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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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Squib
Points: 104
Lily Granger says:
I think Quidditch is great,they're idiots!!
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 1:09 PM EST
Witch
Points: 991
Dementor Exterminator says:
Well that argument of his is stupid in my book. That may be because i love quiditch but hay!
Anyway, for a start the awdience doesn't have to look at all the balls. They would mainly concentrate on watching the quaffle and the chassers 'cus thats point scorer. Ok, i agree, the spectators wouldn't be able to see the snitch but it adds interest. The blugers are for whaking at people and putting them off and stuff which i have to admit that is pretty pointless but it still adds interst and it'd be fun to see the other team being
pounded by one.
To me, if quiditch is worthless, it is just as worthless and pointless as any other sport. Quiditch;catch the snitch,score points with quaffle, Netball and basketball;chuck a ball through a net, football;kick a ball into a net...quelle le point? To pass time and have fun and you do that with quiditch and quiditch is more interesting.
Quiditch is by far the best fake sport ever!
That guy's talking out of his as*!!!
Have i made my point yet?
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 1:12 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 464
I_heart_Malfoy says:
How lame....is there a point to bashing quidditch....i personally think it sounds like such an interesting sport.... how awesome would it be to actually be able to play it...weirdo columnest guy !
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 1:40 PM EST
Squib
Points: 134
crookshanks23 says:
What are they talking about? I love quiditch, It is the best game ever, I would love to play it in real life? It rocks so much!
Who has time to write this stuff? Only strange people could think of it!
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 1:51 PM EST
Squib
Points: 134
crookshanks23 says:
One more thing, Quidditch is great! they're idiots!!!
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 2:01 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1615
Lord Neo says:
No way, Quidditch is one of the best fake sports ever!!!
whoever wrote that is mental
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 2:04 PM EST
Witch
Points: 533
HermioneGranger92288 says:
There are so many times when i wish quiddich was a real game...i would play it. it's an awesome game.it's something that takes skill and whoever equates it to basketball and the recklessness of a ten year old boy needs a serious slap in the face. they need something better to do than put down a game that is awesome in the first place.
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 2:56 PM EST
Witch
Points: 919
girlinterrupted says:
Ooh good thing that author didn't post that article here or on any other harry potte web site...he or she'd be crucified for even uttering such a thing about anything hp related!
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 3:02 PM EST
Yours Truly
Points: 4376
Canary Creams says:
cra see writer. no imagination. Hahaha
well i ? quidditch :0)
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 3:03 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 616
Ganriki says:
He has a point. Quidditch is a stupidly designed game. It works well in the first book as a setting in which Harry can have some success, the mayhem caused by the bludgers is quite fun, and letting the Snitch be not enough to win the game was a superb way of making the Quidditch World Cup incredibly exciting, but in general, the Snitch ought to be worth a lot less than it is. Even just the power to end the game would be worth a lot on its own.
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 3:32 PM EST
Hermione's Twin
Points: 5063
*Miss Hermione Granger* says:
People are ALWAYS trying to bash Hp...And this is another one! How great! Anyway....Don`t really care but I love quidditch. Would love to know if the person that wrote that is a Hp hater..*Sigh*
Jamie
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 3:34 PM EST
The Fifth Marauder
Points: 2771
Curious Werewolf says:
Quidditch is a very clever invention of J.K Rowling, but everyone has their own opinions don't they? I suppose I can kinda see the thng about the Snitch being worth 150 points...but it's not even real, so why is this guy getting so pointlessly worked up about it?
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 3:55 PM EST
Witch
Points: 646
~!*Gryffindor Rules*!~ says:
Ya right! Qudditch is an awesome fake sport! How can they say its the worst?
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 4:54 PM EST
Witch
Points: 755
Sm7 says:
What the heck? Quidditch is awosome! What in the world are these people talking about? *sighs*
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 5:04 PM EST
Student
Points: 284
hpgal4993 says:
Hmph! Quddich does not stink! So what there is 3 balls and a snich that noone can see! But isnt that the point! I swear i hate it when people bash quiddich it just makes no possible sense. Now where is he... *bang Crash boom yelp* ok much better.
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 5:12 PM EST
Auror
(Moderator)
Points: 2484
Since the Start says:
It's so sad to see people who have so much time on their hands that they have time to criticize things that other people enjoy without actually accomplishing anything useful. This author seems to think that Quidditch is a useless sport, but I would say that the more useless thing is his article... what's the point? Is it really all that important if Quidditch isn't his favourite sport? Maybe it's time for him to find something more productive to do with his time... just a thought.
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 5:28 PM EST
Squib
Points: 198
simdave2000 says:
Tenshi - The story of why the Snitch is worth 150 points is explained in Quidditch Through the Ages. The Snitch has not always been a part of the game; it was added in the thirteenth century. And it was not always metal, either; the original Snitch was a bird, called the Golden Snidget, which were prestigious game among hunters due to their agility and tiny figure. It came into Quidditch when the Chief of the Wizard's Council of that time, Barberus Bragge, brought a Snidget in a cage and told the players he'd give 150 galleons to whichever player was able to catch it. This quickly became a standard element of the game, but it was so detrimental to the population of the Golden Snidget that there were hardly any left by the time the Golden Snitch was invented. It was created as a replacement for the recently-declared-endangered Golden Snidget, and, curiously, was invented by Bowman Wright of Godric's Hollow.
So, there it is. :)
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 5:28 PM EST
Squib
Points: 107
OMEN_OF_DEATH says:
I cant stand when people bash cool things that take alot of thinking to come up with.
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 5:32 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2223
Pheonixflames says:
I think that it is a well thought up "fake" sport, and that if people were really actually able to fly on brooms, it would be the most popular sport in the world...where is some people's imagination?
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 5:39 PM EST
Squib
Points: 183
voldys_ex says:
No!!! what the hell!!! No way it is fake I agree with that it is fake but it is not that bad!!
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 5:44 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2349
PHOENIX5625 says:
Quidditch is awesome. Flying on broomsticks trying to score points with balls is fun, I would love to play Quidditch. Sure the beaters trying to hit you with bludgers seems a little harsh but it's in the magical world and mandam Pomfrey can heal bones in a heart beat. And the seeker and too much control over the game but who cares there are different moves and strategies that make it a great sport.
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 6:00 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1031
HPfanatic10 says:
I love reading and watching quidditch in the books and movies! It's so exciting. Just because it's not real it doen't mean we can't enjoy it!
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 7:08 PM EST
Squib
Points: 103
Fleur D. says:
He/she has nothing else to do, so he/she bashes Harry Potter!!! It is such a well planned out game!!! I can't believe someone could hate Quidditch!!! But I guess there are many people in this world who do!!!
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 7:29 PM EST
High Inquisitor
Points: 23483
KT Lady says:
Oh come ON. I think people are taking this a little too far. Quidditch is a fictional sport based on a book...I'm sure it wouldn't work in real life. *eyeroll*
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 7:44 PM EST
Witch
Points: 543
HogwartsAhistory says:
I like the game in the movies. It gives Harry something to do besides defending himself all the time.
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 7:52 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1426
~Hermione says:
I think Quidditch is a perfect sport and it has to be great to play it. Imagine flying with a broom and trying not to be hit by one of the balls and everything.
Posted Apr 28, 2006 at 8:29 PM EST
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