TennisWorld took a big hit in the TAT Suicide Pool in the last two days, but don't be discouraged, Tribe. A few soldiers are still bearing the standard, and we're not out of it yet. And for those of you who bit the dust, or wish you had played, or remember how one of our ranking Wiseman, Andrew, tracked the predictions made by Tribsters in Rome and Hamburg, I have great news.
While we will continue to post the results of our SP contestants, we are also launching - as of the Round of 32 - a more formal "Picks Game" for the duration of Roland Garros. I asked Andrew to write up a summary of the rules and regs. He prefaced his comments with this rousing, Iron-John-ish call to arms, aimed at TW's male readers: Dudes, you need to step up for this one. Chicas have ruled so far - Highpockets (aka Madame 'Pockets) was a runaway winner in Rome, and Snoo Foo blitzed in Hamburg.
Then, in typically comprehensive Andrew fashion, he sent me this link should you like to do a little leisurely research on what he blithely describes as "a great introduction to applied behavioral economics and game theory." That's what I love bout Andrew, he says that kind of thing the way some people say, Hey, check those pictures of Lindsay Lohan passed out in her SUV in the Post!
But, as Andrew wrote: "For most of us, game theory is about getting to four by two clear, so you can skip the heavy stuff (unless it's raining hard at RG and they're showing Sharapova for the 10th time) and just concentrate on getting the future right. Piece of cake, eh?"
Say whhhaattt?
Anyway, if you decide to skip the heavy stuff, here's how the Picks Game will work:
1) Picks can be for either Mens or Womens Singles competition, or both.
2) Picks will be compiled from R32 (Third Round) onwards, starting Friday.
3) You are not obliged to pick any round, match, or set of matches. If you just want to pick men, or women, that's fine too.
4) From R32 onwards, there will be 31 matches (in total) in each tournament. To be counted towards the overall top picker for either tournament, you will need to have made at least 15 picks (i.e., R16 onwards, or a mixture of R32 and the later rounds). Be warned: the winner will be selected on the basis of percentage (12 of 15) of correct picks, rather than sheer number of correct picks (34 of 64). And you must pick the minimum number in each division to be eligible - that is, seven men's matches and eight women's won't qualify. You need to pick 15 men and/or 15 women.
5) This is important folks: One difficulty during prior tournaments has been the way we've posted picks - picks would be embedded in posts, people would use nicknames, (Kolya, Nanner etc). This has driven Andrew to the brink of insanity (not that anyone could tell the difference). So, each day before a new round of play starts (32, 16, quarters, etc.) Andrew will post the schedule, as in:
Mens
Federer - Starace
Ferrero - Youzhny
Robredo - Tipsarevic
Womens
Henin - Santangelo
and so on.
To make picks, just go to "Comments" in the Picks Game entry where we post the schedule for the round in question, enter the names of the players in the match you're predicting (as above) and insert a numeral 1 (one) after the name of the player you're picking to win, all the way down the list. I suggest you choose the matches you want to pick (heck, you may want to sit out the entire Round of 32, although you probably lose out on a few gimmes if you choose to do so).
Make sure you use only the numeral 1. And please try to observe the spacing I've used immediately above and below. That is, a space between each word, numeral or punctuation mark. If you're shy about posting your picks in the Comments, you can email them to Andrew, just click on his screen name in any of his Comments at any thread.
Federer 1 - Starace
Ferrero - Youzhny 1
Robredo 1 - Tipsarevic
Or,
Henin 1 - Santangelo.
You get the picture. Try to keep your picks in the relevant Picks Game entry. (Please don't post picks in an on-topic thread once I get to Paris, or the Mod Squad will go medieval on your picks).
6) Andrew will compile all picks posted before play starts in the matches picked.
7) As with the Hamburg tournament, any retirement for any reason is counted as a loss, but a withdrawal before a match begins is a no result.
8) Andrew will use reasonable discretion over any issues (for example, if a pick was made in time), but for the purposes of the game he'll have the right to make the final call.
9) We will publish statistics on Tribe picks and leader positions as the tournament continues, but we will not publish full results, knowing you wouldn't want to be seen in public with your gaudy 0-17 Round of 32 stats . . .
10) We will award a prize to the TW Roland Garros Picker of the Tournament (and no, it won't be Jet Boy!) in each category, as well as the overall champion, and a top upset pick.
The Round of 32 match-ups will be up shortly. As of 4pm Eastern, there's three match ups undecided, but we thought you'd like to get picking while the picking's good.