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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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Points: 160
Lightning Magic says:
Hm, he has got a point. But on the other side watching formula one is also not really fun if continued to long...
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 12:06 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1012
Enchanting Fairy says:
No i think quidditch is a great sport although maybe he has a point about the 150 points making the rest of the game pointless, that is kind of silly i suppose.
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 12:06 PM EST
Overqualified Jester
Points: 2783
jurassicfatt says:
I actually tend to agree with the fact that quidditch is poorly designed and would never succeed as a sport of such popularity just because of the scoring system. having so much depend on one key player is just unlikely. nevertheless, i have to ask myself, who cares?
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 12:15 PM EST
Punk Rock Princess
Points: 2833
XxX~Rachael~XxX says:
What are they talking about? Quodditch is like the best sport ever! JKR created somthing brilliant within Harry Potter when she created Quidditch! That guy obviously doesn't know what he's talking about!
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 12:29 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 48
Mwasi says:
I think the game makes perfect sense... If you think about it the snitch is so hard to see and catch it should be worth a lot. Otherwise what's the point of trying to catch the snitch for sometimes hours on end and only getting maybe 10 or 20 points. If your team is losing by a lot as it is there is no point in catching the snitch. If it's worth more your going to want to catch it. Especially if your losing by a lot!!!
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 12:29 PM EST
Charms Mistress
(Moderator)
Points: 5162
Weesa says:
Apparently this author has grown bored with writing about actual sporting events and has decided to take it on Quidditch. He is obviously not a true fan or he would love the idea of a game played on broomsticks for the degrees of difficulty it has. I mean really does he think scoring with the quaffle or keeping bludgers under control or finding the snitch easy. As for it being 150 points for catching the snitch, did he notive how small and fast that thing is? I'm sure it's point worth is based on the difficulty level of catching it. And it doesn't always mean a win, just the end of the game.
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 12:40 PM EST
Ron's Secret-Keeper
Points: 3381
Hermione Puckle says:
*rolls eyes* I'm not too bothered... it's his opinion however, i personally believe JKR is a genius for inventing quidditch! and it's brilliant!
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 12:48 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 331
Lucanious Malfoy says:
I think the author doesn't understand the game, and that is why they are annoyed. Also, I believe this person probably doesn't have a good sense of fun- or a love of sports for that matter- they did also bash basketball...
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 12:49 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2465
undisputed760 says:
You must be pretty much out of ideas when you have to write a column about how bad a fake sprot is. get a life.
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 12:50 PM EST
Every Flavored Bean
Points: 2884
the bean says:
Okay, this guy is a complete idiot. He has no understaning of the game at all. And for the fact that it is played in a fantasy world by wizards!!
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 12:54 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1279
Elenwyn says:
Hmm...I suppose she's entitled to her opinion...but she can't really knock JKR for inventing such a weird and wonderful sport such as Quidditch to add to her world.
And that's what it is at the end of the day, Rowling's world.
She's influenced and amazed children and adults with her writings, so why write an article condemming part of a brilliant authors imagination?
It just sounds like the author's had too much time on their hands and decided to take it out on Quidditch, which are some of my favourite parts in the books. Shame that.
And this is the second article I've read going against JKR that's been published in a paper over here (England), what's up with that? First the response to her amazing (and truthful) article on "being thin", and now this? *shakes head in disbelief*
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 12:54 PM EST
Wood's Quidditch Queen
Points: 3036
Princess Pigwidgeon says:
Guess there MIGHT be a point there, though I don't really care- Everyone can have their opinion and mine is that quidditch is great ^_^
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 1:07 PM EST
Witch
Points: 881
Just Dance says:
Oh My God!! Way to BASH QUIDDITCH!!
Quidditch is Cool!I LOVE it!
NOT a good Article
<3 Nicole
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 1:26 PM EST
Slapstick Monarch
Points: 2995
Midnight Darkness says:
*evil eyes reporter*
Obviously not a harry potter fan then. I love quidittch. It so rocks. I was annoyed that it didn't show any of it in GOF movie.
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 1:27 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1585
BB_Sectumsempra says:
This type of people bother me. They have nothing interesting to say.
I love Quiddich
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 1:29 PM EST
Points: 1542
Letimar J says:
Are there many other fake sports? Give J.K. Rowling Credit for inventing a sport for the "Potterverse" which is more than many other fantasy writers have done.
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 1:39 PM EST
Azkaban's Most Wanted
(Moderator)
Points: 13598
Lord Zimkel says:
Well, he can say whatever he wants, but if by some chance they come up with some real flying broom, bludgers, and Snitchs, golden or otherwise, I think they would see exactly how popular the game would be. There would be millions of Harry Potter fans out there who whould just be jumping up and down to start playing, I know I'd try my hand at it. So let them say what they want, I think if it suddenly became possible it would be HUGE!
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 1:41 PM EST
Healer in Training
Points: 2661
nubian_weasley01 says:
UH! Everyone's a critic these days but that doesn't mean that they are right. He's just angry that he didn't come up with the brillant idea.
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 1:45 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2469
Fat Lady Sings says:
Ohhhhh, this person doesn't live in Potterland with the rest of us, does he? He must be some kind of alien.
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 2:05 PM EST
The Girl Who Lived
Points: 4219
Tacha says:
Quidditch rocks! If it could be played in real life it would be the most popular sport in the world! I'd personally love to be a seeker or a beater!
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 2:11 PM EST
Magical Sanitary Supplier
Points: 2518
5225 says:
Perhaps the writer does not have anything to do, so the writer has decided to write such article. Trying to look for a sensation. Please, just go with the flow, of course you are entitled to your opinion, so do the rest of us.
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 2:14 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 462
DJan says:
Hey thats dum , who said that? Quiditch is most exciting game ever.
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 2:16 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2436
emmafan says:
I don't think they know the whole game very well. or thay wouldn't have bashed it that much. or they just purely and absolutely dislike the Harry Potter series.
General
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 2:16 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1819
zues says:
Some people need to get a life, who cares. It's fake, let it be. And IF it was a real game and we had flying broms, it would be the best game EVER.
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 2:20 PM EST
Squib
Points: 155
slyfox says:
Ok, so this author is lame. He/she can't grasp why fictional characters are so involved in a fake sport. Well, here in the real world a lot of us find it difficult to understand why real people are so involved in actual sports. Being an American I was never understood why the rest of the world was so into soccer but after living in England it became clear. You have to actually see a match up close, feel the crowd's passion, and make an effort to learn the rules and more importantly the history of the club/team. But since we are talking about fiction that is not possible. This author ought to read the books and not just base his opinion on the movie which didn't even capture the playing. But more to the point, its not real, so why take up print space when real and important things are going on not only in the actual sporting industries but also in the world.
Just had to vent.
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 2:27 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 51
Elysa says:
I think that quidditch would be a great game! The author kind of makes it sound like every player on the field has to look for the snitch, too. Oh well, I guess everyone is entitled to their opinion.
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 2:29 PM EST
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