The Week’s MVP

You'll have to pardon the average sports fan in Northern California if he confused this last week with December 25. Over the past few days things have happened in such a magical fashion for Bay Area teams that it wouldn't shock anyone if it's proven St. Nick decided to come seven months early. Controversial San Francisco Giants star Barry Bonds (a National League-leading 10 home runs, just 11 shy of Hank Aaron's career mark) kept swinging at history. The Oakland Raiders wisely chose future QB star JaMarcus Russell with the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft. In that same draft, Oakland native and Cal Bear running sensation Marshawn Lynch was picked No. 12 by Buffalo. And I'd be remised if I didn't mention the San Jose Sharks (though, technically, they're just outside the Bay Area) and the fight they're putting up against the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL playoffs.

Still, even with all that good news in the San Francisco Chronicle and Oakland Tribune, by far the biggest story of the week came from the Golden State Warriors' surprisingly simply triumph over the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Even though the Warriors were 3-0 vs. the Mavs in the regular season, few outside the 510 believed Don Nelson's team could hold it all together under the postseason spotlight. But not only did Golden State keep its composure, Stephen Jackson solidified himself as a big-time player and Baron Davis, one leg and all, further proved he was a superstar to anyone who ever paid attention. Who knows how the next chapter in Golden State's fairytale will read against Utah in the next round? Truth be told, it doesn't really matter because as far as the Bay Area is concerned, it's already had the best week ever.