Hesh-Bopana-Paes.. Olympic controversy

[Sentinel]

^ That's true. Being debarred from this Oly may not do them much since they play a lot otherwise. I thought it might be a good lesson to them and others not to enforce their issues on selection committees.

Also, given their age, if they are debarred this would be their last OG. I think there is a matter of pride in representing your country at OG.

Even if I grant that MB has some old chick issue with LP, Bopanna also refusing to play is silly. He's not MB's wife, that if MB says no, he too will. This seems like some petty politics that MB is playing, altho i don't know the truth.

So we send a lower ranked pair of Bhu-panna while we could have sent a better pair, and then the best person Lee goes with someone who has been injured for eight months (Somdev) ???

Just because Bopanna refuses to get along with Paes, because his friend Bhupathi is pulling string from behind.

[sunny_cali]

Originally Posted by Sentinel

^ That's true. Being debarred from this Oly may not do them much since they play a lot otherwise. I thought it might be a good lesson to them and others not to enforce their issues on selection committees.

Also, given their age, if they are debarred this would be their last OG. I think there is a matter of pride in representing your country at OG.

Even if I grant that MB has some old chick issue with LP, Bopanna also refusing to play is silly. He's not MB's wife, that if MB says no, he too will. This seems like some petty politics that MB is playing, altho i don't know the truth.

So we send a lower ranked pair of Bhu-panna while we could have sent a better pair, and then the best person Lee goes with someone who has been injured for eight months (Somdev) ???

Just because Bopanna refuses to get along with Paes, because his friend Bhupathi is pulling string from behind.

Not sure I'd fully blame MB - you can blame him for petty issues with Paes. But I find it difficult to believe that RB would chose to shoot himself in the foot by refusing to pair with Paes. It appears that there are serious issues with Paes, that make him generally unlikeable in Indian tennis circles (and beyond). Of course all of this is speculation, and the truth might be something else...

I don't think you can add up the numbers and get a better pair. Even if on paper, Paes and Bopanna make the best pair, they have to gell well to have a chance. All this talk of burying your differences aside and doing well for your country is good in theory -- in practice if they aren't even on speaking terms nothing much is going to happen.

[Sentinel]

^ True, but I am looking at it from another angle. If we refuse to bury our differences then nothing can happen. But that does not make it a valid excuse.

As i see it RB is refusing to put aside his ego issues or whatever, most likely on MB's pressure.

In the past, Sania has put aside personal religious considerations and teamed with Shahar. (I think they only parted when there were too many threats and external pressure).
Bopanna had no issues playing with Aisam. I think we have a choice to put aside our views and ideologies and past and work together, or to make an obstinate stand that it will not work, which it wont, since we've already decided not to let it.

[sunny_cali]

Originally Posted by Sentinel

^ True, but I am looking at it from another angle. If we refuse to bury our differences then nothing can happen. But that does not make it a valid excuse.

As i see it RB is refusing to put aside his ego issues or whatever, most likely on MB's pressure.

In the past, Sania has put aside personal religious considerations and teamed with Shahar. (I think they only parted when there were too many threats and external pressure).
Bopanna had no issues playing with Aisam. I think we have a choice to put aside our views and ideologies and past and work together, or to make an obstinate stand that it will not work, which it wont, since we've already decided not to let it.

In this case I'd squarely put the blame on the AITA. It was well-known that MB-RB wanted to partner each other, and they got together for this very purpose, and were reasonably successful. Equally well known that MB-LP tried to get together last year, and it didn't work out for the umpteenth time.

Why then does the AITA try and force two unwilling partners to play for "the nation" ?

This article says, what I am trying to convey better ...

http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes...he-cussed-aita

[Sentinel]

^ Nice article. I really liked this line:

...playing for the country and pride alone is pure balderdash. We have seen enough cricket stars to know that. Yes, there was a time when athletes did so only for pride and nation’s glory, but in any sport where there is a lot of money involved (tennis is such), this thing is not the primary concern any more.

[sureshs]

The team should consist of RafaLovesTushy and Sentinel.

[spiderman123]

Originally Posted by Sentinel

He's not MB's wife, that if MB says no, he too will.

Wives do that??

The most puzzling part is why Bopanna is not neutral. Maybe he was promised something at Bhupathi's academy.

