The Front Row with JASON ELLIOTT September 15, 2010

1,110 miles.

Not usually an ideal way to spend your days off traveling that far - but when it comes to heading to Seattle for some professional sports, there's really no turning back.

AS THE kickoff weekend began in the NFL, I headed toward Qwest Field for the Seahawks' home opener on Sunday afternoon.

The trip also involved driving to and from Moses Lake on Sunday and Monday, a 716-mile trip from there to Seattle, along with the almost 200-mile journey from Moses Lake to Coeur d'Alene.

The hype surrounding this game was a little different than in the past few years, with Pete Carroll making his home debut after taking over after coach Jim Mora was fired in January.

Seattle's roster had been turned over more than a pancake in the recent weeks, leaving me with more than a few anxious moments as the game drew closer.

Once the game started, those moments increased to a near boiling point after Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck threw an interception on the first play of the game.

Those next 15 to 20 minutes of game time were just as bad, as I watched the San Francisco offense and defense have their way with the Seahawks - holding them to 11 yards in the first quarter.

As the second quarter continued on, it was looking like it was going to be a long day as the 49ers' offense continued to hog the field.

That was, until Seattle began to catch a couple of breaks - eventually building a 14-6 halftime lead in a span of five minutes.

The flow of the game was much like the crowd - ugly.

With the game getting further out of reach in the second half, fans turned into knuckleheads and started arguing with each other until one had listened to enough and wanted to settle it in a nearby parking lot.

I've been to a couple of games before when a fight breaks out between opposing fans - but watching a pair of Seattle fans about to fight each other - over a 25-point win, was crazier than anything that happened on the field that day.

A FEW months ago, I traveled to the Seattle Mariners' home opener against Oakland in mid-April, as the expectations were through the roof for the M's in 2010.

Judging by Monday's crowd, those expectations left around the same time as I hit the Edgar Martinez Drive exit on that afternoon.

With the Boston Red Sox in town, near sellouts every previous time I've seen them play, most fans stayed away from Safeco Field on Monday.

The game was close until a two-run home run by Ryan Kalish in the eighth inning put the game away for Boston, who also had Tacoma, Wash., native Jon Lester strike out 12 and allow three hits in the 5-1 win.

Boston is still alive, although it's not looking good for a playoff berth. Seattle meanwhile, was playing like a team that was ready to get the regular season over and done with.

After watching Monday's game - they aren't the only ones a little worn out.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via e-mail at jelliott@cdapress.com.