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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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Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1246
hermionetheknowitall says:
Yeah well i hope they get stabbed in the eye with a hot french fry!
quidditch rocks!
(yeah thats me with a bad comeback!)
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 6:47 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1345
Dracos_Gurl13 says:
He's just critisizing. For every 100 people who love quidditch there will be one person who thinks it ridiculous but I for one love it anyhow. This guy has his right of opinion but I think he's quite stupid.
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 7:10 AM EST
Squib
Points: 136
mollytheknitter says:
Good grief! Who cares whether it is REAL or not! The books are not REAL either, but they are completely enthralling. Sounds like the person writing the article needs to GET A LIFE!
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 7:29 AM EST
Harry's Soul-Mate
Points: 3337
Lea says:
Oh, dear.... I wonder if those guys will ever learn when reality stops and FICTION begins... -and the other way around...
Man, clean that soccer ball between your shoulders and start using your brain!!
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 7:49 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 77
Potter Mania says:
I don't think Quiddich is the worst sport ever. It looks tough.
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 8:09 AM EST
Witch
Points: 792
blossom says:
I wouldn't mind betting that the author of the colloum hasn't read any of the Potter books.
I love the quiddich games, JKR has given us so much information about the game that, in your minds eye, I can see Ron sliping on his broom and kicking a save. I could see Harry trying to out run the cursed bludger.
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 8:13 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1574
Polgara7 says:
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.
No, he is not required to do any of this, because he is so obviously a MUGGLE, he would never be allowed anywhere near a Quidditch match.
Sheesh.
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 8:21 AM EST
Prof. Alfred W. Mandoore
Points: 2445
JAYSTARR says:
You can play the game Quidditch at anytime, but without the flying in your School gym or School yard or anywhere. It is fun to play, I might say. But, if it was possible to play it on brooms, of course you would need to take flying lessons at Hogwarts.
Cheers!
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 8:36 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 15
Hagrid jnr says:
Quidditch is one of the best sports ive ever heard you see there is so much detail about it, jk couldnt have outlined it better!
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 8:41 AM EST
Muggle Representative
Points: 9117
The Lime says:
Oh great, another one. It seems to me, that people have no other things to do, than findins the bad aspects of Harry Potter. Gah..
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 8:47 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 469
Lily Evans/Potter says:
I'm sorry but the guy is being VERY childish! I think that it is so hard to catch a snitch, that 150 points is worth it! I would like to see him try to catch a snitch(even though it's not real, but if it was) let alone fly a broom!!!
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 9:08 AM EST
Auror
Points: 4080
RON's all up in heRmiONe says:
Ok...I personally think that quidditch is a great sport, and no one should bash it like that. Quidditch is a very cool sport in my opinion. Quidditch is probibly one of the best fake sports in the history of fake sports. The sport requires teamwork, motivation, skill and talent. This guy is obviously not a Harry Potter fan at all.
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 9:17 AM EST
Mistress of Flight
Points: 5911
~WickedWings~ says:
Well Obviously this person has no imagination what so ever. The only simularity it has with Basketball is a hoop, and not even the same kind of hoop. Sheesh!
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 9:57 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2108
phoenix_feathers says:
Ha, this person only says that because he is too simple-minded to realize how wonderful a game of Quidditch really is. It's quite brutal, and I think Jo's really creative for coming up with it. This person... simply comical for saying these things about Quidditch, for you aren't even allowed a broomstick at the age of 11, forget the age of 10. And the object of the game is not to whack Bludgers at each other, it's to catch the golden snitch. And sorrry but 150 is not disportional, for I'd like to see him try it (if it existed of course). You have to be extremely quick and a great flier, and that's slightly rare.
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 10:06 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 14
Apotterfan says:
I like the idea of quiditch. The games in the movies are great to watch.
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 10:11 AM EST
Witch
Points: 649
Spell_Bound says:
Ok, did this author have nothing better to do than bash JRK's imagination. I mean this is a fake sport, this came from someone's imagination. Just because this author doesn't have an imagination doesn't mean he/she can stomp on everyone else's. I happen to think that Quidditch would be the best sport if you know we could fly on broomsticks and all. I know everyone can have an opinion, but WOW its kind of in left field.
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 10:21 AM EST
Witch
Points: 877
Jaci Scully says:
Wow, someone's taking things a bit *too* seriously. I mean, c'mon, if we want to get technical, who really is going to shoot a ghostly-looking badger out of a stick at a giant black boogeyman? A bit far-fetched in reality, no? But this is Potterverse. He just needs to get over it. (Though, I must say, premise aside, it is a very well-written article)
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 11:18 AM EST
Student
Points: 262
Golden Snake says:
HILARIOUS! Someone actually put's time in an article, which gives no other outcome than geting all harry Potter fans mad! It's just stupid. He's obviously trying to provoke us.
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 11:18 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1383
Tabitha Black says:
Wow I've never looked at it that way...Nor will I ever!!
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 11:19 AM EST
Witch
Points: 542
ProfMM says:
The problem with watching GoF and judging quidditch on what you see is that the scene is so short as to be virtually useless to actually see the game as it is portrayed by JKR. He really should read the books as a whole.
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 11:48 AM EST
Witch
Points: 693
RebeccaWatts+RobynWilson says:
ohmigosh!!!! who would want to criticise quidditch..quidditch??? it's the best sport ever, in our opinion.
'bodyline swingball'??? what are they on about?! 'hyperactive 10 year olds'?!
we dare them to say that to Jo's face..go on, try...! <*haha* wimps..>
RW+RW
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 11:48 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1494
~*WitherWings*~ says:
What? oh my god, quiddich is such a great sport i love it! JK is such a genius for creating that sport, how can it be "the worst fake sport ever" its the best fake sport ever in my opinion! it's the greatest scene in the books and the movies! >_<
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 12:13 PM EST
Student
Points: 262
Dobby's_Cute says:
I think Quiddich gives the HP movies a lot of their magic! I agree with the 150 points but other than that I think it is a great addition to the movies and the books!! Get a life to bash something like quiddich means you don't have an imagination!
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 12:49 PM EST
Take That Tracy Owen
Points: 3558
Diggory Sister !!! says:
How can quidditch be bad???????? Its the best sport ever!!! And LOVE sports!!
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 12:56 PM EST
Auror
Points: 3252
Tenshi says:
This really does seem like the first time anyone has made fun of quidditch.. you know, why is the snitch worth 150 points?
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 1:07 PM EST
Squib
Points: 104
Lily Granger says:
I think Quidditch is great,they're idiots!!
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 1:09 PM EST
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