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!

Here’s the evening update. Hopefully there will be no more haters on here wasting our time.

Anyway…

1. The impossible has happened! I have captured a shot of PVK on the awards stand with a genuine smile on his face! I know, I know. Bow down to me. All it took was a little OSU/Michigan humor and he lit right up.

1a. Before his race, I finally got a chance to catch-up with Pete face-to-face. I realized that I hadn’t gotten to talk to him in person since the Snik meet last year. Now text messages, emails, and facebook are all good and fun, but there’s nothing quite like the Vander-wit up close and personal.

1c. What a strange numbering system I’ve got here, huh? Keeping with the PVK theme, I would just like to say how proud I am of him and his awesome 400 Free tonight. I knew he’d eventually go after Kletus‘ US Open and American Record, but I didn’t think it would be tonight! This isn’t even a taper meet! Look out for PVK this summer yo!

2. Kaitlin, whom I apparently “stalk” was a doll again today. I already told y’all how she refuses to keep the chocolate she gets for placing top 3. Well today, a young fan asked for her autograph after the 400 IM awards. When she was done signing she offered the little girl her chocolate. And the girl made the funniest face! As if to say “why would I want that?” haha. Kaitlin immediately turned around gave her chocolates to me. I don’t refuse chocolate Buckeyes. They are delish! She and I joked that the little girl simply didn’t want Kaitlin’s chocolates since she only finished 2nd.

3. I would like to thank UCLA for ruining my bracket. The game was showing in the hospitality room and I couldn’t stop checking in on the scores throughout the session.

4. No embarassing SPA stories this evening. Shout out to Piper and her big-ass feet. No one that short should wear size 11’s homegirl!

5. Gary Hall just ceases to amaze me. He is beyond amazing with fans. I am in awe. Every time I passed him to shoot a race, he was obliging someone’s request for a picture or autograph. And he just doesn’t sign and then move on. He engages in conversations and the whole she-bang. Very impressed! I just love seeing that.

6. The meet officials at the 50m turn are so friendly. I love being able to chat with them while I’m over there.

7. Maybe we should make a new category called “Peter Bick Owns Us”. Because after this meet, that may very well be true. The jokes never end; especially when we gang up on misbehaving swimmers while on the awards podium. JK, JK.

8. Erik got DQed from his second breaststroke race of the meet. Methinks Bob & co. may need to tinker with his stroke a little.

9. T-Dub is majorly M.I.A. He didn’t swim in finals tonight. I look forward to seeing him in the 2Fly tomorrow.

10. Again, Dan Madwed impressed me. He really pushed Pete in the 400 Free prelims, but in finals, he swam a best time too.

11. I’m not as tired as I was this time last night, but I’m still going to pack it in and head to bed. One more day, friends. One more day!

12. So funny story. NBC4, a news channel here, did another story on the meet. I know, I was surprised too. They said that the reason Mike didn’t swim the 400 Free prelims this morning was because he fell asleep on the diving platform and missed his heat. HAHAHAHA I want to believe that, but I don’t know if I can because I could have sworn that saw him leave with a media rep to do an interview long before the 400 Free heats began. It’s funnier to believe that he was stretching fell asleep! It’s ok, though. He wouldn’t have beat PVK anyway

We Swim Aids go to a lot of meets. And I do mean a LOT of meets.

As our travels continue, we’ve come to witness a lot of no-no’s when it comes to what people wear at meets; not just the spectators, but also the athletes.

This edition of “What Not To Wear”, obviously borrowed from my favorite TLC show, is dedicated to spectators.

Tip: If you want to avoid looking like a fangirl and getting laughed at, don’t wear shirts that say things like…oh saaaay… “The Future Mrs. Keller”. We don’t care that you really are engaged to Kletus. The massive rock you are sporting should suffice. You should not, under any circumstances, sport apparel like that…EVER. Try making a shirt that says “Team Keller” or something comparable. That would be a much better decision.

Our dear departed handyman, Big Daddy Keller, seems to be doing well in his new training environment out in Cali. We’re glad. Nothing depresses us more than the mere thought or mention of a sad Kletus.

