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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: 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
Elite Dragon Rider
Points: 3843
DragonRider says:
what is he talking about??????????????? quidditch is the best sport ever! its so cool! epecially the riding on broomsticks up in the air parts, and what is he talking about "not dangerous at all"?!?!?!!?! quidditch is played at least 50 feet up in the air!!
and by the way, i HATE the title of that essay thing! "gobbed jet of fire".... *barf* SAY IT RIGHT, WILL YOU!!
G-O-B-L-E-T
O-F
F-I-R-E
Posted May 2, 2006 at 11:57 PM EST
The Usual Suspect
Points: 3421
Orchid says:
It's a made up sport that belongs in the magic world. It is not supposed to make sense, that's the beauty of the game.
Posted May 3, 2006 at 4:02 AM EST
Queen of Blah
Points: 4073
snuffles563 says:
Quidditch is AWESOME!!!!! okay...the 150 points bit is rather lame...but other than that...its the best ever!!
Posted May 3, 2006 at 1:24 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1252
1USHPFN says:
Quidditch is the best fake game ever! It has the best of every game. Basketball/soccer/hockey, baseball/cricket, dodgeball. There is also the snitch! Not only does it end the game, but one great seeker can over come a team full of Nimbus 2001's thereby making the field,(pitch) even for all!
Posted May 3, 2006 at 1:31 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1944
~Friends Never Ever~ says:
Quidditch its one of the best sports ever made!! How can anyone even think its the worst sport. Its brillent who ever said that could not of read the books because if they did they would not of said its the worst sport ever made up.
Posted May 3, 2006 at 5:09 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 305
hoggywartswitchwannabe says:
If anyone thnks Quidditch is a fake oh they have totally lost their mind. I mean Quidditch is so awsome I wish i could play it if it ever existed. I just love Quidditch, I think it is more intresting than other sports!!!! Quidditch will never be fake to me!
Posted May 3, 2006 at 8:30 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 363
Expecto patrOHMYGODRUN!!! says:
The way he puts it, it sounds like a dumb game. but when described in detail like JKR does it, its really awesome
Posted May 3, 2006 at 10:04 PM EST
Loose Canon
Points: 3411
JustHarry says:
Are they KIDDING??? Quidditch is an incredibly exciting imaginary sport! Very creative and filled with magic AND athleticism. I'd like to see them come up with a magic-based sport incorporating a well-known magical object (broomsticks) and make it as exciting as JKR does.
Posted May 3, 2006 at 10:40 PM EST
Sparrow's Girl, Savy?
Points: 4231
Zhanna <3 J says:
Quidditch is the best sport ever, oh my god, how can they say that?
*looks offended* haha
i love it
i wish i can play it (with loads of shielding cloths on, and a mattress flying under me, just in case)
:)
Posted May 4, 2006 at 12:40 AM EST
Witch
Points: 803
ShiningShina says:
Some people have way too much time on their hands. Quidditch is awesome!
Posted May 4, 2006 at 1:03 AM EST
Witch
Points: 534
mrs radcliffe/potter says:
What? I think its the best fake game ever, if we could actually play it I would do it in a heartbeat!! I mean I LOVE QUIDDITCH!!No wonder why so many people have the QWC game? huh? Its great i dont care what this author wrote, Quidditch is the best for her information not only one player has to watch all three balls at the same time!
Posted May 4, 2006 at 9:57 PM EST
Hogwarts Psychologist
Points: 4236
Patronus Wiz says:
Ha ha ha... Very funny. Come on people, have an imagination. It sounds like so much fun even though in reality it is probably not a very easily executable game. Oh yeah, this isn't reality.
Posted May 4, 2006 at 10:26 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 83
Godric Gyffindor rules says:
He's got a point. It is worth a lot but still it is fun and well I was disappointed when they don't include it.
Posted May 4, 2006 at 11:28 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2260
ScintillatingStar says:
hahaha well i kinda agree, its a rediculous game! And it probably wouldnt be that great and seems stupid when put into the context of reality. But it's cool, and its just a book! V v entertaining. That's just my opinion
Posted May 5, 2006 at 1:23 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 54
Gryffindor_girl_1985 says:
Very simple answer, NO! It is so in depth and magical!
Posted May 5, 2006 at 3:09 AM EST
Professional Beater
Points: 20891
feltonluver says:
Hey i think quidditch was pretty clever for a wizard sport. I think it would be really entertaining if it were actually real.
Posted May 5, 2006 at 10:48 AM EST
Witch
Points: 675
Heiress_ to_Slytherin says:
Ok who is this Dude and why has he got a (i)Problem(/i) with Quidditch, I mean yes it's ok to (i)dis(/i) real sports but definately not a sport that has been planned out and created by Jo, it takes a lot out of a person to think up an entire different new sport, even if it does take some of the other ideas, but (i)honestly(/i) who cares?!?
Posted May 5, 2006 at 5:46 PM EST
Auror that never talks
Points: 3678
KaKe3535 says:
I think Quidditch is pretty ingenius, though I don't thnk there is a need to argue with this article since its probably not meant to be taken seriously. I like that the snitch is worth so many points. It's supposed to be very hard to catch, of course. PowerGranger i agree with you totally
Posted May 5, 2006 at 11:44 PM EST
Student
Points: 251
#1Dan/Rupert/Emma*Fan* says:
It is the best fake sport ever Everybody knows that!
Posted May 5, 2006 at 11:59 PM EST
Padfoot’s Playmate
Points: 5373
Siriusbeau says:
I think it is the best made up sport out there, you can't get much more creative. I wish it was real!
Posted May 6, 2006 at 2:44 AM EST
Squib
Points: 176
Andosia Fair says:
How many made-up sports do we have floating about to compare Qidditch to? I find it quite clever and challenging, seeing as three things are going on at once, and all the players are flying through the air on brooms. That isn't stupid, that's complex. Plus its clear this author missed the point of keeping Muggles out, to keep away from Wizards (hello!). Sure sports guy, it was because of the game and how brilliant it is, in fact none of the books are even about Harry Potter, it is all a clever ruse for fake sporting events.
Teams of men running about on the ground, in tights, with one ball, who end up in piles from throwing themselves upon one another is just so much better we should all be ashamed to think Quidditch even slightly interesting.
In my humble opinion I think most sports, real or made-up, are quite pointless. Then again I have this thing for unity, crazy as it may be.
Quidditch hater just wanted to write about Quidditch, but was too scared to admit he liked it. I reckon he didn't want to be called out as someone who reads childrens' books. Silly, silly.
;)
Posted May 6, 2006 at 5:06 AM EST
Magical Me
Points: 8420
Nutty4Harry says:
The worst fake sport ever??! What an odd thing to say! And I think that the author of this article is probably just jealous that they didn't come up with this sport. I'm sure that Jo has spent many days of her life perfecting the game. So just forget this person...
Posted May 6, 2006 at 11:13 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1227
I Who Lived..To Read says:
Fake?!!? Who said anything about quidditch being fake!! No, I definitely think that it would be ace if quidditch were a real sport. It's probably the best fake sport I've ever heard of! ^_^
Posted May 6, 2006 at 12:13 PM EST
Witch
Points: 649
Spell_Bound says:
I wonder if this author wanted to see how many people he could get a rise out of. If that was the case he succeeded very well. Because I don't think one person agreed with them.
Posted May 6, 2006 at 3:49 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 384
AvadaK says:
Quidditch IS the best fake sport ever. It's intricate details are awesome. JK has a wonderful imagination and I applaud her for this 'fake sport'. Good job JK.
Posted May 6, 2006 at 10:02 PM EST
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