Swim Geek Throwdown: Team DeSantis or Team David?

If you haven’t been following it, a storm has been brewing in the swim blog world. A few weeks ago, David Rieder (AKA the Swim Geek) announced that he would be having an National Championships prediction contest. We’ve been predicting meets for a few months here on TSC, but David’s taking it to a whole other level by holding us accountable for our picks.

Then the fun began. Chris DeSantis (aka Wants to Be The Swim Geek), who was one of the pioneers of swim blogging, threw down the challenge to David (aka The Swim Geek), and declared that if he were to outpick David (aka The Swim Geek), that he would then be the rightful heir to The Swim Geek throne.

And now a blog fight has broken out. DeSantis has declared that if he takes the title, he might not even use it. David started talking trash about DeSantis’ past picks. David also pointed out that he was given the title of The Swim Geek by Garrett McCaffrey, who is a long-time friend with DeSantis. The Screaming Viking even got in on the act and waxed about the origins of his own demonstrative swimNick name.

Needless to say, there is a lot of honor, respect, and pressure that comes with the title of The Swim Geek. It’s not just “a swim geek,” but THE Swim Geek.

I’m personally pulling for Team David, as he’s a fellow member of SBU. DeSantis has also threatened to lock the name away, just so that nobody else could have it, whereas David wears the honor proudly.

So, which team are you on? Team DeSantis or Team David?

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David Rieder
13 years ago

Andy, you gonna be able to have yours ready in time for the contest. Deadline is midnight tonight (or tomorrow morning) pacific time.

13 years ago

Even though a significant amount of my previous picks for meets have been from left field, I have been relatively close for quite a lot of them…I guess I’ll have to step it up a notch with these!

David Rieder
13 years ago

Big time. It’s a gamble to pick him to do the medleys or the 100/400 free, which I think would be his back-up on those days. I’m not gonna say which I guessed, so DeSantis can’t change his. Maybe he’ll go with a combo, depending on how it feels on different days and that the 400 IM will hurt more than the 200.

David Rieder
13 years ago

My fourth darkhorse (the only one who was not an NCAA champ) is actually an Auburn guy, and it’s way out there! If he wants to be in the contest, gotta get them in by 12-midnight on the 3rd (3am eastern). Anyone can always change their picks during the meet, just not to be scored. I will be doing that.

David Rieder
13 years ago

Andy picked the foreign pros to place? Usually, foreigners who represent U.S. clubs (i.e., Cielo and the other Auburn swimmers but not Stephanie Rice) can swim at National meets (not Olympic Trials), but I guess not this time since they are picking so many teams and World University Games selection is very complex (who is eligible, etc.).

I knew what you meant, but I was thinking about Garrett’s shows where he picked dark-horses that were often Olympians or something but not great in-season swimmers. Less likely to move up here. I looked through my predictions, and I think I have four people not currently in the top ten in their events, two of them on relays. And three of the… Read more »

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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