I’m sorry. I just have to say something about this.

A couple of days ago Britta Steffen bettered Libby Trickett’s 100 Free WR. She set the new mark in one of the controversial super suits and had the following words to say afterwards:

“I’m feeling in good shape but this suit is of a different world. This is a really weird piece of equipment, one that I’ve never worn before. You don’t die in the last metres and you feel no pain. Under normal circumstances, this suit should be forbidden, and I expect that by 2010 it will be. I felt like a speedboat in water and never in my life would I have believed that a human could glide like that.”

Then, last night I read a new story about the repercussions of FINA’s swimsuit decisions and saw this:

Germany’s double Olympic champion Britta Steffen set a world record in the 100 metres freestyle Thursday, but predicted it would not last long and complained that futuristic swimsuits are damaging the sport.

Wait. There’s more…

Steffen said the record would last only until the world championships in Rome starting next month, and lamented the impact of high-tech swimsuits even though hers benefitted her on Thursday. “This development is a shame for the sport — where will it all stop?” Steffen said.

Is she effing kidding me? How is she going to benefit from the suit technology, set a freakin’ World Record, and then turn around and complain about what suits like hers is doing to the sport? If she cared that much about the sport perhaps she wouldn’t have swam her race in said suit in the first place!

Hypocrisy at its finest, folks.

Sorry for yet another rant, but I just couldn’t let this one pass me by without speaking up.

Yes, I titled this “Bong Gate”. Big whoop, wanna fight about it? I also want to reiterate that we won’t be talking about it that much around here. We tend to keep things positive and light, but when the face of swimming worldwide puts the sport in the news for the wrong reasons, we just aren’t going to sit back and pretend it didn’t happen.

So, consider this post an “acknowledgment”. We don’t aim to pile on. Nothing productive will come of that.

I figured watching my usual ESPN shows today would be a little different. I was right.

First Take was the first thing I saw, upon my first visit of the day to ESPN.com.

My other usual TV viewing included Jim Rome Is Burning, Around The Horn, PTI, and celebrity entertainment shows like Extra and Access Hollywood. My brother even told me that Jay Leno made the topic part of his opening monologue.

It was interesting to see how different media outlets saw the situation and what they thought would happen. I got the impression that the celeb news magazines/shows didn’t think the situation was a big deal. The ESPN personalities and shows, which cover sports 24/7, thought it was a much bigger deal that should have far-reaching consequences. It’ll probably be somewhere in the middle, but I guess we’ll see.

Speedo and Omega will continue to support MP. Wonder who else will or won’t. Is ‘Sponsor Watch 2009′ on? Don’t ask me how I come up with these titles. And yes, I realize that I watch too much TV.

However this situation comes out, don’t expect us to put much emphasis on it on Swim Aids. We’re a goofy lot, and this was a major buzzkill to the Swim Aid mojo; which we’ve been trying to revive lately.

P.S. 10 Cool points to whomever can point out the Family Guy reference I used in this post.

I’m sure I’m not alone, but when I think of Swimsuit Issues, I think of the slick production of hotness that is Sports Illustrated’s annual offering. It’s the Holy Grail of Swimsuit Issues.

Herego, if I see any other swimsuit issues, I expect them to bring it the same way SI does. But sometimes, what we expect, isn’t always what we get.

Case in point: Swimming World Magazine’s 2008 Swimsuit Issue. It’s the first digital issue so I feel there are going to be more. But WHY?! asdfghj

I understand where the need to create one comes from, and I understand that Swimming World is not Sports Illustrated. I also read the letter from Marketing Director Toni Napper that said that high school students were heavily involved in the creation of this special issue. That’s going to look awesome on their future resume!

But I really, really, really, really wish someone would have warned me before I downloaded it. Not a fan. And now I can’t get the time it took to look through it back!

Jason, I’d just looooove to hear your thoughts on this. Please tell me it wasn’t your idea or I may have to rethink our friendship.

No, I’m not kidding.

Omega wants to give the credentialed media members the chance to race in the Trials pool in Omaha. It’ll be a 50 Free race and the prize is a phatty new Omega watch.

The competition calls for journalists to predict their time and the closest guess to the actual finish wins the watch. So it doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned swimmer-turned-media rep and hit the wall first. You will need to bust out your crystal ball to win!

Upon learning our credential applications were approved (yay!) we saw this and laughed. In fact, we’re still laughing. I’m surprised that I can type out this post, to be perfectly honest.

But don’t get your hopes up. We’re not entering this competition. I’ve already talked about what it takes for me to swim and a free watch — even a nice Omega one — doesn’t meet any of the criteria. Sorry to burst your big, fat, red, shiny bubbles.

If there’s one thing Gary Hall Jr. is good at, it’s making bold predictions pertaining to the Olympics.

I’m not sure giving the Aussies bulletin board material is the best idea, even if it does look like Team US has the upper hand on paper. Regardless, that’s what GHJ has done with his latest comments.

“You know as well as I do that it isn’t going to be close. The US team will win more Olympic medals than any other country. It’s not patriotism, it’s an insider’s perspective on the odds.

But tell us how you really feel, Gary!

Does everyone remember the big blow-up when Gary guaranteed results at the 2000 Olympics? I sure as hell do. In Sydney, he predicted that the USA 400 Free relay would beat the Aussie squad and “smash them like guitars”. That didn’t end well…

Confidence is a very good thing. But it’s best to let your swimming do the talking because actions always speak louder than words.

We’re big Amanda fans around here. All you need to do is search our posts and you’ll see that.

But lately, we don’t seem to see eye-to-eye with her fashion choices. She confused us with her unfortunate choice of dress at this summer’s ESPY Awards.

But nothing could have prepared us for what she unveiled at the Golden Goggles.

What is that? Ew. And why doesn’t she ever wear her hair down and soften up her look?

P.S. Where was our dear Kaitlin? It just so happens that we Swim Aids live for the Golden Goggles every year because Kaitlin always knocks it out of the park with her choice of dress. She always looks fierce and then all of the celebs in Hollywood go on to bite her style.

To some, Golden Goggles are all about a once a year meet and greet, where the swimmers get all dressed up and strut their stuff.  But to the Swim Aids, it’s all about the fashion: What Not to Wear style!  There’s already been posts, but I wanna join in on the fun, and try not to offend anyone like I have done in the past!

So, that being said: taking lessons from Phelps or were you just camping for the weekend and forgot a razor?

Note: And yes, I hope this doesn’t come back to bite me in the ass!