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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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Auror
Points: 2079
kermittounette says:
Quidditch is actually nothing to compare to a dull sport... I absolutely love the game, the challenge is great, except for that golden snitch so tiny that can't be seen so easily... 150 points for it's caught... But I love it!
Posted Apr 29, 2006 at 5:05 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1763
hufflepuff_babe says:
HAHA somebody has a lot of time on their hands...
Hmm now if it was a real sport would it be the worst sport ever?
Obviously this person also hates Basketball though and they must think that's the worst sport but maybe they should look further than that I mean come on there are a lot of stupid sports out there and if they entertain people, hey now, lets not bash them.
Posted Apr 29, 2006 at 5:08 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1457
Lexii*Chiita says:
I think Quidditch a great game to play...especially getting to fly around and play...I mean,there should be something like it in the real world...it would be the best game that people could ever play...:D:D:D
Posted Apr 29, 2006 at 5:20 PM EST
Auror
Points: 3027
Xystus says:
Ohhh maaan! I keep wishing Quidditch was real and I can't really imagine how exciting it would be if it were. And if you look at the risks, it's not for 10 year olds. What a load of crap!
Posted Apr 29, 2006 at 5:21 PM EST
Student
Points: 296
h.p. says:
Quidditch is cool. I think the points for the snitch is exagerated but the game is awesome. Flying on brooms, chasing after the snitch, passing the quaffle, and hitting bludgers. I wish they had a game like that in real life.
Posted Apr 29, 2006 at 5:35 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 15
Rynna Ravenclaw says:
He's not right in the head
Posted Apr 29, 2006 at 6:51 PM EST
Student
Points: 271
Moyra says:
Thats a terrible thing to say...maybe wizards and witches enjoy watching 4 different balls at the same time! Do you have no imagination whatsoever *sniggers*
I think quidditch is the best made up sport EVER...so there!
Posted Apr 29, 2006 at 6:53 PM EST
The Bulgarian Seeker
Points: 9809
~KrUmS_gUrL~ says:
That is a horrible explaination of Quidditch, about as horrible as how much I would love to trash football, but I won't. I love quidditch, but I guess some people don't feel the same way.
Posted Apr 29, 2006 at 7:55 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 401
Kelly2008 says:
Yeah, I agree about the Snitch thing. It is kind of stupid that it's worth 150 points. I think it should be worth more like fifty.
Posted Apr 29, 2006 at 7:58 PM EST
Princess of Nargles
Points: 4137
hp_fan206 says:
Oh dear, bashing Quidditch. I love the idea of Quidditch, though I agree that the 150 points won by catching the Snitch is a little exaggerated. I just think flying on brooms and having really violent balls flying everywhere seems extremely interesting.
I wonder what Harry would say to this article ^_^
Posted Apr 29, 2006 at 8:18 PM EST
Witch
Points: 642
Fairy Foozle says:
Who do they expect JKR to be? Who cares if getting that many of the points from the Snitch is exagerated? She's brilliant at plot!
I think it's really lame that they had to go so low as to insult Quidditch! (which JKR doesn't even enjoy wring that much of anyway!)
Sorry for my rant, but I think that bashing Quidditch is rather stupid.
Posted Apr 29, 2006 at 8:40 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 88
*Slytherin_Heiress* says:
Wow! People really need to get lives, if they decide to bash sports from books!
xoxo
Jess
Posted Apr 29, 2006 at 8:49 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 335
HarryPotter731 says:
No! I wish it were real. I don't like any real sport, but I love Quidditch.
Posted Apr 29, 2006 at 9:12 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1347
Chudley_Cannons_Rule! says:
....and this person got his/her brain...where?
How can you compare Quidditch to basketball?! That's utterly rediculous! They're nothing alike, except for the hoop thing! Sheesh....