[sunny_cali]

Originally Posted by spiderman123

Wives do that??

The most puzzling part is why Bopanna is not neutral. Maybe he was promised something at Bhupathi's academy.

Or that Paes is a ******-bag whom no one wants to partner ?

[sureshs]

I have heard bad things about Paes from a tennis coach.

[sunny_cali]

Originally Posted by sureshs

I have heard bad things about Paes from a tennis coach.

Go ahead and spill the masala, dude What secrets lurk in the Paes cupboard ?

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by sunny_cali

Go ahead and spill the masala, dude What secrets lurk in the Paes cupboard ?

Nothing specific. He just used a term equivalent to "jerk" for him.

[gsharma]

More importantly, why is there such a dearth of emerging talent? I see no exciting prospects on the horizon.

[gsharma]

Originally Posted by sureshs

Nothing specific. He just used a term equivalent to "jerk" for him.

What term would that be?

[chiruanna]

I'm totally frustrated. I was looking forward to these guys playing at the Olympics, especially after they both doing very well recently.

Looks like Paes going with Stepanek was the issue here.
I distinctly remember Paes saying at the time "Mahesh and I can recreate our magic anytime we want, but I wanted to stay fresh in the meantime". Sounds fine then but looks like there was something else going on there.

I know these guys have been at odds for some time but what exactly is their beef?

But realistically, with all the big guns looking to play doubles, I dont think any team would have had much chance.

[Gangsta]

Knowles and Nestor got nothing on this soap opera.

[Sentinel]

Todays paper says that if Mahesh and Bops refuse to partner Paes then M+RB will not go (disciplinary reasons) and LP will go with a junior player.

[Sentinel]

Originally Posted by gsharma

More importantly, why is there such a dearth of emerging talent? I see no exciting prospects on the horizon.

I am probably the worst person to answer this but I think generally, there's not too much money in sport. I don't see parents encouraging a sporting career when you could make much more money in a good job. Sports is like a lottery.

Even among sports, i think cricket will be the choice, not tennis (in India). Tennis is more a rich kid's sport and kids learn it more so they can play when they go abroad to study, or socially.

In my area, when Bhupathi's academy selected a 6-7 year old to go live/practice in Madras/Blore (or wherever it was), his parents refused. They would not part with their darling baby.

I think Yuki Bhambri is the only one on the horizon I've heard of, the Amritraj cousins are already in mid 20's. I suspect YB will also go the way of Bopanna.

[roysid]

We have diverted from the main drama that is still going on. Here's the summary

- After All India Tennis Association decided to team up Leander and Bhupathi for Olympic doubles, all hell broke loose. The doubles ranks of them are Leander:7, Boppana: 12 and Bhupathi:18.

- If you recall, last year in 2011 they were playing doubles together. Bhupathi accused that Leander had back stabbed him by not even discussing with him and breaking up their partnership in Nov'11 and partnered Radek Stepanek. Then he partnered Boppana to play Olympics with him.
He asked AITA to send two teams, Bhupathi & Boppana, Leander & No. 4 Indian

- Then Paes camp suggested that it was Bopanna and Bhupathi who actually back stabbed him. They released an email which says Bopanna wanted to play with Paes in 2012 for the Olympics. Boppana was supposed to tell Bhupathi about this and Paes didn't tell ???? When Bhupathi came to know, he was ****ed off and then he and Boppana paired.
(Note: Who backstabbed whom )

- Next email came from Boppana to media. he said that he doesn't want to partner Paes. He broke up with Qureshi when he was No.8 in the world to play with Bhupathi.

- Mahesh also wrote a letter to Sports Ministry India to intervene. Because AITA and its chief for long is known to favor Paes.

- Then AITA wrote a letter to Sports ministry and they backed off. Now AITA will take the final decision today

[roysid]

And then there is the question of who will partner Sania Mirza in mixed doubles

Sani and Bhupathi are close friends. They just won French Open.
Now i Bhupathi and Bopanna faces suspension, Paes will get added gift of partnering Sania

P.S: there was a huge row in 2006 when AITA decided that Paes will partner Sania in mixed doubles in Doha Asian games

[Sentinel]

What was the 2006 row about Sania and Paes.

Is Sania silent on this, or is she waiting for a WC in which case she can chose her own partner ?