Prep Zone

By SG Fan

March 13, 2007 2:59 PM | Link to this

Thank you for this article. My daughter plays for SG and told me that this is what they yelled out all game long. She is usually tough and this stuff doesn’t bother her but it’s the first time in I don’t know how many, many games she has played that she has ever talked to me about what people were yelling at her. It must have been far worse then I or anyone could ever dream would be said to them. Now reading this I can understand what my daughter was talking about! Maybe I am being one of those tough dads that think she should be tough and can’t believe it would affect her play! I told her she needs to play through that crap, but does she really have too?

I will say this that CH girl’s team is a class act but that can’t be said about their fans!! If it was just booing that would be acceptable but it was much, much worse then that!!

If the AD from Collins Hill really wants to know what they were saying I would be glad to tell him/her. But anything short of that and it would look like some poor SG fans crying in their cereal.

By jc

March 13, 2007 3:15 PM | Link to this

Here’s an idea…….As adults (parents) if you see or hear students doing something wrong why not confront them and try to correct the situation. I guess for a lot of folks it’s easier to think someone else should right a wrong. Come on parents step up to the plate and TAKE CONTROL

By SG Fan

March 13, 2007 3:24 PM | Link to this

Are you serious JC. Were you at the game???????? You have no idea what you are talking about!!! If you can’t handle this stuff before it goes out the door it won’t happen. Can you just see someone walking up to about 300 kids and telling them to be quiet and quit saying those remarks. What world are you living in????

By jc

March 13, 2007 3:48 PM | Link to this

Yeah I’m serious SG fan it works..even with all the thugs at CH. Maybe not with just one parent, but as a group of 5 or 6 parents taking charge you will see results.. SG you are probably the type to sit back and blame everyone else Grow a set of GONADS

By School Administrator

March 13, 2007 3:50 PM | Link to this

I was not at the game, but I’ve been to many high school games to supervise the behavior of the students from my school. Controlling the behavior of the students in the student section falls under the ‘jurisdiction’ of school administrators/teachers.

I do not believe that a parent will be able to (or should) go up into the stands and control a group of students. Maybe if that parent’s child was in the group, and the students knew who the parent is, but not if it is a group of students that does not know who the parent is. As a parent, you are looking for trouble if you try to stop them.

Administrators, teachers, etc. need to be paid by the school to be there to supervise. They need to have school ID badges on so the students can identify them as someone that has authority, and finally, they must be willing to step up and enforce a strict code of behavior. Kids who misbehave need to be removed and permanently banned from athletic events. Start it with football season, and then consistently enforce it throughout the year.

That being said, the fact the the games were at Gwinnett Arena may have made school officials more lax. It is easier to enforce at one’s own school, but school officials need to be there.

Parents, inform school officials that behavior is going on and then support them when they remove students. Everyone needs to be involved in the process of cleaning up the “trash talk,” and the school administrators should be the first line of defense.

By Blue Devil Lover

March 13, 2007 4:05 PM | Link to this

I think it is a sad commentary on our youth that they think it is cute to yell thins like “Norcross sucks” which is what the Centennial students were saying at the championship game Friday night and all of what the collins hill’s shugs were saying as well.

I think the parents(us) are at fault for allowing this behavior to go on.

What is wrong with saying positive things?

By SG Fan

March 13, 2007 4:10 PM | Link to this

JC - great if I knew all I had to do is grow a set of GONDADS and the problem would go away I would have done that. I wish you had told me that before the game started. Believe me if I knew that was going on during the game I would have gone over and said something. Since I didn’t even know it was taking place until after the game it’s hard to do. Parents need to parent their kids before they leave the house. Don’t expect other people to do their job!!! I am sure punching out some group of 17 year kids would solve all the problems!!

By Derrick Mahone

March 13, 2007 5:46 PM | Link to this

Thanks David for the blog. Too many times fans go to the game to root against the other team and not cheer on their team. I think if fans spent more time doing that, you wouldn’t have all this bad behavior.

Sitting behind the student sections at Gwinnett Arena you heard it all. One girl was using every four-letter word there is.

But the one that took the cake of the whole tournament was the Centennial fans. After Centennial and Norcross played one of the best games of the tournament, the Centennial started throwing debris onto the floor afterwards.

By Good for You

March 13, 2007 6:28 PM | Link to this

I have all of you beat…At least they are kids… What about ignorant adults who are living their children and BOO, yell out comments to their OWN home team! Then they think that this is part of the game. yes, it does effect our players and we should enforce our adminstration to take action. Don’t have the GHSA rule if you are not going to enforce it. Maybe y’all need to visit a Henry County school and see how they stop it before it gets started. Of course the result is that the kids don’t enjoy attending games, they don’t fill a game. But it is still quiet in the stands.

By big d

March 13, 2007 8:11 PM | Link to this

sg fan you should be last to complain about the student section you fans was doing the same thing

By sg fan

March 13, 2007 8:21 PM | Link to this

Big d - it was my daughter that was complaining not me!!! If you can find a CH player that was being called all those names my daughter was then I would have to agree with your statement. But I bet you can’t!!

By Tired of the Negativity

March 13, 2007 8:45 PM | Link to this

I love the fact that Norcross fans didn’t hear any of the derogatory things that were said by their own against Centennial. You must have very selective hearing. The Norcross student section chanted negatively towards the Centennial cheerleaders for the duration of the game and made some obscene gestures in the direction of the Centennial fans.

I support positive cheering and would love for parents to talk with their children about what is appropriate. The problem is that I’ve seen plenty of parents over the years engaging in the same negative behavior as their children.

Let the players play. Let the coaches coach. Let the officials officiate. Let the cheerleaders cheer. And let the spectators be positive.

By Derrick Mahone

March 13, 2007 8:51 PM | Link to this

SG fan: There were plenty of insults directed towards some Collins Hill players. I like the energy and excitement that the students bring to the game, but they should spend more of the energy rooting for their team as to berating the other team’s players and coaches.

By smiths

March 13, 2007 9:22 PM | Link to this

You need to do some research before you start pointing your finger, the cops sent into the centennial section escorted two parents out not student. Centennials athletic director has talked to us, the students mulitpul times about behavior. Stop making stuff up to make your story sound better you are only losing credit.

By Tired of the Negativity

March 13, 2007 9:36 PM | Link to this

SmithS…were they Centennial parents? I’m not even sure. It looked like they were sitting behind the Centennial student section…

By David P.

March 13, 2007 9:44 PM | Link to this

Smiths: No where does it say police were in the stands to escort students. It was simply an attributed statement from the Collins Hill athletic director.

By David P.

March 13, 2007 9:47 PM | Link to this

Smiths: One more thing … what’s up with throwing stuff on the court after losing?

By Steve

March 13, 2007 10:00 PM | Link to this

Unfortunately, this kind of drivel is spewed at events all the time. TRUE fans who are there to watch a game an not show their appalling ignorance have GOT to get off their butts and report abusive language to arena officials. the GHSA has provisions for removing “fans” who curse, use abusive language or otherwise take obnoxiousness to a new low. As a high school basketball clock operator, it has been my pleasure several times over the years to summon authorities to remove morons like the people described by Purdham. The looks on their faces, well, it was well worth the hassle.

But people, if you sit there, listen to the garbage and do nothing, it won’t stop. Ever.

By coach

March 13, 2007 10:37 PM | Link to this

I was at the Centenial- Norcross BB game the other night.and I hear this voice yelling air, ball ,air, ball, looked over and it was a grown up, sitting with his daughter and wife. He wasn’t trashing Norcross after the game. Go Devils. What an obnoxious parent. I was there to watch a game and he really showed his a… during the game.

By at the game

March 13, 2007 10:44 PM | Link to this

The Centennial parents are rude, crude and obnoxious. period. end of story. They need to act their age. the 2 that were escorted out on Friday,should be banned from high school events. there is no reason for the language and finger(middle)) pointing at other parents. They have no class. It shows even when they host events at their venue.

By Blue Devil Lover

March 13, 2007 10:48 PM | Link to this

As for the comments about the “Norcross fan’s selective hearing”…if that is directed toward me, my answer is if there were derogratory comments directed at Centennial’s team players or cheerleaders I denounce them as well.

I know that our cheering section uses the phase “losing team” to describe our opponents and I do not even approve or appreciate that comment either.

We (all of us)are losing “respect” in our society for others and maybe this thought makes me a am little old fashion but it seems like we need to consider heading back in the other direction.

