So I realized that I didn’t do one of these yesterday and now, unfortunately, the days are starting to blur together. So here goes on another edition of “Tales From The Deck”

After tonight’s session we felt extreme sadness. I’m talking like being on the verge of tears. Why, you ask? Because T-Dub!! finished 3rd in the men’s 200 Fly, thus not making the Olympic Team. I don’t know if there was anyone else in the meet we wanted on the team more than him, so when Gil Stovall swam the race of his life (props to him, that was badass!) we knew Davis‘ chances at punching a ticket for Beijing were reduced to zero. But he left it all in the pool. That was his best time. For our own selfish reasons, we want him to continue one more year — like a couple of his teammates — but we understand if he’s ready to move on. Seeing how upset his mom (whom we adore) was after the race, was almost too much to bear.

And the sadness didn’t end with T-Dub!! It also extended to Miss Kaitlin, a regular Swim Aid reader. She’s been fighting a string of health maladies and injuries in recent months, the after effects causing her to lose critical strength and stamina. But, she’s been dealing with it like a champ and with the smile we’ve all come to love. She’s going to be in the AquaZone Friday, so everyone go, say “hi”, and wish her well! And please know that she’s ok. She wants people to know she’s not on suicide watch or anything.

Other National Team veterans who look to be on the outside looking in include Tara Kirk, Rachel Komisarz, and Neil Walker. Both Tara and Neil were regular Team USA captains. So this is going to be an adjustment. Tara has another race in the 200 Breast, but with such a deep women’s field, you just never know! We wish her good luck in that race!

Today’s session really broke our hearts though. There were a lot of happy moments, but I think the sad outweighed the good from our point of view. We were elated at Allison Schmitt and Caroline Burckle making the team. I’ve called Allison to the team before, and as recently as last night. She’s such a great kid and we love how her personality calms others before races. She was classic in her press conference tonight. Classic. It didn’t even sink in that she was on the relay until that presser when a reporter asked her about it.

I’m going to put the rest of this post behind a cut because it is looooooong as hell. I’m not kidding! So get to clickin’ to read on.

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LINK: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/24829578#25075509

Also on the Today Show website was the following hilaaaaarious video asking Olympic Hopefules/Athletes who their Olympic and celebrity crushes were. Pay special attention to Ryan’s response and facial expressions, and to Kaitlin, in general. Lochteno were our original fave “swim couple”. Come to think of it, we always tend to like Kaitlin’s boyfriends; she has great taste. And I’d also like to say that it will be a travesty if KS doesn’t get a gig in front of the camera when she retires from swimming. You can’t buy charisma like hers!

Carrie found these for us. Everyone give her a round of applause!

I don’t know if this story actually aired on the Today Show or not, but it’s a featured headline right now and that’s great too!

The Today Show website put the spotlight on Cullen’s efforts to raise swimming awareness in the black community.

If you’re a long time reader of the Swim Aids, then you know I make my fair share of stereotypical jokes about black people swimming. I would like to say, again, that I can swim; I just don’t, unless I have to. Nawmean? However, I will continue to make jokes. It’s just too irresistable; the joke pool is so full!

The feature also calls attention to Cullen and Maritza Correia’s joint documentary (glad those two are back on, being one of our fave swim couples and all) about the trails black swimmers blaze on their way to the top of the sport.

All in all, nice read. Don’t take my word for it, though. Read for yourself.

My fellow Swim Aids informed me last week that Kaitlin Sandeno and Brendan Hansen were supposed to appear on the Today Show tomorrow (err, today), Tuesday’s show. No confirmation of that just yet, but that’s what led me to the Today Show website in the first place, where I was greeted with the CJ feature.

See, putzing around on the internet actually can be productive!

If Miss Kaitlin and B-Han really are on the show, video will be forthcoming.

The Swim Aids are excited. We all are big fans of the TLC reality show “What Not To Wear”. We’ve referenced it on here before. Actually, co-host Stacy London wore the same dress Kaitlin did at Golden Goggles on one of their shows.

