|
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
Head Girl
Points: 476
MRS_BRENDON_URIE says:
I just showed some of my friends this and they are a s outraged as me i mean i cant belive they are paying out quidditch its just not kool i love qudditch and harry potter what were they thinking...any who laters.
Posted Apr 30, 2006 at 9:53 PM EST
Witch
Points: 510
Jealz says:
Well the point of having the snitch cost 150 points is because it is hard to see. I LOVE Quidditch!
Posted Apr 30, 2006 at 9:54 PM EST
Divine Intervention
Points: 2619
PhantomFingers says:
Did anyone personally ask this guy to take it seriously?! Leave the Harry Potter world if you dont like it, it's fictional, and what so exciting about sports like Badminton? Give me some action, I'd take Quidditch anyday!
Posted May 1, 2006 at 6:14 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2175
Andromeda Meliflua says:
Hehe, he is bashing Quidditch, he obviously has never felt its joys. Wouldn't he just LOVE to feel the rush of adrenaline while flying on a broomstick? Poor Muggles.
Posted May 1, 2006 at 7:42 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1453
smart hermione says:
Hugh, yeah right, i wish i could play quidditch! And by the way, you don't have to keep your eyes out for four balls, cause only the seeker watches out for the snitch, and the chasers for the quaffle. Then everyone just needs to keep clear of the bluddgers...
Posted May 1, 2006 at 9:01 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1453
smart hermione says:
courty : You're right about the snitch thing
Posted May 1, 2006 at 9:02 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1453
smart hermione says:
RonsCrush : l o l you're so right!
Posted May 1, 2006 at 9:04 AM EST
Squib
Points: 130
Dementor Lord says:
Are they that pathetic to make a big deal about something like this? Quidditch is a great sport, if it is real or fake, who cares? It is a great idea and it just might become a real sport in the future that anyone can play.
Posted May 1, 2006 at 3:18 PM EST
Gutter Girl Fabulous
Points: 8712
SamhainWitch7 says:
What a twit! He obviously is too hung up on his own negative energy to actually understand the rules of the game. None of the players have to watch out for 3 balls at once. If you're a keeper you're only looking out for bludgers and the quaffle, and the same with the chasers. If you're a seeker than you're only looking out for the Snitch or a bludger, and the beaters only care about the bludgers. Not to mention you don't "punt" the ball through the hoops, although I suppose you could if you really wanted to be a show off. *cough Slytherin cough* (just kidding guys, don't kill me!) And 150 points for the Snitch isn't disproportionate! For the length of time a Quidditch game goes on, the opposing team could be up by any number of goals! This guy just has a stick up his rear if you ask me!
Posted May 1, 2006 at 4:11 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 10
lemons22 says:
UGH this guy/girl? doesn't know what he/she is talking about! Quidditch is the BEST 'fake' sport! i agree with Peeves12- it is FICTION! gosh!
Posted May 1, 2006 at 7:03 PM EST
Auror
Points: 3651
Saint Hedwig says:
If quidditch was a real game, I won't be a hardcore fan. Generally, I'm not a fan of any sport. I suppose quidditch has its weaknesses; I never got the 150-point Snitch thing either. But I never got American Football, either.
~
Posted May 1, 2006 at 7:24 PM EST
Student
Points: 220
Magical and Mysterious Me says:
I think quidditch is one a great sport for those that like excitement. For those that don't like excitement, I would suggest reading or listening to it.
~Magical and Mysterious Me~
Posted May 1, 2006 at 9:14 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2474
Leina D. says:
How could they refer to quidditch as such a thing? It has got to be the best and most imaginative sport that has been created by any one person.
They must be kicking themselves because the real sporting world could not create a sport so engrossed with imagination and fun.
This person sounds as though they have no appreciation for sport themselves. Hm?