As a parent and a avid fan this discussion as helped me to see that I must do a better job showing respect to referees, coaches and other team player. remember this is just a game and winning is not everything.

By George

March 13, 2007 10:54 PM | Link to this

The Norcross Student Section, has a police officer, 2 football coaches and a school administrator making sure that everything doesn’t get out of control. Their chants are in good clean taste and designed to be funny. What the kids do is have a good time at the games and the team considers the cheering section the 6 player.

By George

March 13, 2007 11:01 PM | Link to this

Enough of the talk about the fans. Norcross beat 5 of the top 9 teams in the State and are the BEST TEAM IN GEORGIA… AGAIN!! GO DEVILS.

By Knights cheerleader

March 14, 2007 1:33 AM | Link to this

I’m a Centennial varsity basketball cheerleader, and was also at the championship game last Friday. I know the Centennial fans may get out of hand at times, and say crude remarks. However, our fans have never harassed another team’s cheerleaders after losing by one point in an extremely tough game (which is what the Norcross fans did). Being called “ugly cows” and mooing teenage girls off the court is not good sportsmanship. It’s abusive and inappropriate, and that is only the beginning of what was said on Friday night.

Also in response to Centennial fans trashing the court, it was actually Norcross fans who started it when they threw their drinks and food at the players and cheerleaders moments after the game ended. That, plus the actions of one a ex-Centennial now-Norcross player who ran over to the Centennial fans, took off his jersey and stood there waing in their faces, made the Centennial fans become angry. I’m not justifying what they did, it was completely disrespectful, however neither school is innocent here… The only reason the

By Hick from the sticks

March 14, 2007 8:01 AM | Link to this

The only thing I’m chastising in this column is your wretched use of grammar.

Bear witness:

“And not every Eagle fans is an immature idiot.”

I’m going to let it slide that you started a sentence with a conjunction. I know you would probably respond with creative liscence or something of that ilk.

Fans is?

The only thing you should be shaming right now is your lack of editing.

By Fan

March 14, 2007 8:09 AM | Link to this

I agree with one of the earlier comments, someone needs to say something to the individuals with the poor behavior or find a school administrator and let them handle. People need to cheer for their teams and not against their opponents. It is obvious by all of the posts that many people were never taught this. I coach youth sports and always talk to my teams about being good sports and show class, win or lose. Maybe we need to teach this to more kids and some adults that were never taught.

By wildcat07

March 14, 2007 8:58 AM | Link to this

well BY GEORGE, dont 4get your toughest game of the year against wheeler in the first round, where you had the ultimate home court advantage of having the refs miss 3 fouls in a 12 second span of the final momments, so r u really the bbest team in the state?

By KSShake

March 14, 2007 10:58 AM | Link to this

NO ONE is innocent hear! Nearly every school that has one of those “Fake Wannabe Duke Cameron Crazies” large student sections does it. Large being the key. Because the ignorant cowards that do it feel the strength in numbers. The whole fan concept nowadays is stupid. Even from the fanatical parent perspective. I feel like someone who mentioned it earlier. I can’t stand “fans” regardless if their a student, parent, or whomever that spends the entire game complaining about every call the referee makes agaist their team and berating and insulting the other team, instead of cheering for and encouraging their own team. I knew their would be SOMETHING South Gwinnett people would complain about since their was no disputing how Collins Hill waxed them in the game, leaving no doubt. Because there is a classic case of selective listening or hearing going on here because South Gwinnett fans were and have been just as obnoxious in the past. But because their team was getting it haned to ‘em. They weren’t as obnoxious. Norcross fans were no better than Centennial fans either. I have to admit it, the fans (students as well) were MUCH better in Macon on Saturday. Jordan’s fans and team (with no one over 6’3) were awsome. East Hall has it’s own little fan cheer that catchty, classy, and postive. Whenever their teams on a run or their trying to get’em going they start it. The other schools were FAIRLY cool as well. More parent initiated referee harrasment than anything. But over all the behavoir was MUCH better. The folks from Jordan and Hawkinsville were just tickled to death they won and their kids kids fought, scratched, and clawed their way back to beat teams no one thought they could beat and Wilikinson Co. was just trying to get some respect and was talking about how their little 1A school with 3 Div. signees and 4 in all, felt they could play with ANYONE, regardless of classification. I tend to agree with them. But, I just don’t want people to try to tarnish or taint Collins Hills and Maya Moore’s accomplishments (South Gwinnett folks are just feeling a little salty and its made them have taste for sour grapes). Because those ignorant type fans have been doing things like that ALL season to people other than South Gwinnett and I’m quite sure throughout the season their rowdy fans have given their share of insulting cheers as well. I’m not saying its right by any means. Peolpe been saying ignorant stuff to Maya all season.

By SG Fan

March 14, 2007 11:44 AM | Link to this

KSS - I will repeat my statement above, it was my daughter who was complaining (who played in the game) and not the SG fans. This had nothing to do with the outcome of the game and as I stated also above people would take this as SG having “sour grapes”. Take time out to think about the girls playing the game and not who won or loss the game. I am sure if you had a daughter playing in the game you won’t want people screaming those remarks at her either! CH was the class team that night and we who are SG fans don’t disagree with that. I can only tell you what my daughter told me and believe me it was not me that started this blog!!! Also, I am not saying SG fans were any better or worse but if you read the first part of the blog the writer talks about CH fans!!!!

P.S. I just thought people would want to hear what a player thought about what was being yelled at her/them and maybe we could come up with something that would help prevent this from happening to anyone in the future! I don’t think it’s a one school probelm. I think it’s wide spread and some kind of action needs to take place! Also, KSS CH played a great game and they are a class act!!!

By from over the Hill

March 14, 2007 12:08 PM | Link to this

First off I would like to congratulate ALL of the teams for the amazing games played last Friday, considering that is what we all wenty to see in the first place. Second, I would like to point out that not every fan and/or student was behaving disrespectfully, and it is ignorant to think so. Now with that said, I would like to get to the matter at hand. First that at one point during both games each team had a group of fans shouting things that may have been offensive. if the players can’t handle it, i’m sorry. I played basketball and volleybal of a total of around 10 years as well as other competitive sports. Sometimes the fans say things that are mean and hurtful, though they only say it because they want they’re team to win. I’m not justifying that what they do it right, but I am saying that it happens. If someone wants to patroll the crowds in the games, go right ahead. Try to escort out all fans who say such things. But when you’re done, you won’t have many fans left to cheer on your team. everyone slips up. Things sometimes get taken out of context if the listener only here part of the statement. For example: David, when the Collins Hill fans started cheering “[jersey #] go back to the zoo”, it was in reaction of a South Gwinnett player hitting a Collins Hill player in the face. Pretty animalistic behavior, don’t you think? Now can we please stop chastising the fans and just appreciate the most important part of Friday night…the game?

By SG Fan

March 14, 2007 1:05 PM | Link to this

From over the hill - I guess there is no problem here and according to you we should just move on???? I think we should all stick our heads in the sand and pretend there is no problem here. I too played high school and college ball and I can tell you I never got called what my daughter got called Friday night. Now again I want everyone to know it didn’t affect her game (as far as I know) at all and this blog was not started by any parent of a SG girl player. But do they have to hear that crap playing a high school ball?? I know what play you are referring too (about the girl getting hit in the face) and it was not on purpose! In fact the girl from SG went over to help the CH player up. I am sure the fans you are referring too in your example took that class act and gave it no credit???

P.S. my daughter is moving on to college ball next year and if the parents that have kids still in high school believe this is all ok then so be it. I am here just telling you what one player heard and what was said to her (all game long)!! I would again set the tone that I am sure you won’t want to have your daughter hear or have to put up with some of the crude and nasty things that were being yelled Friday night. Don’t convince yourself it was just some innocent remarks being said and its all part of the game! It’s not!!!

By Go Blue

March 14, 2007 2:01 PM | Link to this

get your head in the game…thats all it is..i am a studwent and you guys need to realize this happens in college and its just fun. when it ends in fights that means it got out of hand. these are just words. stop being such babies and cheer.

By SG Fan

March 14, 2007 2:48 PM | Link to this

Go Blue - that’s what it’s all about, getting your head in the game!!! I wish you had posted your post way back when and I won’t have had to waste my time writing all that stuff!! I guess better late then never!!!

By David P.

March 14, 2007 3:17 PM | Link to this

Go Blue … So you’re fine with kids using homosexual slurs in chants, just because it happens in college?

If a college fan jumps off a bridge … you get the idea.

