[asp.net] GridView sorting: SortDirection always Ascending

It can be done without the use of View State or Session. Current order can be determined based on value in first and last row in the column we sort by:

        protected void gvItems_Sorting(object sender, GridViewSortEventArgs e)
    {
        GridView grid = sender as GridView; // get reference to grid
        SortDirection currentSortDirection = SortDirection.Ascending; // default order

        // get column index by SortExpression
        int columnIndex = grid.Columns.IndexOf(grid.Columns.OfType<DataControlField>()
                                      .First(x => x.SortExpression == e.SortExpression));

        // sort only if grid has more than 1 row
        if (grid.Rows.Count > 1)
        {
            // get cells
            TableCell firstCell = grid.Rows[0].Cells[columnIndex];
            TableCell lastCell = grid.Rows[grid.Rows.Count - 1].Cells[columnIndex];

            // if field type of the cell is 'TemplateField' Text property is always empty.
            // Below assumes that value is binded to Label control in 'TemplateField'.
            string firstCellValue = firstCell.Controls.Count == 0 ? firstCell.Text : ((Label)firstCell.Controls[1]).Text;
            string lastCellValue = lastCell.Controls.Count == 0 ? lastCell.Text : ((Label)lastCell.Controls[1]).Text;

            DateTime tmpDate;
            decimal tmpDecimal;

            // try to determinate cell type to ensure correct ordering
            // by date or number
            if (DateTime.TryParse(firstCellValue, out tmpDate)) // sort as DateTime
            {
                currentSortDirection = 
                    DateTime.Compare(Convert.ToDateTime(firstCellValue), 
                                     Convert.ToDateTime(lastCellValue)) < 0 ? 
                                            SortDirection.Ascending : SortDirection.Descending;
            }
            else if (Decimal.TryParse(firstCellValue, out tmpDecimal)) // sort as any numeric type
            {
                currentSortDirection = Decimal.Compare(Convert.ToDecimal(firstCellValue), 
                                                       Convert.ToDecimal(lastCellValue)) < 0 ? 
                                                       SortDirection.Ascending : SortDirection.Descending;
            }
            else // sort as string
            {
                currentSortDirection = string.CompareOrdinal(firstCellValue, lastCellValue) < 0 ? 
                                                             SortDirection.Ascending : SortDirection.Descending;
            }
        }

        // then bind GridView using correct sorting direction (in this example I use Linq)
        if (currentSortDirection == SortDirection.Descending)
        {
            grid.DataSource = myItems.OrderBy(x => x.GetType().GetProperty(e.SortExpression).GetValue(x, null));
        }
        else
        {
            grid.DataSource = myItems.OrderByDescending(x => x.GetType().GetProperty(e.SortExpression).GetValue(x, null));
        }

        grid.DataBind();
    }