DON McDERMOTT MORE COLUMNS Advertisement

First, a little Christmas cheer ...

The Pahrump Valley High School athletic department's Christmas tree sale is ongoing .... The trees will be available at Wulfy's all weekend ... Proceeds benefit the Trojans' sports programs.

Now, for a look at a darker side of prep athletics ...

The Bishop Gorman junior varsity boys and girl basketball teams that participated in the Pahrump Valley Times Trojans Cage Classic were strong athletically and technically, displaying skills Gael teams will be able to use to their advantage against future Class 4-A opposition.

Two, in particular, will be memorable for their clutch performances -- guards Ashlin Gross and Amber Lane of the girls' team.

But ... until Bishop Gorman boys and girls learn how to act (or until their coaches are willing to enforce a code of proper conduct), future Gaels teams will be facing more public relation problems.

Sure, Gorman could have been sending some kind of "message" to Pahrump Valley athletes, who will be competing in the same division with the Gaels, starting in the 2008-2009 school year. That's when Pahrump Valley teams move into Class 4-A. That message was, not only will we beat you, we will "dis" you at the same time.

Our only problem, that "message" could not be translated.

The Gorman JV boys, for the record, outlasted the Pahrump Valley varsity 78-71 for the title, but the Lady Trojans spoiled the Gaels' sweep scenario by winning 49-46 in the finals

The thing is, Bishop Gorman has enough quality athletes and excellent coaches, the Gaels don't have to display such utter disdain for the opposition. All they have to do in some sports is show up in their blue and orange uniforms and the game is over.

By the way, and for the record, we have covered 11 state championship teams since arriving in Pahrump in May 2001. Ten were girls teams from Pahrump Valley; the 11th was the eight-man football team from Tonopah. We have also witnessed the performances of such athletes as Dominique Maloy (15 individual state 3-A titles in track), Jake Towles (two-time state 103-pound wrestling championships), and numerous other individuals.

None misbehaved; in fact, they were generous in their praise of the opposition and how they acted in public. The trophies they earned were cherished, and the attention they received was appreciated.

There is nothing we can do in Pahrump to change the attitudes in the Bishop Gorman athletic community. We can only hope that was the Gorman teams and athletes did in Pahrump last weekend -- dumping a trophy into a waste can and discarding a MVP plaque -- were aberrations.