The Front Row with MARK NELKE August 5, 2010

Some random thoughts while we wait for Brett Favre to change his mind and tell the Vikings, “I’ll see you in New Orleans on Sept. 9.”

Besides the inevitable murky air caused by grass fires in the region, early August means one other thing — high school sports are just around the corner.

The first practice for soccer teams is next Monday, and that day is also the first day of practice for football teams who open their seasons on Aug. 27.

For those football teams who don’t play their openers until the following week, their first day of practice is Aug. 13.

That’s also the first day of practice for volleyball and cross country teams.

The first soccer games are scheduled for Friday, Aug. 20, the first volleyball matches are the following Friday, and the first cross country meet is the next day, Aug. 28.

NIC’s volleyball season opens Aug. 27, and the Cardinal men’s and women’s soccer teams get under way the following day.

Dick Haugen hopes he has found another niche in the market for covering local high school and community sports.

Haugen, a former KVNI radio morning show anchor, has formed an online company, NIWebSports.com.

He plans to broadcast Coeur d’Alene and Lake City high school sports, with a focus on out-of-town games in football, basketball, baseball and softball.

Some of the broadcasts will include video when possible.

“Webcasting is something that I’ve been studying for some time and I feel that now is the time to take the plunge; the demand is there,” Haugen said.

The first football webcast is scheduled for Aug. 27 when Coeur d’Alene travels to Moscow to open the high school football season.

Haugen said a weekly talk show is in the works, and coverage of other community activities is also planned.

Haugen’s venture figures to add to the options for local sports fans.

KVNI AM has carried local high school football and basketball games for years, mostly “home” games or games in Kootenai County.

When teams go to state in football and basketball, fans can follow them at www.IdahoSports.com, either through webcasts or audio-only broadcasts.

And last weekend, a station in Notus broadcast all games from the state AA American Legion tournament, and fans up north could log onto the station’s website and follow their teams.

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via e-mail at mnelke@cdapress.com.