I know what you’re all thinking: “Who’s the new guy?”. According to the meet announcer, Chris DeJong has now started pronouncing his name “dijon”. Yes, like the mustard. This wasn’t the only mistake the meet announcer made. He continuously gave us the wrong names, lanes, and times throughout the meet today. Now that we’ve all unrolled our eyes we decided to make a post.

A couple of things: if you’re not sure how to pronounce a name, GO ASK! Keep the correct heat sheet, come on it can’t be THAT hard. I don’t know, maybe it’s just me, but if I were announcing a meet I would at least try to correctly pronounce peoples names. I’m surprised no one has corrected him. Next time let me announce the meet. I have no problem pronouncing names, unless they are Japanese.

That is all. Goodbye.

So I’ve landed in California and spent my first day here with my gracious host, kiwi. We’ve also managed to get into trouble…well, not really. Because you’re only in trouble if you get caught, right? We didn’t, so no trouble!

Kiwi and I snuck into Cal’s Spieker Complex, Mission Impossible Style, and made it to the top floor just in time to see the beginning of the Bears’ practice. The trip involved a few rides in the elevator, hiding in the bathroom, dodging giant basketball players, and pictures; because that’s how we roll. Our only regret was that we didn’t think to bring my videocamera with us to record our first adventure of the week. None of that would have been necessary if they didn’t feel the need to lock so many damn doors. We just wanted to see the pool. Geez!

In my excitment for Tuesday, June 26th, I rushed to Target to purchase my copy of Pride, the story of Jim Ellis, Founder of Philly’s first black swim team.

 The movie itself was good!  I saw it in theaters with a non-swimming fan friend, and she loved it.  But, that part that has me disappointed is the special features…or lack there of.

I was hoping for maybe insight on Jim Ellis and the background on his swimming program.  Or maybe even a cast interview on how they felt about training for three months for their rolls.  Heck, maybe even an interview with Amanda or Michael.  Couldn’t they even use the interview with Amanda from the movie’s premiere?

So, in conclusion: Lionsgate films, I saw your previews for your upcoming movies, and my only advice: please have better special features.

Yea, cuz we don’t…

Swim fans in the States will need to subscribe to ESPN Deportes if they want to see any TV coverage of upcoming Pan American Games. I was hoping to catch some of them, but doesn’t look like it’s in the cards. Check out the following release:

The Pan American Games, last televised on ESPN in 1999, will make a comeback of sorts for the sports-programming giant.

ESPN Deportes has acquired the exclusive Spanish-language multimedia rights throughout the United States and Puerto Rico for the competition, and will present over 160 hours of coverage from Rio de Janeiro from July 13 to 29.

The Pan American Games, the largest international sports competition outside the Olympics, In addition to the presentation on the linear service, which is available to more than 3 million Hispanic cable homes in the U.S.

Pan Am Games-related content will also be available exclusively on ESPN Deportes Radio and ESPN Deportes Wireless.

ESPNdeportes.com will have non-exclusive Spanish-language rights in the U.S.

The largest international sporting competition outside of the Olympics, the Pan Am Games features action in baseball, boxing, basketball, gymnastics, tennis, track and field, soccer and swimming.

Back in 2003, when the Pan Am Games were last held, there was a special mini-site on ESPN.com dedicated to coverage. Maybe there will be another for this year’s event.

And on his birthday too, how cute!

So yesterday, USA Swimming put up another one of their swimmer features. This time they big-upped a Vanderkaay named Alex. We’d been wondering when they might jump on the AVK Train, and bets may or may not have been placed. But it’s nice to see his hard work acknowledged. My only critiques are that there were no mentions of his NCAA title from March (that was a huge deal!), and that they should have done a 20 Question Tuesday with him instead. That would have been pure comedy!

Anyway, ch-check it out here.

P.S. I am also amused that the picture of Alex that accompanies this feature is from 2005 (note the non-fug cap). That’s all they got? I have a larger selection than that! And nevermind that it’s only so I can help his mama build up her own collection; it’s still funny!

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!

Speedo sent this over today. Thought I’d post it because, well, it’s the least I can do considering I’ve placed MrP on ice.

Following his record-setting performance at the 12th FINA World Championships in March, Michael Phelps returned to the U.S. seeming larger than life. Now, at seven stories tall, that is truly the case.

The use of the NASDAQ tower as part of a Speedo advertising campaign is a first for the brand.

A 7-story tall Mikey P.? Now that’s a scary thought!