By Ponce de Leon

March 14, 2007 4:03 PM | Link to this

This type of behavior is a result of our society and its “me first” mentality.

It’s the same mentality that tells rush hour drivers that their destination is the top priority and that everyone else is in their way.

It’s the same mentality that tells pedestrians that they are entitled to walk out into the street in the crosswalk anytime they want just because there is a sign there that says stop for pedestrians.

It’s kind of like comments on a blog. Purdum writes an article, and we all think “hey there’s not enough of ME in that article” and start commenting.

Lead by example. That means you parents and blog commenters.

By DB

March 14, 2007 5:19 PM | Link to this

Add one more thing too.

I would like to see the GHSA adopt a rule that students must meet the same academic standards to attend a game as the kids do that participate in them. Have the schools sell the game tickets only to students that are making passing grades. I have been around many high school events and often times, it’s the students that are lazy and not performing that are causing the majority of problems just as they do in school. The teachers and administrators know who causes most of the problems so why not keep them from attending athletic events if they can’t behave and do the work required to at least pass.

By bbfan

March 14, 2007 5:25 PM | Link to this

How many of you who were so offended by these “obnoxious fans” actually went to Arena staff and complained about behavior? Aren’t they there to make sure that their guests feel safe and comfortable? Don’t they have the authority to escort people out of the facility? Sure they do. It seems to me like some of you(including you Mr. Purdum)should have taken a proactive approach, at the time, rather than react now. Shame on you if you let a bunch of kids ruin a series of great games for you. As for calling these kids thugs……I am not sure that I would go so far as to call a bunch of immature teenagers in silly hats thugs. The season is over. We should celebrate what is good about HS basketball and save the morality lessons until next season. Oh yeah, I forgot. The media loves to focus on the bad and overlook the good. My mistake.

By who cares???

March 14, 2007 6:44 PM | Link to this

Who cares? Its the state championship, 14,000 people - ENJOY yourself.

and some of you people are idiots… having a certain GPA to ATTEND the games?

hahaha ridiculous.

Let the kids be kids. I’m pretty sure everybody here has said a curse word or 10 over their lifetimes.

And to Devil Lover or whatever - are you SERIOUSLY upset over the “losing team” chant? That chant Norcross kids do is one of the best and most organized I’ve seen in 5 years.

Bravo student sections…. bravo!

By I WAS THERE

March 14, 2007 10:46 PM | Link to this

There was no mistaking that the Norcross fans were yelling B@LLSH#T. All the kids do it. GHSA is full of it. They won’t inforce the rules. Student sections should also be behind the goals so that serious fans can see the games and not have to be blocked from the action by many kids who are just there to make the noise and have no appreciation for the game.

By fan

March 14, 2007 11:09 PM | Link to this

to the knights cheerleader…if the centennial students wouldn’t have used homosexual references towards the norcross player that used to go to centennial during warmup, perhaps he wouldn’t have felt like doing what he did after the game…right or wrong. i think the problem is these kids just get slapped on the wrist and are not made to suffer any consequences most of the time. i’ve been to a lot of norcross games this year and at one game i watched some of their senior student leaders yell at the oak hill boys “you suck” during the “hey” chant the band was playing. (they were only the #1 school in the nation!) the students had been lectured prior to the game not only by teachers at the school but by coach eddie martin himself asking that the students represent ALL of norcross and not do that as they had at past games. with some spoiled kids, and they know who they are, it falls on deaf ears because sure enough the first chance they got they were there doing it again. norcross actually behaved for a change at the finals. but centennial sure did act like they hadn’t ever been there before. hopefully they aren’t again for a while based on the way their students acted. on another note…stand up and make the kids/parents leave games when they act out. like steve said…if you’re not willing to do something about it whether it seems like being a tattletale or not…then don’t complain. people will never realize the true meaning of competition…it’s all about winning to most unfortunately.

By George

March 15, 2007 12:19 AM | Link to this

Dear wilcat07, yes i was there and the game was called fairly, get over it you guys lost to Centennial and us. they were playing that way the whole game and for your coach to say there should have been a foul called is BS. we hosted the round because we had a better record. period. take that argument to GHSA you idiot. YES NORCROSS IS THE BEST BASKETBALL TEAM IN THE STATE AND THE 6TH BEST IN THE COUNTRY. GET OVER IT. YOU AND CENTENNIAL LOST BY ONE DANG POINT. AND WE WON ……END OF MY POST.

By Ball Player

March 15, 2007 1:04 AM | Link to this

SG Fan…no offense at all, but your daughter will have to get over it. I don’t know what level of competition she is going to play at, but it happens everywhere. I myself played and started on two of CHHS state championship teams and went on to play at a higher level. I got called all sorts of names, some not worth mentioning on here. It wasn’t because of how I played or who I was…matter of fact, it was how I did my hair. I know it’s petty…I was raised not to sink to their level. I even started taking the insults as a compliment, because I knew I commanded the crowds attention when I stepped out there. I am not saying it’s right…but the whole point of the crowd saying it, is to get in the head of the person they are saying it too. When you are in that position, you realize that the only way to really make them shut up, is to shut them up with your play. Which is what I did, game in and game out. It actually turned into something that fueled me to play better. People are going to say and act how they want too. You aren’t going to make a point by getting them kicked out of a game. It’s up for the players and other parents and students who don’t agree, not to go down to their level, by bashing them on vents such as these. Good luck to your daughter in her endeavors in basketball in college. Those four years go by quickly, especially playing.

By coach

March 15, 2007 3:34 AM | Link to this

One last comment to wildcat07, the Wheeler-Norcross game was very physical. Tony Neysmith,was elbowed,bloodied nose,(which turned out to be broken) no foul called. I was there 2nd row and saw pleanty of fouls that were never called(both ways). It was a classic, physical high school game, the ref’s let them play and were not calling cheap fouls. All in all it could have gone either way, but your coach(Lipscomb) has enough experience to know what type of a game they were calling. He should not have bad mouthed the ref’s and rant and rave about the ending. It’s a game and being a sore loser showed no class.

By SG Fan

March 15, 2007 8:19 AM | Link to this

Ball Player - fair enough! Thanks for your point of view and your best wishes for her. I agree with you and she did play through it. Outside of her just making those comments after the game and then reading this blog I just thought people would want to know what was really being yelled at these girls! This is just a parent’s view and if nothing changes I would suggest parents of players playing sit as far away as possible from the student section because if I heard those things being yelled at her I would have probably been kicked out of the arena or worse!!

By mesue

March 15, 2007 9:17 AM | Link to this

Mr. David Purdum you sure stired up a bunch of anger toward CHHS and Norcross with this article. YOU need to go back to the 2004 CHHS / Stephenson Championship game if you remember it. If not then go back in the AJC archives and find the article about how the Stephenson fans were escorted out by the police. I know Curtis Bunn will remember that game because he has mentioned it in two of the columns just a week or so ago. Anyway that situation got really nasty. It was so bad that when CHHS and Stephenson met in the Semi’s the next year the officials at the Arena brought in extra Police to make sure it didn’t happen again. Do it’d been going on for a while and it goes on in every sport.

It doesn’t start by the students at the High School level. Have you been to any kind of game in the youth leagues lately. I regularly go to youth league football games and some of the things I hear from the PARENTS at those games is disgusting. My take is, That’s where it starts. I’ve seen the parents actually get into fights at those games. What they don’t realize is that the Coach of the team that their kid is on gets fined by the Association. But hey, that’s another story.

As for you missing Maya’s final moments how could you. The whole arena gave her a Standing Ovation for at least a minute or more. The ref’s didn’t even seem like they knew what to do. Like should they stop the game or what. As for Maya and her team mates for the last four years. She, Maya and the different team mates have heard some extremely ugly things yelled at them. Especially at that 2004 Championship game. But Maya has led the way in how to handle that stuff. She played through it and got better with every game. She is a beautiful young lady and can play great basketball but I have heard her being called terrible things and I know she has heard them also but I never saw it affect her play or her class. That goes back to her morals and work ethics instilled by her Mom and also give some credit to her coaches Angie Hembry and Tracy Tipton.

All players, male and female should refer to Maya’s High School career as a true lesson in Class and Greatness and strive to be the best like she has done and will continue to do.