In an interview with the Orange County Register, Kletus revealed that he knew he wasn’t enjoying swimming as much as he should be. Then went on to compliement Salo’s program at USC/Trojan. So we are left to believe that he is now happy again. Hopefully we’ll get a chance to judge for ourselves in a couple of weeks.

There were no Klete-isms in the article, though. That was most disappointing. We prefer Klete pieces like this one, which appeared on Swimming World Magazine’s website back in 2005. An instant classic. If you didn’t read it back then, we strongly suggest you doo so now…or else!

In other news, Klete is about to become our next “Special Guest” here. It might be a permanent thing too.

So, in light of our dear Kletus leaving the midwest, I thought I’d resurrect this classic Swim Aid video. I honestly don’t think we can ever get enough of this video. No, seriously.

Now remember, you must turn up/on your speakers when viewing this. When I showed PVK this video a few months back, he didn’t “get it” because the big goof didn’t have his sound on. Please don’t make the same mistake he did. Enjoy this tribute properly and responsibly!

A few short months ago, Kalyn Keller left USC and Dave Salo to train with her older bro at Club Wolverine. Now, Big Daddy Keller has decided to go back to USC himself and train under Salo.

This move saddens the Swim Aids. We grew very accustomed to seeing our dear Kletus rocking that ugly CW cap on a regular basis. It brings back fond memories. We cherished the opportunity to see Klete-esque activities like playing with his fat rolls and applying excessive amounts of sunscreen. Does anyone remember the man-UGGs from World Cup last year, or him almost missing his race at the last ever US Open? We do!

The Detroit Free Press indicated that Klete probably needed a change in addition to wanting to finish his degree. And if this move will rejuvenate him and super-charge his swimming efforts, then by all means, have a safe trip, Klete! Don’t forget to write!

So, is there a 1 sibling per club rule going on? Maybe that’s the REAL reason CDJ retired? And if that’s the case, can someone please pass this memo along to the Vanderkaay’s? They are 1 over quota at present time.

kthanx.

AP Photo by Mark Baker

Around here, we make it no secret that the men’s 800 Free Relay is our favorite out of all of the relays. It isn’t exactly rocket science as to why, now is it? We are quite fond of the members of the relay and constantly excited by their dominance in the event ever since that amazing race in Athens! Big Daddy Keller did the damn thing, and touched out Thorpey. So the relay team remained the same and the boys were salivating at the thought of bringing the WR home, where it belongs!

At the 2007 World Champs, the boys were below WR pace the entire time! Mike got it going with a blazing 1:45.36 leg. Next in the water was the Lochtenator (and no, he wasn’t sporting a grill). He, too, continued the pace set by MP with his 1:45.86 200. Next was Big Daddy Keller. I have to say that I was sooo glad to see his name on the entry list. There had been much speculation as ot whether or not he’d be replaced for this race. Kletus, himself, even suggested that he should not swim. As rough a meet as he may have had, there was no one else on the Team USA roster who can represent with the 800 FR like Klete. I knew he’d step up for this race, and he did. The team stayed well below the Aussie World Record during his leg. Last, but certinaly not least, PVK tried out the anchor slot for the first time ever. But even as the “Thorpe WR Line” attempted to chase him down, he kept his pace. Thorpey may have caught the team at Pan Pacs, but not this time! PVK wasn’t trying to hear none of that! He swam a lifetime best split of 1:45.71 and sealed the World Record for Team USA. Then, after realizing that they finally took down the WR they’d be after for years, the boys celebrated! (See above picture) I’ve never seen anyone get out of the pool, after a race, faster than Pete did! It’s always nice to see displays of emotion out of the male swimmers!

It was about been 6AM here, because I was watching live, but still I couldn’t muffle the frequent “OH SHIT!” exclamations and related expletives that kept trickling out of my mouth!

What a race!

P.S. LOL @ Klete being the only one wearing the old Fastskin and not the FS-PRO suit during this race.