the games that are played competitively all require teamwork just like basketball, soccer or football. Competitive gaming can be validated as a professional sport and only time will tell.
Sources:
The Essential Content of the Article: This article provides the statistical viewership data of eSport championship events and nationally televised sports championship events. Also the number and types of sponsors backing eSports organisations.
What it Proves: by listing the viewership numbers for the events it shows how popular competetive gaming events are compared to other traditional sports.
2. Esports reaches tipping point as media brands scramble to get involved
The Essential Content of the Article: This article contains the percentages of people who watch eSports within big name T.V channels such as CNN or ESPN.
What it proves: This proves that there is not a specific stereotype for people who enjoy watching or playing competetive games.
3. On the Scientific Relevance of eSports
The Essential Content of the Article: This article provides information about the lack of scientific research behind eSports.
what it proves: This source proves that eSports is more than just a casual game that anybody can pick up and play. It shows that it requires a physical form that not everybody has.
4. Esports jocks are just like NBA players… real athletes
The essential content of the article: This article shows an interview TMZ did with Rick Fox, a former basketball player, businessman and actor who owns his own eSports team/organisation.
What it proves: That the media and the majority of society are very biased and ignorant toward the fact that eSports cannot turn into a mainstream sport like football or soccer.
5. ‘ELeague’ eSports on TBS Debuts May 24 with Three – Hour CSGO Broadcasts
The essential content of the article: This article is about the announcement of a brand new eSports league debuting a Counter Strike: Global Offensive tournament on national television on TBS during its sport segment.
What it proves: This is the very first successful U.S/ T.V broadcasted eSport tournament. ELeague is showing very promising viewership figures.
Rowan Counterintuitive 
Your thesis is unclear, Smokes, because it doesn’t identify the basis for determining validity. You say:
For my research essay I will be examining Competitive video gaming (or eSports) and discussing its validity as a professional sport, such as: Soccer, football, tennis or basketball.
The criteria you offer range from popularity (TV ratings) to physical prowess to teamwork. Brilliant counterarguments can be offered for all your criteria with a moment’s thought.
One could easily argue that American Idol is a valid sport. The Season 2 final had a live viewership of 38 million. Its contestants have considerable physical ability, practice just as much as your video gamers, have the flexibility to adapt to game changes, etc.
You may approach this however you wish, but there’s trouble in both directions. If the rules to determine what’s a sport are too restrictive, yours might not qualify. If they’re so broad that talent shows qualify, your proof will be of the “who cares?” variety.
So far, the argument’s not clear. Much of your material here appears to be aimed at convincing readers that the games already ARE, or certainly COULD BECOME popular enough to attract large audiences. What’s important about that question?
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