By wildcat07

March 15, 2007 9:28 AM | Link to this

well By George, u need to get your facts straight , bcuz we beat Centenial by ten when we played them, and i hope you dont think two mcdonalds all-americans slashing down on another all-americans arm is FAIR! Even th fox5 news couldnt believe that there wasnt a foul called, i mean congrats on the home court advantage, but i didnt know the refs were part of it too! and trust me ya’ll are not the 6th best team in the country, and neither are we, when it comes to big games AL-Farouq is going to get in foul trouble and Jordan Demercy is going to go in a shell, just ask Peachtree Ridge..Lol

By rmcfan

March 15, 2007 9:47 AM | Link to this

Wow! It’s deja vu all over again. This blog is almost identical to what was said after the games last year. I guess nothing has changed. I do agree that the student sections should be in the end zones.

By Michael

March 15, 2007 9:53 AM | Link to this

Sadly, it isn’t just students who yell unacceptable things. At a recent middle school game, parents of a supposedly Christian school were saying racially negative words and comments to some of the opposing players. What these ignorant fans don’t know is that a good coach will use the crowd to energize his/her team. So parents and students, keep talking and booing. Once my team goes up by double digits I expect you’ll be sitting down with nothing else to do the rest of the game!

By The Man in the Green Hard hat

March 15, 2007 10:35 AM | Link to this

Hey south mommies and daddies “we got 3 rings yes we do, we got three rings how ‘bout you??????? was that cheer “clean” enough for you?

By wildcat07

March 15, 2007 11:23 AM | Link to this

well we got four at wheeleer so it doesnt bother me…Lol

By wildcat07

March 15, 2007 11:36 AM | Link to this

Dear COACH, although the game had plenty of good big men, it was not extremely physical , both of the all americans were very finesse, and i could understand if the refs missed 1 call, BUT THEY MISSED 3 CALLS, to end a classic, there is nothing classic about that! and Tony Nesmith nose got broken when J.J. spinned baseline and he happened to b in the wrong spot at the wrong time, a foul was called and he returned a few moments later. I dont know what team u coach , but if the refs did what they did to us, then i hope you would say something also, cuz if i waz one of your players, i would be highly upset that u didnt!

By construction crew member

March 15, 2007 12:18 PM | Link to this

Heckling is a part of the game. We do that to get into the players heads and it obviously worked. So we did our job to ensure our third straight championship. Stop complaining South.

By SG Fan

March 15, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this

You hard hats - boy that’s great to remember your high school career because you couldn’t cut it on the court you had to sit in the stands and yell crude things at the ones that could play????? Get a life and move one!!! I am sure you made your mommies and daddies feel real proud!!! Don’t be upset with the ones that could do it just because you couldn’t do it!!!!

By Wheeler is living in the past

March 15, 2007 12:54 PM | Link to this

Give it up Wildcat. You lost. If you had made freethrows with 20 seconds left you wouldn’t have been in that position in the first place. You also had a 8 point lead at halftime. You let a reserve come in and torch you in the first half. You let Gani dunk and dunk and dunk some more in the 3rd and 4th.

Then you want to complain about a last second call.

HA!

By cryariver

March 15, 2007 1:02 PM | Link to this

well the student sections thank all of you who bicker and complain about our spirit. However we are sorry for a few choice chants. If you’re daughter is crying because of what we say.. She’s not concentrating on the game! PERFECT that’s what we do. Thank you for recognizing it. However if you want to talk immature and idotic we can talk of two choice SG players. These two female players for the team, both starters, chose to, in anger and sadness, vandalize the houses of two CHplayers on teh night of there embarassing loss to CH. As for the “comet crazies” I’m positive they have many cheers that are vulgar and outrageous however it is hard to cheer when you are down 20 points in the state championship. Congrats to norcross and CH for winning the state championship and please quit whining. kids will be kids.

By cryariver

March 15, 2007 1:04 PM | Link to this

SG fan it’s aparent you’re daughter couldn’t cut it on the court because of us! thanks and I know she couldn’t have cut it at the hill. 3 time STATE CHAMPS AND NATIONAL CHAMPS!!!

By man in the green hard hat

March 15, 2007 2:16 PM | Link to this

hey SG fan i dont play basketball you can find me on the football field… guess your kid cant cut it on the court either. better luck next year

By A proud Member of the Collins Hill Student Section

March 15, 2007 2:56 PM | Link to this

I am a proud member of the Collins Hill Construction Crew. We are there to support our girls. Yes we heckled the other team. Yes we made fun of the SG student section. And yes we even heckle the cheer leaders from time to time. However, we also cheered on our Lady Eagles. When we heckled the SG team we kept it clean, in the sense we did not use cuss or use homesexual slurs. Our student section never cusses at anyone, and the homesexual slur was a one time thing that was directed at a student in the fan section of SG. Even though we keep it clean, it doesn’t mean that we don’t get mean. we do our part to help the team by getting in the heads of the opponents. During the season if we were to go to far, our administrators would tell us to bring it down a notch and we would. So for those complain about student sections in high school sports I have two words for you, “Stop B***”. If heckling players should be banned, then the student and every one else should be banned from heckling the refs because it gets just as mean.Anyways that is all i have to say to your b***. By the way The Collins Hill Construction Crew will be back in full force next year to to help our Lady eagles back to State.

By KSShake

March 15, 2007 4:27 PM | Link to this

SG fan, after reading some of these other blogs I don’t know if you’d rather continue to respond to my more basketball focused analytical blogs or some of this other “stuff” I’ve been reading. Hey man, I’m sorry your daughter was subjected to whatever “mean spirited” comments. Ignorant heckling is everywhere and Cameron Crazies Wannabe Copycats are out in full force. As a matter of fact, I heard some extremely ugly stuff directed towards Douglass players when they played South Gwinnett, and some of it wasn’t coming from students. Mays players experieced the same thing as did Stephenson. But good luck to your daughter and be thankful she’s had the experience and she’s gonna be able to play at the next level.

As for those polls and rankings, I could care less about what some computer spits out or what some biased writer’s opinion is. Going by THIS SEASON, Stephenson WAS the better team. I admit South Gwinnett had a better team last year, why is it so hard for you to say Stephenson may have been better this year. Well without the bebefit of a head to head matchup, I guess you’re suppose to go with your kids team so that’s understandible I’ll give you that. But come on man, the schedules and teams they played and who those teams have played is fact. It is fact that Stephenson played Collins Hill more than a little better than South Gwinnett did. Your team was better last year because Lockett was able to handle athletic pressure and distribute the ball (especially getting it to Howard, who was all but iced out of the game by all of those crazy, ill advised 3pointers). Howard could have possibly gotten Taylor and Queen MAYA the Great of Collins Hill into foul trouble (as a matter of fact Taylor got in foul trouble anyway and it was STILL a woodshed job. Collins Hill didn’t even come at ya’ll with pressure.

Be true to your Daughter (your right to defend her, as her father, you’re suppose to, regardless of what ANYONE on this blog says, including me, but I’d never come at you like that, because I respect any man being a father to his child, and thats real talk), hey and continue to be down for your school, Maya is gone, EVERYBODY’S got a shot next year. Personally, I know in my heart and my basketball senses that Stephenson was a little better than South Gwinnett THIS year. But it really don’t matter beause it’s such a FAR distance between anyone and Collins Hill and its their moment to shine so I prefer to give Queen MAYA the Great of the Collins Hill Dynasty and her FABULOUS teammates all of their props and all of the limelight.

By Collins Hill student

March 15, 2007 4:54 PM | Link to this

this is to the writer of the article..if you dont have the balls to sit there and watch an athlete play her last highschool game bc your “worried about what the crowd was going to say next” then maybe its time you get another job…and no one cares what people in washington do this is the south. When you grow a pair and grow up then you should think about writing again.

By george

March 15, 2007 5:53 PM | Link to this

hey wildcat07, 50 years from now no one is going to give a damn one way or the other. all i know is WERE NUMBER ONE and you guys got beat like a drum. even if it was only one point. and by the way your right the PR game the ref’s called everything against Norcross. Saw a replay of the game,Hayward had 12 fouls and was called for 5. so where does that leave Wheeler? in 9 th place. hows the weather down there…lol

By coach

March 15, 2007 5:54 PM | Link to this

got to love this blog!!!

By sg fan

March 15, 2007 7:52 PM | Link to this

KSS - thanks for the words and I know we don’t always agree but family is family and at the end of the day you need to protect them as much as possible (in fact it’s my job). So I have been over here on this blog dealing with the hard hats!!! You are right no matter who is 2nd they can’t even begin to close the gap between them and CH. All the props to moore and the gang!!! What’s GA going to do next year without moore. They will have withdraws big time. Won’t be the same!!!

