Every student athlete dreams of winning a State Championship just once, oh just once, during their 4 year High School career. Those who have experienced the emotional triumph and even moreso, those who haven't, can understand and truly appreciate the extraordinary chain of events that must occur in order to win a state championship.

But....every once in a blue moon, a gifted athlete emerges and separates herself/himself from the pack while crushing opponents in individual and team sports. Even more rare, is the athlete that can produce state championship caliber athleticism in 3 different seasonal sports. While most 5A & 6A athletes are being forced to have to choose a single sport to play, the 1A-4A athletes have the opportunity to play a different sport each season and excel if the talent is there.

As Rip Torn said to a group of hand picked recruits in "Men In Black," "You're here because you're the best of the best,"  it would be easy to picture Nike's Mary Thompson echoing the same lament to a select group in the sequel "Girls in Swoosh." Afterall, it was a top secret installation holding a tryout for those who can do freakish things others dare dream of.

It was a collection of "Who's Who in Women's Basketball" all compiled in Nike's Bo Jackson Gym to witness the 2008 Girls Skills Academy which had attracted the nations top twenty high school girls players. To put it in perspective, Oregon City's legendary coach Brad Smith came over and gushed "Did you see me on the clock? I was solid!" Brad was proud to be tabbed as the 'clock boy' and he did a great job. Everybody who could sneak in was there to see the evolution of girls basketball. Her name is Brittney Griner.

One of my favorite events in the world outside high school sports and college football is about to unfold in what is the greatest track and field venue in the world. Hayward Field is the trackophiles true "Field of Dreams' not just nationally but worldwide. With action starting up this Friday, I thought it might be fun to give a shout out to a few athletes that will be fun to follow and cheer on over the next ten days. Many with local ties and some with stories on how they got to Eugene in the first place you can't help but pull for them.

ANDREW WHEATING-One of the best stories to come around in a while. Not even a high school runner but a soccer player who leaves Vermont and comes to University of Oregon. Running competitively for just a couple of years, finishes second in the NCAA 800 meters last month with a 1:45.32 which gives him the 5th best time of the field. This Duck has just scratched the surface of his potential and has track enthusiasts buzzing. He has 'declared for both the 800 and 1500 meter races. The 800 will be run this coming weekend and the 1500 is the last event that closes the trials on July 6th. So he will get a break and can attempt to make the team in the 1500 Meters if he doesn't get into the 800. (Top three finishers get to go if they meet the Olympic "A" Standard). By the time he's done at U of O he could be one of the all-time greats. He has a blistering kick and is a blast to watch coming down the home stretch where he's been mowing down runners.

The South has risen again thanks to Thunder and Lightning. Behind the one-two punch of Mountain View's Ash Gibson and West Salem's Jordan Bishop, the South broke a three game losing streak to take out the North on an evening perfect for football at PGE Park.

Make no mistake, Jordan Bishop is a PAC-10 wide receiver plain and simple. Making two acrobatic leaping touchdown catches with Jesuit's Raphiel Lambert draped on him, he walked out with the game MVP Award and deservedly so. I'm not sure Mike Riley knows how good he's going to have it and the Duck's who whined about not landing a receiver clearly missed the boat not going after Bishop who finished 2nd in both the High Jump and 400 meters at the State Track Meet and won a state title in the Long Jump just a few weeks back. Bishop is a big receiver with great hands and leaping ability.