Sneddon’s retirement is fan’s loss
Tuesday, Mar. 4, 2008 @ 1:39 am
The four Nevada men’s basketball seniors weren’t the only ones celebrating their final home game on Saturday night.
Unless the Wolf Pack hosts a National Invitation Tournament game, it was also the last time Reno Gazette-Journal beat reporter Steve Sneddon will grace press row at Lawlor Events Center.
The night wasn’t about Sneddon, of course, nor should it have been. But while fans will miss watching Marcelus Kemp’s flawless jump shot and chanting Curry Lynch’s name during every blowout, Sneddon will also be missed – whether fans realize or not.
Sneddon is retiring at the end of the season after nearly 40 years of covering the basketball team.
That’s a hell of a long time. Sneddon’s been covering Nevada men’s basketball almost as long as Pepsi’s been making Mountain Dew.
Why does that matter?
It matters because fans are losing a tremendous resource and a bystander to the history of Wolf Pack basketball.
Take a look at the list of players on Nevada’s all-time scoring list and consider that Sneddon’s seen just about every point they’ve scored. Aside from watching recent stars like Kemp, Ramon Sessions, Nick Fazekas and Kirk Snyder, he covered guys like Pete Padgett, Edgar Jones, Mike “Fly” Gray and Johnny High.
Sneddon’s basically covered the entirety of Nevada’s Division-I lifespan, including every NIT and NCAA Tournament appearance.
With the possible exception of Nevada athletics director emeritus Dick Trachok, nobody knows more about Wolf Pack basketball than Sneddon.
Nobody can put today’s success into perspective like Sneddon can because he’s seen most of the Wolf Pack’s history.
As a reporter, Sneddon’s job has always been to make himself a faceless voice of what goes on with the team. But, over the years, he has become the voice of Nevada men’s basketball. I think most people familiar with the program appreciate what he’s done.
That was obvious before Thursday night’s game against New Mexico State, when the athletics department honored Sneddon for his contributions and Reno mayor Bob Cashell proclaimed Feb. 28, 2008 as Steve Sneddon Day.
The fans at Reno gave Sneddon a deserved standing ovation.
Personally, it’s been a joy to work with Sneddon. My spot at most home and road games is right next to Sneddon. It’s been a pleasure listening to his perspective on Nevada basketball and making a few jokes in the process.
You can also give Sneddon the name of just about any city in America and he’ll figure out what to see and where to eat.
Somewhere, around the time I started covering the team, I stopped shaving or cutting my hair.
Being the stickler and disciplinarian he is, Nevada coach Mark Fox occasionally teases me about my grooming habits.
He usually accuses me of trying to be like Sneddon.
I could do a lot worse.
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on Tuesday, March 4th, 2008 at 1:39 am and is filed under Men's Basketball, Sports.
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