How Not to Pick a Team
Finally. The All India Tennis Association (AITA) announced the tennis teams to send for the Olympics in men’s doubles (Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna ) and mixed doubles (Leander Paes and Sania Mirza). All the commotion prior to this decision was because the AITA (and Paes) wanted the men’s doubles team to be Paes and Bhupathi. Which is the best pair if you look at their past record: they’ve won multiple Grand Slams, haven’t they? But anyone with half a brain would also consider when was the last time they played together ? Answer: ages back. Surely, the fact that the two don’t get along (to put it mildly) would have an impact in a team sport, right? Not according to the AITA, it doesn’t. Well ok, said the AITA. If Paes and Bhupathi refuse to pair up, then it should be Paes and the next highest ranked player. Why? The AITA argument went like this: Paes has the highest men’s doubles ranking; hence he should definitely be part of the men’s doubles team. Really? What if his ranking