Showing a little love to the UM Swimming & Diving program because they killed it at Big Tens last weekend. So, they didn’t win. Almost only counts in horse shoes. Mark my words that they will dominate next year when they host the meet.

Were it not for that stupid winter storm, I would have been able to see some of this meet. But mother nature was not cooperative and then duty called me out to Missouri instead. All my absence really meant is that a certain Vanderkaay (not named Peter) isn’t going to receive individual pictures of himself. Somewere in Ann Arbor, he is crying because he was ready for a new facebook profile picture. I keep it real.

But anyway, as we’ve been preaching for a while because Club Wolverine Owns Us, y’all really need to get out and support those boys. Not because they need it per se, but because they deserve it!

Twenty-One Olympians to Compete in Columbia

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – More than half of the 2007 World Championship team and a total of 21 American Olympians are expected to compete at the Missouri Grand Prix, Feb. 16-19 at the Mizzou Aquatic Center in Columbia, Mo. The third stop in the Toyota Grand Prix Series, it is the last major competition before Team USA heads to Melbourne for the 2007 FINA World Championships, March 18-April 1 in Melbourne, Australia

The World Championships is considered the top international swimming competition in the world outside of the Olympic Games, and this meet will be the best indicator of the stars to watch in 2008. Twenty-two members of the 2003 World Championship squad went on to make the 2004 Olympic Team.

Eight-time Olympic medalist Michael Phelps (Baltimore, Md. / Club Wolverine) and five-time Olympic medalist Natalie Coughlin (Vallejo, Calif. / Cal Aquatics) headline the Grand Prix field. Phelps and Coughlin both kicked off the Toyota Grand Prix Series with impressive performances in Long Beach, Calif., in January. Phelps claimed four victories, and Coughlin captured gold medals in five events. Continue Reading »

 I stumbled upon this news nugget the other day, but couldn’t find a press release. So I held off posting about it until one surfaced. Now that TYR has issued one, I would like to congratulate Amanda on behalf of all of the Swim Aids on signing with TYR!

Congratulations to TYR for amassing such a large roster of athletes! Check out the ever-growing list here.

See, I can praise a swimwear co. just as easily as I can tear one down…

We are proud to welcome two-time Olympic Silver Medalist and American Record holder Amanda Weir to the TYR community. This new arrangement marks the longest athlete sponsorship relationship in the history of the company.

Among her notable accolades, Amanda is recognized as a two-time Olympic Medalist, four-time World Championship Medalist, three-time American Record holder and three-time U.S. National Champion. In 2003, at only 17 years old, she set a Pan-American Games record for her lead-off split in the Gold Medal winning 400m Free Relay.

“It didn’t take me long to know TYR was the right fit for me. Their technology, fashion, and family atmosphere made my decision clear. With TYR’s support, I will be able to achieve my swimming goals for the 2008 Olympic Games. I look forward to contributing to the innovation of the next great Olympic technology. I am thrilled!” said Amanda.

Amanda captured two Silver medals at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. Her first medal was in the 400m Free Relay where she helped to set an American Record and the second in the 400m Medley Relay. In 2006, she established the current American Record in the 100m Free at the U.S. National Swimming Championship. Her incredible Gold medal victory sealed her spot as the dominant female sprinter on the 2007 U.S. World Championship team, which will compete at the FINA World Championships in Melbourne, Australia in March 2007.

We are very proud to have Amanda among of our elite roster of athletes. Welcome aboard!

People just can’t get things right, can they? First we pointed out the DeJong brother goof, and now we have a Vanderkaay brother one, brought to us by the Cal Bears athletic department. Seems they can’t tell the difference between AVK and PVK. Whatever happened to fact checking before publishing press releases?

So it must be said: Can Alex Vanderkaay please get some respect?

Geez.

So, anyone who has emailed me (and received a response) knows that I have a voicemail-only phone number which appears in my email signature. It doesn’t get much action, but it did shortly after the US Open. Seems a “fan” had some interesting comments about the Speedo suit that our favorite Vanderkaay was wearing on the first night of the meet. Take a listen and try not to laugh too much. Or question for you is: “Do you agree?”

Lady Speedo [ 0:01 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Photoshop is fun. The end.

Wandering around the internet can be productive sometimes, right? Well, I found the above flyer, promoting the upcoming US Open, on Purdue’s Recreation Center website. They earn major keepin’ it real points for using a pic of a “Vanderkaay named Peter” too.