I've been like a kid locked in a candy store the last few weeks, ever since the latest edition of the CalHiSports.com State Record Book and Almanac arrived.

I receive my share of publications, solicited or not (the new book about Fresno State baseball by former KFSN-30 anchor Dan Taylor remains, alas, unread), more than my share of sports-related spam and plenty of team media guides, but this one has earned its dog ears quicker than most.

Why? It may be the most comprehensive record book ever written for high schools.

How comprehensive? A whopping 356 pages, approximately the same depth as the white pages of the Kings-Tulare phone book, with listings, some going 30 names deep, dating back to 1897.

That's a tremendous amount of work, especially when dealing with California, where, unlike other states, and only within the last 30 or so years, have state championships gained in importance, and record keeping has been left mostly to schools, newspapers and devoted fans.

Enter Nelson Tennis, who in the 1970s started doing research and compiling lists of records and all-state teams that eventually morphed into state rankings, TV shows, combines, all-star games and now an association with espn.com.

Tennis died in 2004, but what an incredible life's work he left.

Along with the marks you would expect, there's a few you wouldn't, like all-decade teams in football going back to the 1950s, all-time California vs. other states football records and combined boys-girls records in basketball and baseball-softball.

Yet, it's current enough to include the all-state teams for the past football season and squeeze in quick features about California's Olympic legacy and Fresno State's run at the College World Series crown last year.

All in all, it's a reaffirmation of the greatness of California's young athletes - and there's a Kings County presence as well.

Tommie Smith of Lemoore is listed as No. 19 on the list of the state's 100 top athletes of all time, behind Jackie Robinson (Pasadena Muir), Bob Mathias (Tulare) and Rafer Johnson (Kingsburg), to name a few, but ahead of Ronnie Lott (Rialto Eisenhower) and C.C. Sabbathia (Vallejo).

There's mention of athletes of more recent vintage as well, including David Ausberry and the late Shawntinice Polk - and if there's more, it's because I haven't gotten that far in the book - but for a real ride in the wayback machine, there's William Homen.

Who?

Why, back in 1919, Homen hit four doubles in a 19-3 Bullpup win over Kingsburg that made him the first, and one of many, on the list for most two-baggers in a game.

As the saying goes, you can look it up. For ordering information, check myespn.go.com/blogs/calhisports

And now a few more thought hopefully worth that second cup of coffee as fathers everywhere look for ways to hide that tie and settle down for a few hours of baseball, NASCAR or the U.S. Open, if it ever ends.

l Speaking of Cal-Hi, they showed a little love for three Kings County teams in the final baseball and softball rankings.

The Bullpups were ranked No. 13 in the final Division III baseball poll, while Corcoran was No. 14 in Division V. In softball, Hanford West was the No. 11 team in Division III.

l As things pick up steam during the country club portion of the sporting year, where major championships in tennis and golf dominate the scene, one wonders what is worse, the shrieks of Michelle Larcher de Brito or Maria Sharapova (and ear protection is mandatory should they meet at Wimbledon), or the moronic cries of "get in the hole!" heard after every tee shot, even if it's a 500 yard-plus par 5?

Richard de Give is The Sentinel's sports editor. He can be reached at 583-2430 or rdegive@HanfordSentinel.com

(June 21, 2009)