so went to pull the sidekick out from work today and I will not go into gear,  if the car is off i can go through the gears but when I turn it on it will not and when i reverse I can hear it grind. so does it mean the clutch is dead?

That is what it sounds like to me.  If you put it in gear and start it up does it move?

if I start it with it in gear it starts to move right away even with the clutch pushed.

i had the same problem before ended up being my clutch cable got weak and when i pushed the clutch in the cable covering would colapse and not disengage the clutch i would check the cable first unless it is a hydrolic clutch

its a 97 which has a hydralic clutch  lucky me

So your hydraulic clutch is not disengaging - does it have fluid?  Does it need bleeding - usually doesn't unless there's a leak.

Point is that just as a cable clutch can have a problem with the cable, a hydraulic clutch can have a problem with the hydraulics - it may or may not be the clutch itself.

it went into reverse then into first but after that it would not go into gear.  I drove it to work this morning and it is my daily driver.  I have not really noticed any issues it did seam to be running a little slugish but I figured that I need to change the oil like always when it gets close to 3000.  it has fluid and I have not opened the system up at all.  it has 206000 miles on it It is stuck on base where I am stationed however that is okay cause the have the auto hobby shop there so I can put it on the lift and work on it there. 

I had a Triumph that did the same thing, We had punched a hole through the shifter fork.  Ended up fixing it with a small socket and a welder. 

Let us know how the trip to the hobby shop goes.

Well ten hours in the hobby shop and I have a new clutch and my sport is shifting again..yeah  130 for the clutch 20 for the chiltons manual (actual has the 1.8 in it) and 60$ for the use of the lift and I am on the road again.  thanks for the help and sugestions

That sounds like the throwout bearing, Ive had that happen to me in various vehicles probably 4 times, it seems the throwout bearing is the first thing to go.  Mines starting to go out in my sammy, I ordered a clutch kit, now I get to put it in, yeaaa    though Ive only done it on front wheel drives, and have been told it will be simple by comparison.