Anyway, for those of you who aren’t as informed, “What Not To Wear” is a makeover show. TLC was inspired by the wildly popular version of the show that airs across the pond.

The fashion victim, referred to as contributers, is usually stuck in a rut or just doesn’t know how to dress themselves well. They are typically nominated by friends and family. Then they are secretly filmed for a couple of weeks. This evidence collection will be thrown back in the contributer’s face during the show. Oh, the embarassment!

Stacy London and Clinton Kelly offer the contributer $5000 to purchase a brand new wardrobe as long as their rules for fashion are followed. The victim’s old wardrobe is critiqued and thrown away (not really, they donate it to charity). The cherry on top is that the contributer also gets a session with a hair stylist and makeup artist to help them put their new look together.

So now that I’ve explained the premise of the show, get ready, because Tara will be featured in an upcoming episode. Read her account of the experience on her blog.

I already watch “What Not To Wear” every Friday. I can’t wait to see Tara’s episode!

So, apparently Penta Water is doing this little thing we call “breaking the law”.

As you may or may not know, some US swimmers were endorsed by Penta Water back in 2004, leading up to the Athens Games. Their faces and testimonials were all over the company’s website. Their respective deal are said to have expired in 2006, but the Penta people are still using pictures and quotes from Amanda Beard, Jason Lezak, Kaitlin Sandeno, and Aaron Peirsol to sell their product.

Probably not their best idea because now the foursome are suing Penta, according to TMZ.

And the plot thickens…

It’s been in the back of our minds for a while. Don’t front, it’s been in the back of yours as well. What am I talking about?

I’m talking about who is and isn’t going to retire after Beijing.

The Swim Aids are on pins and needles about this topic. It’s a good thing we aren’t the betting type. Judging from our signing sweepstakes predictions, we’d probably end up devastatingly broke at summer’s end.

There are some we know are 100% done after Beijing. Our dear Kaitlin is amongst this group. Every time we see her, we try to put on the “brave face”. But in reality, we’re holding back tears.

There is another group we are unsure of, but our hunches are leaning towards the pessimistic. We’re in denial. PVK, we’re talking to you, buddy!

Then, finally, there are the ones we know are nowhere near finished. The Lochtenator, The Hoff, J. Hardy, our fave young’uns etc. They keep us going through this time of uncertainty.

We kind of expected Natalie to hang up the suit after Beijing. But she has recently gone on record that she will continue until the London Games in 2012!

There’s been a lot of chatter re: the new Speedo LZR suit and how much of an advantage those who wear it hold.

It’s putting athletes who possess contracts with other swimwear companies (e.g. Nike, TYR, Arena) in a unenviable position heading into the Beijing Games and the selection meets.

Do they risk fines and other penalities and wear the LZR suit? Or do they remain loyal and possibly (I said possibly) miss out on a faster time that could be achieved in the Speedo suit. That is pure speculation based on what I’ve been reading/hearing on the internet.

U.S. National Team head coach, Mark Schubert, has gone on record with the Associated Press that “he will tell every swimmer on his team to wear Speedo at the U.S. trials.”

He will tell them to wear Speedo? Does that mean he will demand/order they wear the suit or strongly suggest it? Can USA Swimming really force a swimmer to wear Speedo; especially if it directly conflicts with their swimwear contract?

Upon doing a little more research, his words were clarified:

“I would strongly advise them to wear the suit at trials, or they may end up at home watching on NBC. Do you go for the money or for the gold? These athletes have been dreaming about winning an Olympic medal since they were eight or 10 years old and nobody can afford to give up two per cent.”

The AP article called out the US Nike contingent of Brendan Hansen, Aaron Peirsol, Jason Lezak and Kaitlin Sandeno.

All the other major players in the swimsuit sweepstakes are developing their own version of the LZR, but it seems the higher-ups of the governing bodies don’t think it will compare with the technology of the Speedo suit.

We already noticed that Erik Vendt, Larsen Jensen, and Mark Gangloff left TYR and are now wearing Speedo suits. It’ll be interesting to see who else defects and from which company.

Things are fixin’ to get mighty interesting coming down the stretch!