Posted Apr 29, 2006 at 9:54 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2860
mad_eye muggle says:
Some people have nothing good to say.I call those people lame and stupid,cause they don't have a wide range of imagination.Quidditch ROCKS!Even though I know it's not really true.But it still rocks.It makes me excited everytime I read it on the HP books.No matter what they'll say I will always love quidditch.HP RULES!
Posted Apr 29, 2006 at 11:24 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 678
SirPhil says:
The worst sport ever, ha! Try the best! The author seems to leave out the part about the whole team RIDEING BROOMSTICKS! I mean come on, youve got the coordination of the three chasers passing the quaffle the keeper trying to defend three hoops (not one like basketball, but three) the seeker with amazing sight and speed and the beaters to throw in some violence. Oh and all of this is done while RIDEING BROOMSTICKS! Oh and I really don't care if the author can't keep his eyes on three balls at once, he doesnt need to! LONG LIVE QUIDDITCH!!
Posted Apr 29, 2006 at 11:37 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 81
miss_potter_lover says:
I love quidditch!So what if it's like basketball at least J.K made her own sport. And for the person who wrote this column your just jealous and the Seeker ONLY looks for the snitch. And the snitch actually makes the game more fun because before the seeker finds the snitch you have to make many points just like what happened in the Quidditch World Cup. And because of Quidditch i now like some sports (but only to watch it and not to play in it).
WRONSKI FEINT ROCK!
Posted Apr 30, 2006 at 12:25 AM EST
Student
Points: 268
DreamSickle123 says:
Wow...haha...weird... [what other 'fake sports' are out there???] It would so rock if Quidditch was real!! *gets a broom and pretends to fly as in a quid. game* "Whoosh!Whoosh!" =D
Posted Apr 30, 2006 at 12:39 AM EST
Student
Points: 219
hpfan802 says:
What is wrong with these people? Even though Quiddich is fake, it's something people that want to belive real is real. I know this sounds really corney but I'm just saying what I have to say about this, if you think what I'm saying is weird then oh well take it up with the coulum.
Posted Apr 30, 2006 at 12:39 AM EST
Witch
Points: 690
Ginny_Weasley_Potter says:
The older people gets the less fun they are. eventhough Im' more than 25 I love quidditch and If it was a real game I will definitely be part of it.
Posted Apr 30, 2006 at 12:50 AM EST
Witch
Points: 566
Sirius_Shall_Rise_Again says:
I think the author is just seeking attention. Everybody loves quidditch...if the author contradicts everybody...he will get much loved attention...just ignore him... we all love quidditch!!
Sammy_10
Posted Apr 30, 2006 at 12:50 AM EST
Witch
Points: 690
Ginny_Weasley_Potter says:
The older people gets the less fun they are. Even though I'm more than 25 I love quidditch and if this was a real game I will definitely be a player.
Posted Apr 30, 2006 at 12:54 AM EST
Wizard
Points: 575
Canis Diris says:
It's not that bad, but I think the rules could have been better, but you actually believe in the sport.
Posted Apr 30, 2006 at 1:56 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 25
magicalmaiden says:
wat!!!??? quidditch roks!!! flyin an stuff... it just adds more adventure to sports. its way BETTER than any uman sport...
Posted Apr 30, 2006 at 2:43 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 13
bumblebee888 says:
I think that quidditch is a very good, well designed game that depends on all members of the team, not just the seeker. As we learnt in book four, the Irish won, but Bulgaria (Vikot Krum) caught the snitch! So while catching the snitch ends the game, it doesn't mean that that team will necessarily win. In the first book, a hundred and fifty points seems like a lot but in the OotP, Ginny caught the snitch but they still lost! SO this guy doesn't know what he is talking about because at the quidditch world cup the competition can go on for days, so really 150 doesn't mean much.
Posted Apr 30, 2006 at 2:56 AM EST
Beauty Princess
Points: 6008
H.R.H Queen of Gossip says:
LAME! I mean Quiddich is great. Who cares about any other sports anyways? Stupid people who call it the worst fake sport... grrr
Posted Apr 30, 2006 at 3:39 AM EST
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