
APRIL 26, 2006 at 10:32 PM
Posted by GERI
Source: The Guardian
In an odd column complaining about football commentary in the UK, the author asks the question "Is quidditch the worst fake sport ever?"
While watching the latest Harry Potter movie, the author questions the rules of the game; its popularity in the wizarding world and sportsmanship.
The author equates
quidditch to basketball and the worthlessness of the game:
Running simultaneously are: a version of basketball, where players are required to punt a ball called a quaffle through various hoops; a perversion of the kind of bodyline swingball favoured by hyperactive 10-year-old boys, where the aim is simply to whack one of two balls called bludgers at your opponent; and the search for a tiny flying ball called the Golden Snitch, which must be captured for the game to end, and is worth an instant and wildly disproportionate 150 points.
So to clarify, I am required to keep my eye not simply on three balls at any one time, but also on a winged snitch (which is virtually invisible to anyone in the crowd anyway), the capture of which almost without exception renders the preceding however many minutes or hours entirely worthless.
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Harry’s Egg, Dan’s Duck
Points: 4742
Pearl* says:
This column was utterly pathetic. She's having a go at HP where she knows nothing about and criticises Harry's nobility for its not what sport is about and GRRRR. I'll stop. It's a waste of my time to even consider this person and her writing.
(funny by the way everybody seems to think a male wrote this... Marina seems to me a female name, but the sports-department probably is too masculine to see that as an option)
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 7:35 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 391
Bori89 says:
Um, don't hate me, but I agree with that column...
I don't like Quidditch that much, it's a bit rude too.. in my opinion
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 7:44 AM EST
Queen of Posts, H.W.C.
Points: 6780
dingbat1 says:
Who wants to send this man a copy of Quidditch tghrough the ages??? Hahahaha, of all tha fantastically strange things in Harry Potter he picks Quidditch to harp on about??!!Hahahahaha,, what a dork!
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 7:52 AM EST
Vixen of Gryffindor
Points: 5043
andreak says:
Clearly this writer doesnt understand that the nook was originally meant for children so 10 year olds would actually find a kinship with Quiddich. He also doesnt seem to understand that you dont have to watch all three balls at once. The snitch is for the seeker only, and the quaffle is largely for the keeper and the chasers...the brutal bludger is the only one that you should be afraid of. Also, 150 points is seriously well worth it when the darn thing is faster than a speeding bullet and you have to get it before the bludger gets you. Clearly the writer of this article has never heard of fun and entertainment, let alone imagination! hahahaha
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 8:08 AM EST
Witch
Points: 866
Linakekei says:
Okay...they are getting way too serious with this. I mean seriuously it is a fictional game...don't take it literally! Wow!
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 8:27 AM EST
Student
Points: 228
Jlgrigsby says:
I like it. Its one of my favorite fictional games.
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 8:29 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1055
Pomfrey's~Apprentice says:
Hmmm, the guy makes a good point. I mean, you could have a great keeper who blocks all the quaffles, but if your seeker is crappy, the other team wins just by catching a snitch! The same holds true if your offense is great and your score lots of points that way. Whoops, the other team gets the snitch and it's all over.
But, like previously mentioned, it's only a fictional game and it's fun to watch! So get something else to complain about, hehehe.
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 8:48 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 366
HP&StarW says:
Quidditch is the best fake sport, probably because it's the only one! I can't really think of any others made up right now...Rowling did a brilliant job making up one!
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 8:50 AM EST
Witch
Points: 863
Winky:) says:
quidditch is the best sport ever! I wish that it really existed!
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 8:54 AM EST
Delusional Army Soldier
Points: 4399
ILoveHP! says:
Has he read the rules? Coz if he had, he had really misunderstood it! Gosh! How a lame bashing!
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 8:56 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 301
Pearl says:
That article makes it sound sooo bad. I think it would be a fun sport. Kind of a mix of all kinds and on broomsticks. Well everybody is entitled to there own opinion.
