|
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.
Reader Comments (535)
Your Thoughts
click to write...
Copyright © 2002-2009 HPANA. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 
HPANA is an unofficial fan site, in no way affiliated with J.K. Rowling,
Scholastic Books, Bloomsbury Publishing or Warner Bros. Entertainment. All
trademarks and copyrighted material are the property of their respective owners.
About HPANA | Movie 6 | Send a news tip | Contact us | Privacy policy
226-250 251-275 276-300 301-325 326-350 351-375 376-400 401-425
426-450 451-475 476-500 501-525 526-535
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
Hogwart's Ghost
Points: 2604
gemma_barnett1985 says:
Quidditch is a brilliant game, id love to play it.
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 2:42 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1234
Krum says:
Quiddich is awesome. How rude of those people to bash it!
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 2:47 PM EST
Student
Points: 244
Brooks Evans Potter says:
I love Quidditch!I think it is the best Wizarding sport ever.It has a long history in the wizarding world and I love it.I wish Quidditch could exist in ours so that I and others who love the game can play.This is just my opinion.Some people like the sport others dont.As for me I love it!:)@--^----
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 3:00 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 379
Kingsley is the King says:
What?!?!?!
what is he talking about quidditch is amazing! And its got great history too, I love reading Quidditch through the Ages. This guy has no idea what hes talking about.
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 3:02 PM EST
Witch
Points: 734
GrangerPower says:
Hee hee, you fly a broom in Quiddich. If it were real--that would be enough for me. Where's my broom? I want to get on. =)
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 3:10 PM EST
Student
Points: 226
Yanela says:
I think quidditch is a great fiction sport. I love it!
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 3:25 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 53
Moonglitter says:
The whole point of the game of Quiddich is to feel the magic and sportsmanship of a good game. Harry Potter is all about magic, so a game of Quiddich makes the impossible happen, just like every other aspect of the magical world. If you say that the game is too overly exaggerated or that the point value for finding the snitch is a bit too much, well here's what I have to say to you...the whole magic world is exaggerated. That's what makes it fun. That's what makes us love it because it's not real, it's fuel for our imaginations. If JK Rowling had wanted to make Quiddich as real as possible, there wouldn't be the magic that we all love that makes us hooked on the game. She put her mind to it to create this awesome game and combined so many games into one..it's really hard to imagine that anyone would complain and want Quiddich to be more realistic.
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 3:32 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1065
GeeMessy says:
I am shocked, This guy is weird, first he is bashing the soccer commentary in England and then he bashes Quidditch. He might need some help. Quidditch is great!
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 3:33 PM EST
Witch
Points: 633
snakeeyes says:
I bet they're just bitter cos they couldn't think up anything so original themselves! But seriously, I think part of the reason that we love quidditch is because we can identify parts of games familiar to us in it, whilst it is still completely outrageous. I love it, every tiny aspect of it.
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 3:36 PM EST
Student
Points: 297
Death Curse says:
Hey Quiddich is really cool but the snitch makes it a little boring because you have to wait until the seeker caputures it.
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 3:44 PM EST
Witch
Points: 739
The 4th Champion says:
I've never heard anyone bash quidditch before.
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 3:50 PM EST
Dark-Lance Writer
Points: 2628
Remus Mirkwood says:
Quiddich is very awesome sport.
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 3:50 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1147
*~Lily~* says:
YOu've got to be kidding me!! Who would ever insult quidditch....well apparently this author would. I love quidditch, if it was a real sport, I WOULD definently play!!!
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 3:53 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 42
Neville4minister says:
Quidich only works in some circunmstances. Like in a school! And we have refrences to the trio and ginny playing two on two quidich with only the quafle. Quidich took a pretty awesome imiagination to come up with the idea.
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 3:54 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 427
Draco Malfoy_Lover says:
Well i don't think that any one ever questioned Quiddich before!!! well you know every one has their oppinon and all that stuff but i think that is so dumb its just a fake game but its like the coolest one ever!!!! so yeah i don't really care but i think that people should really think before questioning the things in the HP world becuase well like every one on this site can like take their head off with how much we all know about this magical land of Harry Potter but yeah its great and well i think that should be good enough for people. that its not really all about what other people think about things that you like or stuff like that so yeah thats it!!
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 3:55 PM EST
Squib
Points: 167
Miss Eeylop says:
He OBVIOUSLY doesn't follow Quidditch!!! There are ways to win WITHOUT catching the snitch...Viktor Krum did it at the World Cup, in fact. ANd just because the author doesn't favour basketball...doesn't mean that it is comparable to Quidditch. And, what is this about having to pay attention to "four balls" at once...??!!! What...is that too difficult for him?? Hmph!!!
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 3:56 PM EST
The Golden Snidget
Points: 3157
Mrs. Phineas Nigellus says:
When will people start to learn that these are books? I'm not saying Quidditch does or doesn't have a point, but it's fictional. It doesn't matter. I could see if it were a real sport, or a fictional sport beginning to gain popularity in the real world, but it's a fictional game played in a fictional book by fictional characters who happen to like it. So there.
*The MRS*
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 3:58 PM EST
Witch
Points: 722
x-Adorkable-x says:
Well, I don't think it's all that bad. It makes things are intresting and it's better than nothing, but I prefer her to write about other things.
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 4:07 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2495
Jbird says:
I think before someone comments they should have a more complete understanding of what it is they are commenting on. For anyone who has read the book they would know that one does not have to watch all the balls at once. The snitch is simply for the seeker and so on...Although it's all in good fun-I think- I have to wonder about his intentions. I think Quid. is an excellent game and wildly exciting-too bad it isn't real...
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 4:12 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 503
Zauber says:
I think Quiditch is a great game.But I would rather watch it.
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 4:12 PM EST
Auror
Points: 3041
ThePhoenix'sSong says:
I don't know why they are bashing it, but everyone is intitled to their own opinion. Mine is that quidditch is awsome and I love it
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 4:14 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2563
School Governor says:
What a lame article. Waste of column inches. Get a Life!
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 4:18 PM EST
Witch
Points: 748
Padfootgirlforever says:
Oh come on! They're probably just to jelous that they lack the creativity to make up a game! Plus, he's probably just wanting world-wide attention, what a loser.
Quidditch rules!
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 4:18 PM EST
Student
Points: 254
Kurben rules your world!! says:
Well i think some one needs to grow up..
and they need to know that i think quiddich
is one of the best made up sports ever.
because lets think striaght now, just how bloody
amazing must some one be to not only write
fantatic books but also to make up an entirely
new sport which makes perfect sense.(even if its not
realist)we really dont have broom sticks but
still if we did i would denfinalty be playin this
as a sport....So there.
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 4:19 PM EST
Harry's Lost Brother
Points: 10058
American Harry Potter says:
I have to disagree! It is the best "real" sport ever! People need to realize that! Gees, those dang muggles. Don't understand anything!
Posted Apr 27, 2006 at 4:19 PM EST
226-250 251-275 276-300 301-325 326-350 351-375 376-400 401-425
426-450 451-475 476-500 501-525 526-535
Back to top of page