There is not — I repeat NOT — going to be a tailgate this year at the Eric Namesnik Grand Prix. I know you’re all sad. Don’t get your panties in a bunch. Allow me to explain.

#1. I still haven’t figured out why it is always cold in Ann Arbor. I live less than 3 hours from A2 and it’s always at least 10 degrees colder there! And people wonder why we call it the Arctic Tundra? Anyway, we froze our asses off at last year’s tailgate. Not looking to repeat that frigid experience.

#2. Morning Finals. The point of doing a tailgate is to get pumped up for the major action, right? With finals in the morning, my ass is not waking up for kegs n’ eggs in anticipation of finals. And tailgating for prelims seems kind of lame, doesn’t it?

#3. It’d be hard to top last year’s entertaining events! Does it get better than Mr. Phelps almost backing over our grill and later thinking he got a parking ticket when it was just a note from us telling him to wash his cars? Then blaming their dirty appearance on his sister’s “off-roading”. Then there was Kaitlin dragging T-Dub!! to the tailgate so we could meet him, thus requiring me to stop telling her “Davis hates me” all the time. Or what about Miss Hoff (who we will never hate on here) stopping by and being forced to field questions about her “hot coach”? Matt Patton being scared to death that anyone even knew who he was enough to say “hi” was pretty classic as well. What about the small pow-wow of Michigan swimmers that gathered behind my car when we were loading up the beer? That was especially funny! If they wanted some, all they had to do was ask. Sharing is caring

#4. Smaller posse than last year. We’ve downsized and shaved off lots of deadweight in the past 6 months. We’ll tailgate at a meet where most of the Swim Aids are present. That’s looking to be Nationals, because we are going to be rollin’ deep with 10+ people. But don’t quote me on a tailgate just yet!

A few short months ago, Kalyn Keller left USC and Dave Salo to train with her older bro at Club Wolverine. Now, Big Daddy Keller has decided to go back to USC himself and train under Salo.

This move saddens the Swim Aids. We grew very accustomed to seeing our dear Kletus rocking that ugly CW cap on a regular basis. It brings back fond memories. We cherished the opportunity to see Klete-esque activities like playing with his fat rolls and applying excessive amounts of sunscreen. Does anyone remember the man-UGGs from World Cup last year, or him almost missing his race at the last ever US Open? We do!

The Detroit Free Press indicated that Klete probably needed a change in addition to wanting to finish his degree. And if this move will rejuvenate him and super-charge his swimming efforts, then by all means, have a safe trip, Klete! Don’t forget to write!

So, is there a 1 sibling per club rule going on? Maybe that’s the REAL reason CDJ retired? And if that’s the case, can someone please pass this memo along to the Vanderkaay’s? They are 1 over quota at present time.

kthanx.

So you may have heard that Libby Lenton’s 100 Free lead-off of Australia’s Mixed Relay from the Duel in the Pool was not accepted by FINA because

“this event is not included in the FINA rules GR 9.6.1.2, and, consequently, this relay is not a FINA event, and the world record can not be approved.”

While I feel for Libby, rules are rules and I hope that Libby uses this as motivation for the future! After all, Libby is a Swim Aid favorite!

Having said that, why doesn’t FINA include the mixed relay? Or at least, why can’t USA Swimming play around with it more in domestic meets? I don’t know about anyone else, but I thought the event was extremely entertaining and I would LOVE to see more mixed relays! I spoke to some people who don’t follow the sport and when I explained that event to them, they were instantly interested. And isn’t that what the sport needs here in the US? For more people to be interested? Sometimes, you gotta mix things up to grab America’s attention.

Just my $.02.

I just love a little trash talk, don’t you? Say what you want about T.O., but when he talks, people listen. The media falls all over themselves to sit in on his press conferences and see what he’s going to say next. Now that’s power!

I’m not saying that swimming needs its own “T.O.”, but a little friendly trash talking never hurt anyone, did it?

Now let’s flashback to the recent FINA World Championships, where the American men won the 4×100 freestyle relay. We didn’t post about it here, but before the competition, Australia’s Eamon Sullivan boasted that his team would whip the Americans’ “arses”.

After Team USA handled the Aussie quartet, Mr. Jason Lezak told Sports Illustrated the following:

“You know, my ‘arse’ feels pretty good right now.”

High-five, Lezak! You are the 1st recipient of our “Quote of the Moment” award. Not just for the quote, but the irony of his words. Here is where I was tempted to make an additional comment or two about his ‘arse’, but I won’t. I’ll behave. But the Swim Aids all share the same opinion on this particular badonkadonk.

Ok, is it just me, or is anyone else annoyed by the fact that major publications and websites are continually mispelling a swimming great’s name?

See that logo for the Eric Namesnik Grand Prix? See how it’s Eric and not Erik? That’s how it’s supposed to be. The widespread use of the ‘k’ makes me think that many are thinking about Erik Vendt, and not Eric Namesnik. If I see one more mispelling of Snik’s first name, I’m going to lose my mind! And I didn’t even know him!

But seriously, shouldn’t everyone do justice to his legacy by spelling his name properly.

Someone please forward this memo to Swimming World Magazine and USA Swimming. One would think they knew how to spell his name…

Hayley and Aaron Peirsol: The World Championships ice skaters became the first siblings to win medals at the same meet and on the same day, July 22, 2003.

Nope; sorry.  The Peirsol siblings like their H2O liquid, not solid.

Source: http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070422/FEAT05/704220312/1023

So check it. Over the weekend, Dara Torres posted a 21.91 50y Free which would have given her 4th place at this year’s women’s NCAA Championships. Yes, fourth. In the 100y Free, Dara touched in 48.34, which would have earned her 5th at NCAAs.

This is a woman who just turned 40 and has an 12 month old daughter (who’s birthday is today, coincidentally!). Her goals include making her 5th Olympic Team next year, and if she continues to improve the way she has, there certainly isn’t a reason why she shouldn’t!

In honor of Dara’s continued ass-kicking, check out a scan I came across in the new issue of Shape Magazine; on newsstands now! Most, fitting, is it not? Click the picture to the left to see the full-size scan.