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 9:14 AM EST
Student
Points: 226
MINACAT says:
This man is more than likly a very bored and self loathing person. He has taken a "make believe game" and tried to bring it down. Quddich is many sports put into one, with a little magic. The snicth im my opinoin is the best part of the game. People cant see it clearly so there is always a little bit of mystery and suspense during the game. The fams dont know when or how fast the game will end so they are always on the edge of there seats. I don't think that it is worth to many points or the rules surrounding it are dumb. If you think basket ball is the best game lets think about it. You have a hoop and a ball and a bunch of guys running after THE SAME BALL. Were is that fair. At least in Quddich there are many balls to look out for and and to score points with. I like basketball and all but it would be alot more interesting if there were more balls and maybe played on brooms. I wish people would stop looking for falt in everything. HArry Potter bring smiles and imagination to everyone who reads them. Lets stop tring to rip it apart and just enjoy shall we. Let people have a little bit of magic in there lives.
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 9:16 AM EST
Hogwart's Jedi Princess
Points: 3491
Darth Amanda says:
Well that person pretty much sucks! Quidditch is the best fake sport ever! Since it is the only fake sport that I know of, I think it's the best.
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 9:16 AM EST
Squib
Points: 137
SnApE iS mY hErO says:
Wow! That was quite a biased opinion, it seems! Quidditch is definitely the most creative thing I have ever heard of. I would play if it were real!
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 9:23 AM EST
Student
Points: 243
May Evans says:
I loved this! It's so cool to see how integrated into the real world people have made Harry Potter. It's everywhere!
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 9:25 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1600
jenn007a says:
I really dont think that quidditch is the worst fake sport! I think thats its great, and has alot of imagination in it. I really find the sport very interesting, i just think that some people dont have enough imagination for it!
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 9:28 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
(Moderator)
Points: 1562
lbaylor says:
I kind of have to agree about the 150 points making the rest of the game pointless. Otherwise I love Quidditch except i hate playing it on the HP games, because i can't fly worth a darn on them.
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 9:36 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 22
lezleypotter says:
What is ther not to get i mean it's just like soccer mixed with some more sports it looks fun to me i'll play it
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 9:37 AM EST
Malfoy by Nature
Points: 12528
WickeDraco says:
They did not just attempt to bash Quidditch. *gasps* It's jealousy. No one can create a sport so fantastic, so they just bash it. *sigh*
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 9:41 AM EST
Keeper of the Faeries
Points: 5239
juliebug04 says:
Well, granted, he makes some valid points, but he just sounds like he is absurdly out of touch with the series. I guess he isn't a fan.
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 9:54 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 20
Starlette_2006 says:
What are you talking about! Quiddich is the best sport ever!
it freakin rocks!
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 9:55 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1307
Catfish on the table says:
That just made me laugh! I guess some of it is true, but Quiddich is great! I mean the fact that you play it while on a broomstick says something - it just sounds so much fun!
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 9:56 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2419
Gwenyth says:
Yeah the game is a little cooky but hey this is the wizarding world. When does anything make sense?
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 10:04 AM EST
Witch
Points: 830
Barbarian Black says:
Obviously, this is another idiot who did not really read the books or he would know that you don't have to keep your eyes on all 3 balls. Does he really have nothing better to do that to bash a fictional game which brings joy to thousands of others? Or maybe he's such a bad journalist that this is the only way he could get the public to read his rubbish!
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 10:07 AM EST
Witch
Points: 917
hermioneadmirer says:
Well,I don't think he gets that you don't have to keep your eye on three balls.It is two!! Get it right!! And I would love to have Quidditch be a real game!
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 10:12 AM EST
Mrs. Draco Malfoy
Points: 27761
Arika Granger Malfoy says:
EEEW!
That is total garbage.
It is the best sport ever!! Well fake sport...haha
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 10:15 AM EST
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