By construction crew member

March 15, 2007 8:04 PM | Link to this

SG fan, i am starting to get the impression your daughter was, the point guard, Winchell. In case you didnt notice she might have made 1 three pointer of the nearly 12 she shot. So our chants managed to get into her head and forced her to have an off game. Maybe at the next level she can get a chance at winning a championship right, or three, but she will have to get used to the heckling.

By cryariver

March 15, 2007 8:33 PM | Link to this

if your daughter is winchell, she was 0-11 from the arch and also you might want to ask her about the mass ammount of toilet paper and mustard she may have bought that night? yea we got into her head.. we owned her. i would still like sgfan to comment on the vandalism that took place in the CH community by the hands of two SG players that night of the whooping. anyone else?

By another construction crew member

March 15, 2007 8:41 PM | Link to this

this is too all who are hating on Collins Hill. We are 3 time state champions, 2nd in the nation last year, National Champions this year. Please remind me of South’s success. Quit hating on us because were better. If you dont like the chants, then dont come to the game. We get in the heads of our opponents to help our team win, and in the case of the state championship this year, WIN BIG! dont give me this crap about how were thugs. none of you know any of us so dont go making accusations. COLLINS HILL CONSTRUCTION CREW… WE WILL WORK YOU!!!…excuse me, WE JUST WORKED YOU!

By SG FAN

March 15, 2007 8:42 PM | Link to this

Well Crew member - I won’t get into which one is my daughter but I am sure knowing Winchell that didn’t affect her shooting at all. I am sure she has had off nights like that in an empty gym!!! Shooters will have off nights once in a while! I am also sure she has played in close to 1000 games and far worse things have happened then some crude things being yelled at her!! I again state I or anyone I know did not start this blog!! If you hard hats think that what you yell is all right and your team needs that edge that you think you give them then go ahead and continue what you do. I am almost sure that CH girl’s team doesn’t need that for them to win their games!!

By im still wearing my hard hat

March 15, 2007 8:44 PM | Link to this

Collins Hill Construction Crew WE WILL WORK YOU!!!!

AJC if you hate us so much why are we all over the paper??why did we do a interview with yall???

The Crew has been in the paper more then any other student section. You know you love us AJC!!!! Come on in for a hug big papa!!!!

By another construction crew member

March 15, 2007 8:45 PM | Link to this

COLLINS HILL CONSTRUCTION CREW, WE JUST WORKED YOU!!! shut up south, you just got your butt handed to you in a gift rapped box FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT SEASON!!! get used to the chants. its far from over!

By construction crew member

March 15, 2007 9:02 PM | Link to this

SG fan, thank you for proving our point. This is what we do, we get into peoples heads and mess with them. If we didnt offend anybody then you wouldnt be on here trying to defend your daughter. So thanks for falling into the trap and wasting your time, just like all the players on the court who have let us into their heads and mess up their game. Just like the south players who began to cry over our cheers. Shouldnt a team playing for a championship be focused enough to ignore that? I guess they werent prepared for the fans, much less the Lady Eagles who ran up on them. I dont see how we are classless when your palyers go and vandalize a winners home. How much class is in that? Why do you keep avoiding that question? I am sure like every other parent you will deny your daughter had anything to do with it, but it still shows how classless your players are. At least we keep it in the arena and not mess with peoples property.

By cryariver

March 15, 2007 9:05 PM | Link to this

sg fan i’m till waiting for you to comment on the situation of vandalism that occured by the two players of sg after the game. As far as the off nights go… Maya has no off nights. also even though you didn’t create this blog youa re choosing to partake in it.

By Go Blue

March 15, 2007 9:10 PM | Link to this

I am back and all of you shut up…norcorss won…yall are all sorry losers get over it..naa naa na naaaa na hey you suck (geart cheer) this is the basketball (great cheer.) pushit is not Bullsh%t haha so get over it jesus you guys are immature if you are really hurt by it how about p’ridge calling jordan damercy slim shady i could go on all day but guess what are players arent in an mental hospital because they are hurt inside you guys are complainging because you lost boo hoo

By go blue

March 15, 2007 9:12 PM | Link to this

oo and construction crew member’s win he has nothing to say to that

By random crew guy

March 15, 2007 9:17 PM | Link to this

yes!! we love arnolds army the crew loves arnold’s army and i’m an instant fan on go blue!!

By another construction crew member

March 15, 2007 9:25 PM | Link to this

WE GOT THREE RINGS YES WE DO, WE GOT THREE RINGS HOW BOUT YOU?…HUH?…YOU GOT NONE, YOU GOT NONE, YOU GOT NONE!!!

By cryariver

March 15, 2007 9:34 PM | Link to this

WHO HERE WANTS A COMMENT ABOUT THE VANDALISM THAT TWO PLAYERS FOR THE SG TEAM CAUSED TO THE HOUSES OF TWO PLAYERS ON THE NIGHT OF THE CHAMP GAME? I DO! ANYONE ELSE?

By construction crew member

March 15, 2007 9:37 PM | Link to this

Sure but he wont. We owned him just like in basketball and in the stands. We were undefeated everywhere we went, nobody could top anything collins hill did. We got more press than most basketball teams, that is how good we are. As proven in these comments we cant be stopped.

By go blue

March 15, 2007 9:45 PM | Link to this

everyone is mad because yall have three we have two and we are both unstoppable and its just p** them off

By go blue

March 15, 2007 9:46 PM | Link to this

they can suck on my balls and two rings at the same to and shut the f… up

By BEARMAN

March 16, 2007 7:10 AM | Link to this

KIDS WILL BE KIDS, BUT ONE DAY THEY WILL LOOK BACK IF THEY HAVE KIDS AND OTHER KIDS ARE YELLING STUPID AND NASTY REMARKS TO THEIR KIDS. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE, THINK ABOUT IT !!!

By BEARMAN

March 16, 2007 7:25 AM | Link to this

S G FAN, YES I COULD SEE MYSELF WALKING UP TO YOU IF YOU SAYING VULGAR STUFF TO MY KID. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE WOULD BE THAT I WOULD FIRST GET A COP TO LISTEN TO YOU AND POINT YOU OUT. I WOULD THINK YOU WOULD BE ESCORTED TO THE EXIT DOOR!!!!! YOU NEED TO CONCENTRATE ON ATTENDING PREP HIGH SCHOOL EVENTS TO CHEER FOR YOUR SCHOOL AND LEAVE OUT THE CHILD PLAY. TIME TO GROW UP OR FACE THE MAN!!!

By coach

March 16, 2007 7:47 AM | Link to this

just got to love this blog!!! hey the 2007 football schedules are out…cheer on your local baseball and soccer teams…spring break is around the corner..don’t forget track, tennis, and golf… ah the birds are churping and spring is in the air… I bet Wheeler’s pollin count is higher than anyone else’s, what? no humor today..

By george

March 16, 2007 8:11 AM | Link to this

I am hear to correct an earlier statement.. WHEELER ended up #10 in the state not #9 as stated earlier.. and they lost to Chattahoochee 57-56..not Centennial. I apologize for the error. Must be tough losing 2 games in a row by one point..maybe that’s why their coach was looking for excuses…

By wildcat07

March 16, 2007 8:48 AM | Link to this

dear byGEORGE, if your curious..Lol..we lost to Chattahoochee by 1 point on a no call in the final second. We lost by one point to yall and we a re ranked tenth , so that means ya’ll really shouldnt be ranked that much higher than us! and you guys just got outplayed by Peachtree Ridge, who was a one man team! You let Zach Graham single handedly demolish your team. And COACH LIPSCOMB IS ONE OF THE MOST WINNINGEST COACHES IN GEORGIA HISTORY..PERIOD! And by the the way in 50 years i will remember that we have four rings to your two. We straight up snatched the championship from your undefeated team in 2005. You guys didnt even make it close, so make sure you remember that for the next 50 years.

By mesue

March 16, 2007 8:49 AM | Link to this

At this point and time threre are 84 comments on this blog and Yes YOU did start this blog SGFAN - YOU were the first blogger and you were the first to start crying. Check it out for your self - as you would say - Again YOU did start this blog!!

By laneyw

March 16, 2007 11:53 AM | Link to this

last year when Laney played Dade county, the hosting school officials made those students who were acting and saying stuff about our ladies MOVE from behind our team.

Then some other fans sat two rows behind the team just prior to the game and they made them move as well.

So it does happen, and it only makes things more tense, IMO.

