For a grand total of 4 hours last night and this afternoon swimming came back into my life!

It’s been a very long stretch since I last covered an event. And while I wouldn’t call what I was doing this weekend “covering”, it was still nice to experience.

Everyone knows of my love affair with the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion on the Ohio State University Campus. It’s literally one of the nicest facilities I’ve ever seen, and I’ve been to quite a few in the past 4.5 years. I went to the Ohio State vs. Kenyon meet, back in October, but that didn’t do a whole lot for me. In my heart, I knew it wouldn’t be right unless the men of the Maize and Blue were in the house.

This weekend they were and I couldn’t have been happier! Not just because I rep for Club Wolverine, but because it meant I got to gossip with one of my fave sets of swim parentals: the Vanderkaays. If you don’t know, you betta ask somebody! Anyway, OSU hosted a big quad-meet that brough Northwestern, Penn State, and Michigan to town. In addition, the Penn State women made the trip to duel the OSU women. For those reasons, the meet pretty much had to be broken up into 2 days. But wait, there’s more! »

No really! You’d be surprised what info gets through on some psych sheets!

I was checking out the competition for this weekend’s Long Beach Grand Prix, which is rockin’ a new main sponsor in Vintage Design Incorporated (instead of Toyota).

Everything seemed normal, including the Lochtenator taking on fiftyeleven events. You know how he do!

Anyway, I noticed an entry by the name of “Miracle Man J Ritter” from Tuscon Ford Aquatics. Miracle Man J is better known as Columbus area native (represent!) Adam Ritter.

I’d love to know the story behind that! But he gets some major keepin’ it real points for entering a meet in this manner. Bad ass, Adam. Bad. Ass.

Check out the proof below the cut… But wait, there’s more! »

I know what you’re thinking. Two posts that close together? What’s going on? Is Swim Aids back? Well, I hope so! Anyway…

I’m all about spreading the love, even for projects that I’m not involved in. So, welcome to “The Pimpin’ Corner”, where I give a little plug to someone or something in the swimming community.

Two of our absolutely favoritest swimmers, Klete Keller and Davis Tarwater, have joined forces to form Big Fish Clinics.

Kletus and T-Dub!! will offer one-day clinics, multiple-day camps, speaking engagements and parent workshops. If I’m a swimmer or a swim parent, I’m all over this. It’s amazing to think that both of these guys’ larger-than-life personalities will be able to fit in the same room in order to conduct a clinic. You will learn and laugh a lot. Seriously. Just check ‘em out!

First Phelpsi gets a shout-out in a rap song, and now comedians are talking about swimming. And by talking about, I really mean making fun of, but I’m sure y’all are bright enough to have figured that out.

Anyway, over the weekend, Comedy Central premiered a new stand-up special from comedian Jo Koy called “Don’t Make Him Angry”. In it, he discusses the American men’s dramatic win in the 400 Free Relay. He’s launched his own personal campaign against France, because he thinks the entire country sucks. Remember, that’s his opinion, not mine. Don’t send me hate mail yo!

I honestly can say that I shed a tear laughing so hard at this bit. I’m sure you will too!

And if you’re sensitive to profanity, this may not be something you want to view. Personally, I didn’t notice any. But at this point in my life, I’m pretty much immune to all of that. Is that bad? Oh well.

Enjoy the clip, below. It’s about 5 minutes long.

So, stop me if you’ve heard this one before…

You own a domain and the place where you registered it was great when you bought it, but has gone down the tubes as of late. Still haven’t heard this one?

Well, when said registrar starts sucking, bad things happen like losing the domain you love. That is what has happened with MGoSwim. ‘Tis a sad, sad time.

Now I do have a few options.

1. Buy another domain in a different extension and resume blogging like nothing has happened
2. Bring back all the Michigan Swim Whore blogging to Swim Aids. It did start here if you’ll recall.
3. Forget MGoSwim and pimp another program. Just kidding. I’m not sure I could do that.

Thoughts?

And now for the latest news in the “Did You Know” files:

I was watching BET — as “The Handbook” requires me to do as an African-American — Young Jeezy’s verse in Akon’s song, “I’m So Paid”, includes a Phelpsy reference. You know Mike loved that. I’m not going to lie, though. I did roll my eyes. Add in the fact Akon’s voice is equivalent to nails on a chalkboard to me and we have a wonderfully memorable moment…for me to poop on!

On a serious tip, though. It’s great to have a swimmer receive a shout-out in any mainstream song. It’s a big deal. Immortalized in pop culture. Having said that, I would have preferred a Lochtenator shout-out instead. Maybe next time.

Watch the video below. The reference about 2 minutes in.

Our favorite swimmer/coach tandem is no more. I don’t know what we’re going to do with ourselves. No seriously. As Swim Aids, our world is now officially crumbling.

Yes, I know this post is overly dramatic, but we need a little somepin’ somepin’ around here, wouldn’t y’all agree? None of us are really on suicide watch or anything. We’re just bummed.

Don’t get us wrong. We love us some Bob-Bow too, but he’s no Paul. Bob has never made any of us a mixed CD. He also doesn’t run over people in order to sit with us at meets. Maybe if he started doing those things, like Paul does, he’d be top dog in our eyes. But as it stands now, there just isn’t any other coach even remotely as cool and Paul Yetter. Just keepin’ it real, yo.