The Associated Press, of all mainstream media outlets, should know it’s Hoff, not Joff. Now they, too, fail at life.

No one messes with ‘The Hoff‘ and gets away with it!

If this is what we are to look forward to, from the press, leading up to Trials, then I suggest we all prepare ourselves for maximum eye rollage.

Why is everyone calling the meet that’s going on in Japan the “Japan Open”? As far as I can see, the 2007 Japan Open was held March 3-4 of this year in Tokyo’s Tatsumi International Pool and is a completely different competition from what’s going on now in Chiba. The Japanese Swimming Federation hosts the Open every year. But every year it’s late February or early March. The 2008 Open is set to jump off February 23.

The meet going on now is officially titled “International Swim Meet 2007 in JAPAN”, not the Japan Open, and not the Japan Grand Prix. So, either the meet was renamed (resulting in 2 Open meets for Japan) and I missed the memo, it’s just a nickname because “International Meet in Japan” is too long of a name, or everyone else is wrong…

Explanations are welcome. I really am curious!

www.japan2007.org/eng/index.html

So we’re sure you’re all well aware that we like pointing when other mess up. It makes us feel better about our own shortcomings. So now it’s time to point out another goof:

After all the blazing times being posted at the Pan Ams, I wandered over to the FINA site to see how some of those swims stacked up against the current world rankings. Then I happened upon the men’s 400 Free rankings. FINA thinks that Alex Vanderkaay competed at Worlds and then Pete took over at Duel in the Pool. While we would have enjoyed seeing AVK compete at Worlds, it did not happen. So the 6th and 7th fastest times in the world this year both belong to PVK. Oh FINA!

P.S. There’ll be no more CVK posts around here. We just found out that he’s a hater. Can you believe that? Who knew?! We’re watching you, CVK! Be afraid. Be very afraid!

When I received the latest USA Swimming Media Release in my inbox yesterday, I literally thought I had lost my mind. Why? Because of the following passage:

Rio-Bound: California’s own Olympic gold-medalist Kaitlin Sandeno will be in Santa Clara to prepare for an immediate challenge as she winds down her training for the upcoming Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (July 14-21). The Californian returns to her home state to compete against a stacked field just weeks before departing for South America.

I could have sworn that K-Dawg was swimming at the World University Games in August. But this release had me thinking “Hey, maybe they switched her to the Pan-Am squad?” Yea, not the case.

A quick email to Kaitlin cleared everything up and I am not losing my mind after all! She is going to Bangkok for WUGs, not Rio for Pan Ams. Sheesh!

In addition to that little mess-up, the release also said that the Santa Clara meet was the 4th stop on the 2007 Toyota Grand Prix circuit. It is not. It is the 5th. Oy vey.

Can someone please go to NYC and persuade Sara Hunninghake to come back? USA Swimming desperately needs her!

All right, I understand how journalists can mistake such names as “Kaitlin” or “Erik,” but not a swimmer that is practically known world wide. 

 Pelps to withdraw from Europe competition

American swimmer Michael Phelps withdrew from the Mare Nostrum European competition due to back injury. 

Ever heard of peer editing?  Seriously, a recent high school grad should not be able to read your article and find five things to correct.  Just keeping it real.

Flashcards are an excellent tool for studying. So, print these out and practice, practice, practice. We don’t want you to get left behind.

Erik Vendt’s names is spelled with a ‘K’ not a ‘C’.

*cough* swimroom *cough*

Eric Namsnik passed away last year in a car accident. He was an amazing athlete, father, coach, and much more. Let us remember that his name is spelled with a ‘C’ and not a ‘K’.

Is everyone still with us?

Lastly,

Kaitlin Sandeno is just to amazing too have her name misspelled. Kaitlin not Kaitlyn or even Kaitlynn. This one should be a no brainer but we just thought we would remind you. It is a review session afterall.

Okay, first he’s called “crack” and then they mess up his training city?  What the hell is wrong with Spanish journalists? 

Baltimore’s “crack” will travel to Europe at the beginning of July to take part in the first of the three competitions of Mare Nostrum: Canet Roussillon (June 9-10).Then, Michael Phelps will travel to Barcelona to take part in the Spanish competition.

Before returning to Atlanta, where he currently practices under orders of coach Bob Bowman, the American swimmer will finish the Mare Nostrum Tour participating in the International Swimming Meeting (June 16-17), in Monaco.