High school athletes, go ahead and take bow

Reading time, two minutes:

If you're still competing this weekend as a high school athlete, you're special.

German Fernandez's attempt at a 1,600-3,200 double at the State Meet tells you why the Riverbank Bruin is the area's most compelling prep athlete.

The Lakers and the Celtics have reached the NBA Finals. The man doing handsprings is NBA Commissioner David Stern.

Deep in their heart of hearts, the Spurs knew championship No. 5 was gone when they blew a 20-point lead in Game 1.

The experts said Brent Barry was fouled by Derek Fisher at the end of Game 4 but that it was a good no-call. Since when can they have it both ways?

Why the call was botched: Fisher was rewarded for being out of control at the exact wrong time.

And, of course: If Kobe Bryant drew the contact, he would have gone to the line.

Wrapping up the mess: Referee Joey Crawford was trying to escort another big-market team into the Finals. Ladies and gentlemen, this is not news.

The revelation of the playoffs is Chris Paul's arrival as a star in New Orleans. The last time the Big Easy saw someone in sneakers so entertaining, his name was Pete Maravich.

The Celtics' Kevin Garnett, comfortable facing the basket and uncomfortable as a marquee player, was another version of Chris Webber until his team checked into the finals.

He must be pretty good: the Giants' Tim Lincecum, 7-1 with that team behind him.

Trevor Graham, the coach who signaled the downfall of BALCO, was convicted for lying to the feds about his relationship with a steroids dealer. Raise another red flag for Barry Bonds.

The NBA will fine floppers next season. Somewhere, ex-King Vlade Divac smiles.

Indy 500 champion Scott Dixon manned the race's hottest car, but no one ran hotter post-race than Danica Patrick.

The slumping Athletics seek a slump-stopper. Re-enter an old friend -- Eric Chavez.

Perhaps you weren't watching, but: The Women's College World Series began with a 194-pitch performance by Lousiana-Lafayette's Ashley Brignac to beat top-seeded Florida.

Just asking: Why were all the qualifiers from the Pacific-10 Conference -- the nation's best -- stacked into the same bracket?

Giants shortstop Omar Vizquel is a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Watch him. He's been doing it for 20 years.

Revisionist historians blame Cal's collapse last fall on DeSean Jackson's shaky attitude. There were other factors, summarized by two words: wrong quarterback.

Bizarre after all these months: Lane Kiffin, still the Raiders' head coach though the boss (Al Davis) wished he were gone.

Two years after they agreed, NFL owners opted out of the collective bargaining agreement with the players union due to skyrocketing rookie contracts. The owners' message: "Please save us from ourselves."

Mike Piazza will fly into the Hall of Fame much faster than Roger Clemens, unless Clemens threatens voters by throwing a broken bat.

Why he's more fun to watch than Tiger Woods: Phil Mickelson pulls off the high-risk shot and wins, or he tries the high-risk shot and crashes and burns.

All shock value is gone for any athlete of the last 20 years who admits he or she has used performance-enhancing drugs. If you're surprised, you haven't paid attention.

The best story of the baseball season to date: the Rangers' Josh Hamilton, from drug abuse to the Triple Crown?

To all high school athletes: Thanks for another super year. You never fail to impress.