This one should have been at a neutral gym

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I don’t know much about high school sports in L.A. and I know even less about girls’ volleyball. But I’m a quick learner.

For example, I’ve already learned that when it comes to Redondo and Mira Costa, nothing is unbiased. Everyone has an angle, everyone has a school he roots for. It’s a neighborhood rivalry and people are passionately divided.

And when the subject of a venue change for Tuesday’s playoff game came up, I imagine things got ‘passionate.’ I say imagine because when I asked one person, she said a request was never made, but when I asked another, he said they did request one.

The game took place at Mira Costa and not everybody got a chance to see the Mustangs four-game victory over Redondo that advanced them to the state Division II finals Saturday in San Jose. The venue was grossly undersized and many, many people were locked out in the cold.

Playing the game at Mira Costa was the wrong decision. Period. But, of course, If someone from Redondo says that, it would be pointed out that they are trying to take away a home game from Mira Costa. And if someone from Mira Costa says something differently...well, I think you get the picture.

So allow me, Mr. I-just-covered-my-first-high-school-game-involving-teams-from-the-South Bay 10 days ago, to be the voice of reason. Since I have no allegiance to the sport, to either school or to the South Bay, who better to be unbiased than me, right?

Tuesday’s Southern California Regional final should have been played at a bigger gym. It wasn’t cool that fans, parents and students were locked out. It wasn’t cool that security guards had to endure profanity-laced tirades from 16-year-old girls. And, it definitely wasn’t cool that a fan (not a school official) got the bright idea (after the second game) to start giving updates to the fans outside the gym.

High school security guards, by the way, should not have to worry about a potential riot breaking out. They don’t get paid enough and they are not trained for those situations.

It was a great night for girls’ volleyball. It was a good match, which bordered on being great, and too many people were not a part it. That’s unfortunate and it’s even more unfortunate knowing that everything could have been avoided had the two decided to play at a neutral gym.

But that’s just my unbiased opinion.

-- Jaime Cardenas

-- Image from www.robbinssports.com