Carson High needs more school spirit

BY DARRELL MOODY

Nevada Appeal Sports Writer

Where were all the fans? That's what I kept asking myself when I walked into Carson High's gym Tuesday night for the volleyball match against arch-rival Douglas.

There were maybe 450 fans tops to watch what was a very entertaining match. There should have been double that.

I don't want to hear the excuse of homework either from you students. The match started around 6 p.m. and was over before 8:30. Plenty of time to root for your peers and still crack the books for a couple of hours.

The only excuse that will work is that you went to the Carson-Wooster girls soccer match instead.

What is up, students? I've lived here for about five years, and trust me, there isn't that much going on in this town that should take priority over a school event. Care about your school. Care about your classmates.

I've seen this year after year at Carson. There is way too much apathy among the student body.

The one thing I'd like to see changed is the schedule. I think Douglas-Carson events whenever possible should be on Fridays and Saturdays. Maybe that would encourage more people to attend. I'm talking all spectator sports " baseball, football, basketball, soccer, softball and volleyball.

And, before I get off my soap box, why isn't the Carson-Douglas football game played on Nevada Day? It's a holiday. Hold the parade downtown and make the football game part of the celebration.

- The NBA preseason is already underway and folks in this area will be keeping a close eye on former Nevada stars Ramon Sessions, Nick Fazekas, JaVale McGee and Kirk Snyder.

Sessions, who came on strong at the end of his rookie season with the Milwaukee Bucks, has a good opportunity to start at point guard this season. Mo Williams, last year's starter, is no longer with the team, though the Bucks have brought in Luke Ridenour.

Sessions started the preseason opener, scoring 11 points in 35 minutes of work. He also dished out six assists, grabbed three rebounds and had two steals. On the negative side, he had five turnovers.

Fazekas, who finished last season with the Los Angeles Clippers, opted out of a non-guaranteed contract with the team to sign with his hometown Denver Nuggets. Fazekas grew up in Arvada, a suburb of Denver.

Snyder, who finished the season with Minnesota, doesn't have a contract and isn't in anybody's camp.

McGee was the 18th pick overall by the Washington Wizards. Through two games, he is averaging 13.5 points and 5.5 rebounds. He scored 20 points and pulled down eight rebounds in the Wizards' second game.

- Two teams in the NFC East " the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants " are having problems with their diva wide receivers, Terrell Owens and Plaxico Burriss, respectively.

Owens is whining about not getting enough balls thrown his direction. Heck, T.O. wouldn't be happy unless he scored every Cowboys touchdown. What was funny was that the game he was whining about he had nine balls thrown in his direction.

Plaxico was fined one paycheck for missing a practice and meeting on Monday. I don't know how much understanding a team can be. The Giants' receiver rarely practiced all last season and never once did you hear any of his teammates complain.

What really was brutal is that he wasn't very apologetic upon his return. It will be interesting to see if he pulls the same stunt again before the season ends. If he does, the Giants should dump him. No single player is more important than the team. The sooner some of these high-priced players realize that, the better.

- Contact Darrell Moody at dmoody@nevadaappeal.com or (775) 881-1281