The Front Row with JASON ELLIOTT April 16, 2011

Whether you're a fan of the NFL, NBA, NHL or even high school sports (yeah, they're trying to play them in between the rain, snow and sleet), there may not be a better time than now to get yourself familiar with your favorite teams again.

But due to circumstances beyond the control of those involved, it could be over before it starts.

TEAMS IN the NHL and NBA begin the playoffs, with hockey getting the early jump on their basketball counterparts, and the NFL will actually have some activity with the annual player draft in less than two weeks.

And with mediation meetings getting back on Thursday - the season could be saved a lot sooner than later.

The playoffs are usually when I watch both the NBA and NHL, even if it might be for a few minutes.

If nothing else, you can usually count on watching San Antonio and the Los Angeles Lakers facing off at some point. Other than that, most of the next few weeks will be in anticipation of watching the Miami Heat try to live up to their hype.

Chances are, Miami will find a way to win a couple series, but a world title could escape the Heat this season.

Chicago and Portland, while less experienced in the playoffs with some younger players, could make more experienced teams earn what they get.

Playoffs in hockey are different than basketball - should a goaltender have a hot streak, he could win a series for his team just in his play.

That is why you're more likely to see upsets in hockey than basketball, because those series can be shifted by the play of one player.

SPRING BREAK for many of the high school athletes slowed whatever momentum they'd built before their break and the nasty weather that has graced the area hasn't done any favors either.

With the growing lists of postponements in baseball and softball, there's a good chance that you could see teams playing a lot of doubleheaders and single games in the final two weeks of the season, just to get an already jumbled league schedule completed.

Regionals in baseball are scheduled to begin on May 9, with softball the following afternoon. That, like a lot of others, could be moved around.

Temperatures are expected to be in the 40s once this week is over and games should get going again at some point, just as long as the rain, sleet and hail stay away for a couple more months.

If not, there's a good chance the season could be over before it really starts.

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