By Inflatable Animals

March 16, 2007 12:35 PM | Link to this

First of all this is ridiculous. The Construction Crew could of beat South without shooting, just because of the mental toughness we possess. At every game this year the same “mean” chants were chanted, and no one cared. Now a couple of South Fans are mad cause their “star” girl doesn’t compare to the 2-time Naismith winner.. Maya Moore.

By Interested Parent

March 16, 2007 1:11 PM | Link to this

Your original question was …”Ultimately, who should be responsible for preventing this type of behavior?”

I think each team/school shold be held accoutable the the behavior of their sudent, fans and team. If there are extreme violations in the game, I think the referees should be able to inflict a technical foul on the team who’s fans are adversely affecting the game. This would insure that the school would do a better job in their responsibilities to police their own student body and related fans.

By Nick

March 16, 2007 1:21 PM | Link to this

I am a highschool student at a school where the administration for a couple weeks during the football season said they would ban students from games if the chants did not stop. It doesnt work. Its human nature to do something you have been told isnt allowed. In no way am I supporting bad behavior, but I am saying it is impossible to do. You have no role models out there for this kind of behavior. take the malace at the palace a couple years back fans throwing things at players yelling foul words. The majority of students look at things like that and think to themselves its ok. They take one isolated incident and think thats how everyone acts when things dont go their way. It will never be policed, it cant. Administators try and try, but to no avail. Its hard to tell students not to behave that way when they turn around and hear adult fans and parents doing the same thing goin unpunished.

By Richard

March 16, 2007 2:10 PM | Link to this

Honestly being an alumni from Norcross High and watchin my boys just make some other teams look stupid I agree with you to an extent. There shouldn’t be any racist, sexual, or any cursing comments to the players.. However its a big thing in highschool sports expecially basketball to come out and get crazy for your team. I graduated in 05’ when we used to play down at the dome with Archie and all them with our rivalary against Chattahoocee… It makes a good rivalary.. It’s highschool.. But comments like that are uncalled for. Collins Hill girls are a class act!!!! And to your comment about them winning 3 championships in a row they should be used to it by now.. Actually their student body really didn’t get invovled until the 06’ year. During the tournments luckily CollinsHill girls played before our Norcross boys and we used to go to the dome and gwinnett arena early to cheer for the Collinshill girls because they had like no student body support. So remember these years that we’ve got to watch Maya Moore cause it will be a long time for us to be able to watch a wonderful female to come through a gwinnett school such at her. She is a class act and represents gwinnett very well. So to the comments their needs to be some kind of rules… but not to harsh.. no booing come on its sports.. how can people be a hypocrite when everybody has booed at somebody!!! But racist, sexual, and cussing definitly should be banned!

By Another construction crew member 2

March 16, 2007 2:10 PM | Link to this

hey sg fans, collins hill players wake up in the morning and p** excellence. maybe you should have told your players to eat their wheaties the day of the game because it’s the breakfast of champions. maya moore ate her wheaties. She now has 3 state rings. how many rings does your child have? Wheaties = State Championship No Wheaties = SG

By Seth Coleman

March 16, 2007 2:11 PM | Link to this

Nice job, David. Well said.

All of this nonsense leads back to one thing: adults/parents. These crude children are obviously the products of BAD PARENTS. If you’re allowed to speak to your PARENTS disrespectfully at home, of course you will say even worse things at an opposing basketball team. Furthermore, if a child sees ADULTS conducting themselves like amped-up idiots, there isn’t anything to prevent him/her from doing the same.

I covered the championships at Macon. The fans cheered for their teams and boo’ed the refs (as usual). On occassion, fans from opposing teams began taunting each other. Whenever that began to rise to a serious level, a Macon/Bibb County police officer would make his presence known and the behavior would be curtailed. I thought the folks at the Macon Coliseum handled the situation properly.

By DevilNole

March 16, 2007 3:48 PM | Link to this

I applaud the article by David Purdum, and unfortunately I believe it is an issue for all schools. The problem is where do you draw the line. Being a Norcross parent I thoroughly enjoy the pre-game cheer our student section chants. Yes, they reference the other team as the losing team. I do not find that offensive. Yelling airball and screaming (screams or a the player’s name) during free throws is simply part of the game. When the student sections (and this clearly includes Norcross)begin chants that can be classified as personal insults or slurs of any kind that’s where the fun ends. And its amazing these “attacks” are directed not only at players but also at cheerleaders.
From the games I went to this year (nearly all of Norcross’s home and away games) if you think your school does not engage in these types of insults and slurs, you need to wake up. I’m hopeful this exact issue is addressed this summer by the Gwinnett principals. Make a statement to your students that these types of personal attacks and slurs will not be tolerated. The student sections are a tremendous part of the game experience. We simply need to give them a little direction in what is appropriate behavior.

By george

March 16, 2007 5:15 PM | Link to this

to my wildcat07 fan, i agree Lipscomb is probably one of the best high school coaches in the state, but this year NORCROSS IS #1 THAT IS ALSO A FACT. At the PR game we shut down Graham, They played a good game and had a great plan. They have a good B.B. team as well as F.B. and will be the next power in Gwinnett County. your right, We were taught a lesson in 2005, it was a great run. How many games did Wheeler lose that year? We only lost 1, unfortunaly it was the one that counted. We learned from that lesson and WON BACK TO BACK STATE TITLES. I’M out of hear, this blog has been fun, hope to play you again next year in the finals… we’ll be there..see you there. by the way 50 years is a long time and there are other things in life more important..

By BD Fan

March 16, 2007 8:17 PM | Link to this

Who should control the student section - the police and school faculty. As far as the Norcross-P’ridge game- Norcross won 2 out of three games. P’ridge beats Norcross once and everyone only remembers that game. Who went all the way? Gwennett Arena needs to have a student section reserved prior to the games so parents do not have to stand. Just my 2cents.

By cryariver

March 16, 2007 8:58 PM | Link to this

i am still waiting on the comment on how two players from SG were angry enough to vandalize the houses of two CH houses after the game. what bout this?

By Student From Collins Hill

March 16, 2007 11:48 PM | Link to this

First of all Collins Hill High School has no “thugs” in it. Calling our construction crew a bunch of thugs whose parents did not know how to raise them is WAY ou of line. Secondly it is not okay for our school to say the things we did to girls who come back and destroy one of our star players car??? Last time i checked that is more unsportsman like then saying your fat. Thirdly SG your daughter needs to suck it up. When she goes to Memphis people will be saying a lot worse if she keeps missing all the lay ups like she did in the championship game. And lastly you want to sit here and say that the Construction Crew are idiots and all this stuff and are “thugs” fyi half of their parents were at the game and really could not care. They were trying to get in your daughters head and she let them. You lost and it is over. So get over it.

By Bull S***

March 17, 2007 1:30 AM | Link to this

yall are f** dumb, what were all these parents doing in high school, smoking weed, hugging trees, i dont know, but get over it, if you think a fan section calling ur child ugly or fat is the worst thing they’ve heard or done then u are a naive parent and should wake up…get a life and stop worrying what other people’s children are doing

By fosterjoiner

March 17, 2007 1:34 AM | Link to this

Coach you need to learn if the refs call the foul that should have been called on the over back over JJ’s back the no. 1 team in the state would have lost. You should be breathing a sigh of relief and thanking the GHSA for the ref’s no call. The rule book says that foul should have been called with no question. Be ready to defend your state championship. Wheeler will be back and determined to win the trophy that was intentionally denied them.

By Devil Lover

March 17, 2007 8:17 AM | Link to this

Hey fasterjioner, Wheeler is too good of a program to worry over just one possible no call. Championship teams don’t worry over small events because they are champions and they can make thing happen so that the game will not come down to a no call at the end of a game.

We had similar calls in the third P’tree Ridge game but so what that is the way the ball bounces somethings.

Be a proud Wheeler fan, take your defeats like a man and move on.

It was Norcross’s time to beat Wheeler. We all know that Wheeler did not have the team that could take them all the way and you could tell that by the Columbia, American Christian (PA), Chattahoochee and Norcross losses.

Great program, good team and below average year for Wheeler. Great program, excellent team and outstanding year for Norcross who finished 13th in the country and 1st in the state. Also in case you didn’t hear, our Mcdonald all american was named the USA Today player of the week in the country.

See you next year when Norcross will start their bid for the first team in Ga history in the last twenty yrs(maybe ever) to have won three state championships in a row.