Posted May 1, 2006 at 9:19 PM EST
Auror
Points: 3252
Tenshi says:
simdave2000, yeah now that you mention it, I remember reading over that while reading the book... but still, it is a ridiculous amount of points that the Snitch is worth; that article does make a fair point saying that the capture of the Snitch renders the past hours of play quite useless, eh? ^-^
Snidget!!! :)
Posted May 1, 2006 at 9:41 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 71
*Jewel* says:
I think J.K. did a wonderful job in creating a new sport completely from her imagination. Also, quiddich is a sport for the wizarding world only. How would the players look running down a football field in robes? Pretty funny if you ask me!
Posted May 1, 2006 at 9:48 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1487
HRH301 says:
I think Quidditch is a very creative sport. I know I always enjoy those aspects of the Potter books. They are fun to read!
Posted May 1, 2006 at 11:09 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 55
Mrs. Radcliffe<3 says:
I like quidditch personally, but i have heard that JK Rowling doesnt even like writing it very much. It seems kind of funny, actually.
Posted May 2, 2006 at 12:45 AM EST
Wizard
Points: 938
Anzufvytar says:
Well, that's an opinion, and this guy's got a point, Quidditch is quite strange for an actually playable game. I think it is designed to make the reader dream about some visually-fantastic game, more than to be a balanced and interesting game for the players and/or the spectators. It is working fairly well I think, for many many fans loved the game.
And so what if the game is unbalanced, (150 points for the snitch, 10 points for a goal), can be way too short, or way too long (it can last for 10 minutes, and imagine you pay a lot of money to be there only 10 minutes... or it can last for hours and hours, in whitch case it is totally impossible for players to continue playing), is quite childish (bludgers)? It makes us dream, and that's all we ask of it. :)
Besides, I was always surprised that Quidditch was the only sport played by wizard in the Harry Potter world. Why do wizards and witches only play that particular game, did nobody thought of any other sport ?
Posted May 2, 2006 at 4:57 AM EST
Wizard
Points: 521
Muggle 999 says:
the author has only acctually made 2 valid points;
*150 points is a bit to much for catching the anithch
*And it is slightly similar to basketball
All the rest is absoulute nonsense
Posted May 2, 2006 at 6:11 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 96
Mini Ginny says:
What is the point complaining about a fake sport??? It doesn't exist!!! Duh! If he was complaining about quidditch because there were people flying around his house lookin 4 the sntch for ages, I just might understand. But what a waste of time and energy complaining about Quidditch was!!! Anyway, i bet he'd give anything to ride an actual broom....
Posted May 2, 2006 at 9:47 AM EST
Mrs. Roonil Wazlib
Points: 2492
weasleyskeepingme says:
How can you bash Qudditch?? Thats just plain wrong! Quidditch is the best sport, because its like a combination of sports like basketball and baseball. Quidditch is like soccer (football I mean)- its INSANELY popular ALL OVER THE [WIZARDING] WORLD!
Posted May 2, 2006 at 1:12 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 411
SouthernWitch05 says:
I think if we could actually fly on broomsticks that would be a great sport.. players have their own concern.. im sure it would be fun!!!
Posted May 2, 2006 at 3:19 PM EST
Witch
Points: 622
Hermison says:
I dont think that this article is meant to be taken seriously.
Posted May 2, 2006 at 3:36 PM EST
Points: 1625
Horcrux_Destroyer says:
Whoever wrote this is an idiot but he does make several good points thouhg. I never understand why catching an almost-invisible ball ended a game that could take hours or days. But i guess either than that i understand quidditch and other than that its a perfect sport... thouhg ther really should be a time-limit.
Posted May 2, 2006 at 5:44 PM EST
Student
Points: 258
Brittany** says:
I think that quidditch is a very creative sport...
And sence when did people name off worst fake sports ever???
I want to see them come up with a better fake sport!!
:(
Britany**
Posted May 2, 2006 at 7:28 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1348
~*Veela Grl *~ says:
Okay, wow. Don't even go there. For imaginary sports, this is like the best one. And come on, you've never even played it and yea. So shut up you!
Posted May 2, 2006 at 8:31 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