How else could it start?

Rather like the Big Bang, the Keeperships story exploded overnight almost literally! For 'twas a couple of weeks after the 2000 World Championships that a seemingly harmless topic (Cheers, Julie!) about commentary was introduced.

It went well...for a while, but skating withdrawal was high and Alexei Fever even higher, and in age-old fashion, the discussion began to 'carol'! It passed from low backs, through quads, to shelves (and something about Canadian butts!) before one of the Fun Girls unexpectedly claimed "total keepership of Alexei's thud" followed by the inevitable and triumphant "nya nya nya nya nya"s!!

Of course, such self-assertive audacity rarely goes unnoticed and unequalled on Baby Board, and the first ever AKY Keepership was quickly followed by a claim for...wait for it...Alexei's Thighs!! Shock, horror, gasp!!! It took less than eight minutes to happen and was made by a fairly prominent person in Baby B's life (tut tut, 'Mom'!).

Understandably the world was never the same again! More Keeperships followed that very night and as the sun rose on the other side of the world, the Euro Gals entered into the foray. Within a month, a significant percentage of AKY and his career had personal Keepers, ready to shower love and kisses, and to combat the confusion of being scattered throughout the world, the first AKY Keeperships List was compiled. Two more followed later, hidden amongst the notorious Drifting Thread, until the idea to create permanent website-based List was suggested...and here is it!

True to say that the Keepership Myth (it does have legendary proportions!) is probably the most competitive, long-lasting 'contest' in our little cyberhome, but we never argue, do we girls? Hmmmm, the Quest for the Ultimate AKY Keepership continues...