By Blue Devil Lover

March 17, 2007 8:28 AM | Link to this

Hey fosterjioner, I forgot to reminder you that the The Atlanta Tipoff Club has chose Norcross’ Gani Lawal as Mr. Georgia Basketball and Eddie Martin was named high school coach of the year.

Now tell me fosterjioner, do you really think that that possible “no call” at the end of the game is what beat Wheeler or was it the excellent Norcross team, the outstanding program and great coach?

By BD Fan

March 17, 2007 9:12 AM | Link to this

Just the point I was going to make. I do not hear the Norcross fans complaing of the bad calls made during the P’tridge game. And, if you are going to complain of a missed call, complain about the whole game. I sure the refs did not have just one missed call that came only at the end of the game! Plus, who is to say the freethrow shots would have been made As the saying goes : “what if”.

By BD Fan

March 17, 2007 9:12 AM | Link to this

Just the point I was going to make. I do not hear the Norcross fans complaing of the bad calls made during the P’tridge game. And, if you are going to complain of a missed call, complain about the whole game. I sure the refs did not have just one missed call that came only at the end of the game! Plus, who is to say the freethrow shots would have been made As the saying goes : “what if”.

By Real Man

March 17, 2007 11:55 AM | Link to this

I am confused and would someone help me to understand. CH’s construction crew which is made up from mature men dressing up like animals and taking credit for some of their “girls” basketball team’s success even though they are number one in the country.

Is there a psychologist or psychoanalysis in this blog that can help me to understand what is going on with this “construction crew”?

By wildcat07

March 17, 2007 12:39 PM | Link to this

I m right thre with you FOSTERJOINER, Norcross should be breathing a sigh of relief bcuz they know they got away with one, and to BYGEORGE, you are the one who bought up remembering your championshipo for the next 50 years, not me! I know there are better things in life! And OK fostrjoiner, congratulations on mR> basketball and everything, but we’ve had Mr. Basketball players at our school, and our coach won NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR! So come talk to me when you get on that level!

By another construction crew member

March 17, 2007 12:59 PM | Link to this

Real Man, im not saying that were not mature men, but we are crazy high school kids that like to have fun. we may not actually affect the other team, but we like to chant whatever we want and just have fun. we’ll see how much it affects the other teams next year when our team doesnt have maya or jj.

By SG Comet

March 17, 2007 3:57 PM | Link to this

First of all, CH played a great game, and SG just didnt show up that game. And SG fans were saying things just like CH fans. But theres no reason to be rubbing those rings in our face. I hope yall took lots of pictures because CH wont win another ‘chip for a LONG time.

And as for the cars and houses that were vandalized, HAHAHA, they should of did mayas stuff too.

By Dacross

March 17, 2007 6:07 PM | Link to this

Ok i have been in the dlue devil student section for 4 years now and I have never heard a cheer that I thought was overly inapproprite. We know that there is a line that you cant cross and even though we like to get close to that line we have never crossed it. The only team I have eer seen cross that line was centennial fans when they threw debris on the court. That really p** us off because that shows that centennial fans do not respect their team or others. Every game Norcross lost this year around school all I heard was that “well Norcross didnt play their best game tonight and just got beat” that includes the Pridge game. Championship teams hardly ever go undefeated and it just shows that they can step up when it matters. o and If a player gets offened by a cheer they are weak and should not even play basketball…this isnt figure skating.. Obnoxious fans, which i am one of them, are a neccessary part of a game, this isnt the 50’s anymore where we have retarted chants like the cheerleaders come up with.

By Gardner

March 17, 2007 9:27 PM | Link to this

For starters, if SG had won, this would not be an issue. Also, I was at the game and SG student section was doing the EXACT same thing. Truth be told, it is not the schools place to TRAIN the kids, it the PARENTS place. I’m sick and tired of everybody degrading Collins Hill because they have such an OUTSTANDING “ACADEMIC AND ATHLETIC” progam. Better yet, why don’t you SG parents transfer your kids to Collins Hill so that they can know what it feels like to be a CHAMPION!! Collins Hill is a CLASS ACT that’s why everybody hates on them. Just in case you did not know, our Lady Eagles rank #1 in the NATION, not just the STATE not to mention most of the athletes take honor classes. Kids are going to be kids, so LET THEM BE KIDS and parents it’s too late to train them now, should have done that when they were 2.

By a fan of me

March 18, 2007 2:34 AM | Link to this

if someone is ugly, then let them know it! if they suck at bball… let them know!

By KNIGHTS #1

March 18, 2007 4:02 AM | Link to this

AJC! you guys seriously need to review your high school sports section personnel because the articles your “staff” writes is always mistaken with certain factoids. The idea behind this story was great and necessary, but the facts are WRONG (once again, atleat about the centennial section). And HOW COME CENTENNIAL didn’t get any publicity throughout this year? SERIOUSLY! it p** some of us (fans) off.

about the article though, let the kids be kids. theyre out their supporting their team and having fun. yeah, sometimes we go crazy and overboard, and that issue may need to be addressed. but all im saying is, its part of the “high school experience” , and theyr going to be doing the same thing in college. let them have funn.

btw-norcross fans were just as unclassy as a team can get. their players showed no class (two of them only) showed no class which is the reason why the chs student body section started throwing stuff (still not a legit reason). but seriously, NO CLASS!

congrats to norcross and cetnennial on a great seasn however.

By Blue Devil

March 18, 2007 9:14 AM | Link to this

Knight #1, I want to differ with your comments.

First a high school basketball game is for two teams to compete. Fans can attend these events and support their teams provided they follow certain rules established by the local school authorities. The school can definitely control what you wear, what you say and how you act. It others words you are allowed to attend these games at the discretion of the school administration.

Again it is a privilege which you earn and can be taken away. The fact the school administrations and parents have been lacks in their duties of supervising these events does not mean that you or other students were born with any rights to say homosexual slurs and over-the-top personal insults to anyone at a high school basketball game.

I guess the real question is where do people think they get the right to say derogatory comments to others especially at sporting events and is this good thing or bad? I keep hearing this is what we do at sporting events but is this how we should be conducting ourselves and teaching our children on how to behave?

To set the record straight, I find myself getting too involved with these games and saying things to referees and players that I regret after leaving the game.

By another construction crew member

March 18, 2007 10:42 PM | Link to this

hey SG COMET, i didnt know we won chips. i always thought it was spelled ‘ships? hmm… well i guess i should take your word for it, since you guys have won so many…

By BL

March 19, 2007 1:14 AM | Link to this

Yeah…um…just to point out - how about the SG fans throughing plastic knives at the Construction Crew all night? Hmmm? How about that?

By BL

March 19, 2007 1:20 AM | Link to this

ummm, what is this:

By SG Comet

March 17, 2007 3:57 PM | Link to this

First of all, CH played a great game, and SG just didnt show up that game. And SG fans were saying things just like CH fans. But theres no reason to be rubbing those rings in our face. I hope yall took lots of pictures because CH wont win another ‘chip for a LONG time.

And as for the cars and houses that were vandalized, HAHAHA, they should of did mayas stuff too.

that just proves that they are as bad as CHHS fans…if not worse. immature, arrogant, and still a youth. I pray to God you are not going to college next year.

By Justafan

March 19, 2007 11:16 AM | Link to this

It is amazing to me that out of such a great tournament, that the only thing you took away from it Mr. Purdum is that some kids, caught up in the moment, screamed some chants that, although not appropriate in line with most student sections. At least these kids showed up to support their school instead of heading to the local bar or party on the corner. Mr. Purdum, maybe it is you that is just a little sensitive as it appears to have hit the spot.

By Justafan

March 19, 2007 11:35 AM | Link to this

One last comment about the vandalism that took place at the hands of 2 SG players. Yes it did happen and although it could have been criminal trespassing and vandalism the CHHS player was the bigger person and accepted the apology and the promise to pay for damages to her new car. Class act of CHHS player and student, not so class act of some pathetic, sore loser players at SG(both started on the SG team by the way).

By SG Fan

March 19, 2007 12:42 PM | Link to this

As I learned in high school physics for every action there will always, always be a reaction. It was good to read that the SG people apologized for their actions. What I haven’t read yet is anybody else apologizing for their actions. To accomplish ones goals if people need to degrade other people it’s just not right. You can dress it up as you want but at the end of the day you are degrading people. So since people claimed I started this blog let me end it by saying there has to be a better way for you hard hats to go to work. I support students supporting their teams but as in everything in life there are boundaries and lines. We all cross them sometimes but when we do we need to sometimes sit back and reevaluate our methods before someone else does it for us!!!

