Local soccer girls do community right

With so many jerks in sports today (I may or may not be referring to Michael Vick, for instance), it’s nice to know that some athletes still do nice things.

The 97 Desert Elite girls soccer team recently held a Food Drive Mixer in conjunction with Carefree/Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce and the Scottsdale Ridge branch of M&I Bank.

The girls raised nearly $500 and 339 pounds of food for the Foothills Food Bank.

“It was fun to see these energetic and smiling young ladies giving their time to our organization,” said Pam DiPietro, executive director at the Foothills Food Bank. “Their efforts in helping the needy show that they have compassion for those less fortunate and it is a great start to helping them learn how to give back to their local community.”

Desert Elite is a competitive and developmental soccer program that focuses on teamwork and sportsmanship. For information about sponsoring or joining the team, call Phil Gordon at (602) 430‑4325.                                   

IF YOU’RE A Phoenix Suns fan, you’re already upset with the NBA after last year’s playoff debacle with the Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw. Point‑shaving allegations against a now‑former NBA referee are only going to keep more fans away.

Unfortunately, part of the focus on former referee Tim Donaghy is on the playoff series between the Suns and Spurs, in which Donaghy partly officiated. If it turns out that games were fixed in any way, go ahead and enlarge that big asterisk next to the Spurs championship banner. In my mind, the 2006‑07 season has already been forever tainted, but when has my opinion ever mattered?

In defending the league, NBA commissioner David Stern called Donaghy a “rogue, isolated criminal.” But if the league continues operating on this course, the NBA will be left with “rogue, isolated fans.”

Not good for a league that judging by TV ratings is already isolated enough.

If you would like to reach the reporter, or submit a local sports item of interest, via e‑mail, or call (480) 488‑1204, or visit the office at 25 Easy St. in Carefree.