By SBW

March 19, 2007 12:53 PM | Link to this

To the lady from SG wake up and smell the roses……. Your fans have said things to other teams….It’s over you lost get over it….

By Just A Fan

March 19, 2007 8:37 PM | Link to this

To apologize for a criminal act of destroying someones personal property of another team’s player that had done nothing more than contribute to your team’s loss is much different than asking a group of kids to apologize for making statements that although are hurtful in nature, but, legal.

I too sat in pretty much in the SG cheering section and had Mr. Purdum selected to sit on that side he would have been writing this column about SG…of course probably only if he heard a homosexual slur.

Mr.Purdum it appears in your desperation to make right what you may have personally had happen to you in your every day life of name calling you have created a terrible after thought to what is one of the greatest basketball teams in the history of girls basketball in Georgia when in fact every cheering section if virtually identical. Just switch out the color of the body paint.

By justafan

March 19, 2007 8:46 PM | Link to this

SG Fan, I hope that I am reading you wrong on your statement and misquote of Newton’s Third Law it is actually: For every action, there is an equal (in size) and opposite (in direction) reaction force.

So you are saying that some kids in the stands yelling at players(nothing new for any player that has played in big games) that an EQUAL reaction from SG players is to go and vandalize a Collins Hill player’s(which had nothing to do with anything)car?

That explains alot about you SG fan. You state that it was big of the SG players to apologize…the way I see it was that once they were caught they apologized as to avoid jail time, what is so big about that?

By fosterjoiner

March 20, 2007 12:49 AM | Link to this

The tipoff club made the decision to the best player and coach on the state championship team and not who deserves it. You also misspelled my name twice. I would never show someone that much disrespect. You did not win the game fair and square and you know it. If the refs did their job you lose the game.

By KSShake

March 20, 2007 11:22 AM | Link to this

I was trying to let all of this be a dead issue, Lord knows ya’ll have beat it to death. But, I’m trying to figure out what planet some of ya’ll are on? And, are you even close to being in touch with the REAL world? This whole thing with players going to someones home AND destroying their property is straight up RIDICULOUS!!! To even attempt to justify it or brush it off as something someone can just apologize away, without being held responsible and having to deal with some SERIOUS consequences, is crazy. And ya’ll (whomever you are, come off real foolish, talking about being the “bigger person” and accepting some backhanded a$$ apology. Man PULLEEEZZ!! Let’s just say those South Gwinnett players picked the right one. I’m sorry, a simple apology doesn’t and couldn’t fly with me, or most hardworking, MODERATE income folks I know, (even the ones that are fortunate enough to be able to afford to provide their kid with a car). SG Comets blog sums up this ignorrance. First of all, it DOES prove that South Gwinnett folks are just as ignorant as those Construction Crew kids who act a fool at Collins Hill games. Proof the same mentallity is at both school and everywhere. But I’m sorry, what the South Gwinnett players did was FAR WORSE (so all of that Newtons Law, equal reaction bull$#*% can stop. What in the world kind of P**, Crybaby, Soreloser, Brattya$$ athletes are the South Gwinnett players and fans, to go and vadalize somebodies property cause they beat you. (After you’ve beat people ALL year). The GHSA should ban South Gwinnett from the state tournament for a year. Right or wrong,just like everywhere else, the athlete is held to a higher standard in the eyese of everyone and THEY (the athlete), ALWAYS have to have to decorum of class and sportsmanship. I mean for real, this is lowere than low. And for someone to say it should have Maya’s house just shows how classless you are. I’m about to open another can of worms on this because it’s so disspicable.

Imagine had this been Stephenson or Douglass players that had done this to someones home and property!? It would have been ALL over the news and the papers and they would’ve BEEN arrested. Anyone denying this, stay on that planet I referred to at the beginning. Man their heads would already be on a platter.

I do agree with Justafan, that all of this focus on Collins Hills fans (who were no worse than any obnoxious student section) takes away from one of the most incredible runs by a great team (program) and a great player. I think some of this may have spurned by someone? having South Gwinnett sentiment. But to act like South Gwinnett fans aren’t “EXACTLY” the same, is even more nonsense (man ain’t nobody stupid). Just because they didn’t have anything to get rowdy and obnoxious about, doesn’t mean they don’t get that way too. And as for those South Gwinnett players, as I said they can considered themseleves lucky. Because had they picked the “wrong” person, they would’ve been dealing with more than “having to apologize”, …a lot more.

By Blue Devil Lover

March 20, 2007 5:43 PM | Link to this

Hey fosterjoiner.

You sound like you don’t think that the Norcross Blue Devils the returning state champions and 13th in the country did not deserve to win this year’s state championship again.

Tell me another team in past years that had to first beat the no. 8 Wheeler, no. 2 Meadowcreek, no. 7 Marietta, semifinalist Tift County and then no. 6 Centennial of which 4 were regional champions?

Remember it is very hard to go all the way like Wheeler last year when they stumble on Beach before Norcross just walked all over them.

Be honest Fosterjoiner, doesn’t Norcross deserve to be this year state champions?

By BD Fan

March 20, 2007 6:26 PM | Link to this

As I stated before, one miss foul does not make or break a game. So get over thinking Norcross should feel lucky that the refs messed up and Norcross won by default.

By Ball Player

March 20, 2007 11:09 PM | Link to this

This is for any game…one play at the end of the game does not determine the outcome of the game. How many lay-ups were missed? Rebounds? Defensive stops? How many TO’s were there? My point is, that unless a team played a perfect game, someone can NOT blame a loss on a ref because of a missed call at the end of the game. You lost, get over it.

By fosterjoiner

March 21, 2007 1:50 AM | Link to this

I believe the rule book says the refs messed up and if I had been Wheeler’s coach I would have protested the game. It would not do any good. The GHSA kisses up to the refs. Norcross won by a bad refs no call that should have been call. You need to accept the fact you won with the refs help and not fair and square like you are suppose to.

By wildcat07

March 21, 2007 10:49 AM | Link to this

Dear BLUE DEVIL LOVER, I can name u a team that had a tougher road to the championship, Wheeler 2005 team, you should remember them from that massacre they did to ya’ll in the championship game. Theybeat Meadowcreek in the first round, North Gwinnett in the second , a South Gwinnett team with 3 D-1 players and an NBA player, and then went to the Gwinnett Center and slaughtered both you and Tift county! and to the rest of you HATERS , it was not just one no-call at the end of the game, IT WAS THREE BLATANT FOULS, the refs gave ya’ll the ultimate home field advantage and u know it!

By matureadult

March 21, 2007 2:04 PM | Link to this

Wheeler fans are so pathetic in their crying.

boo-hoo.

By Ball Player

March 21, 2007 3:39 PM | Link to this

Regardless if it was 5 calls at the end of the game…if your team did not play a perfect game, then you can’t really complain. You are just whining at this point. And by the way…I am not a Norcross fan. I actually played at Collins Hill about 5 years ago, so I have no affiliation to Norcross.

By Blue Devil Lover

March 21, 2007 4:07 PM | Link to this

Good memory Wilcat07! So that is why you are so mad because you can still remember when Wheeler beat an average Norcross team, who was undefeated, pretty bad. But Wilcat07 that was the past.

Did Wheeler even finish in the top 100 this year?

Wilcat07 I really felt bad for Wheeler when they were the only Ga team who lost to their out of state opponent at the high profile games at Norcross. I would have thought that Wheeler had home court advantage but American Christian (PA) really out played the Wilcats. Did you loss that game because of bad calls too?

What really surprise we most was when Columbia beat Wheeler by more points than did No 1 Oak Hill beat Norcross by. We did not at the time but thoughs two games told us alot about both teams and how they would finish.

Cheer up Wilcat07. There is alway next year. You know there is no way that Norcross could have another great team eventhough we have the no 3 returning player in the country.

By Blue Devil Lover

March 23, 2007 8:38 PM | Link to this

Hey Wilcat07. Did you see the all state team for 5-AAAAA? In case you didn’t I wanted to let you know that Norcross had two players on the first team.

See you next season.

By fosterjoiner

March 24, 2007 12:49 AM | Link to this

Wheeler did not beat Tift. They beat Newton County. I am not crying. I have seen too many games over 30 years decided by GHSA backed bad officiating. If the GHSA was not so blind to the refs maybe the game would have been decided the way it should have. Wheeler is by the way very loaded too and as we found out two years ago the best player does not beat the best talented team. The refs that day supported the comets and the best team won!!!!!!!!