The Front Row with MARK NELKE July 28, 2011

The men representing each side seem intelligent and reasonable - the kind who could put aside any differences they have and work together for the good of both sides.

However, we are at a crisis, and the people on both sides seem to be sniping at each other, neither one willing to budge from their stance.

Meanwhile the clock ticks as an outcome nears that could lead to dire circumstances across the country.

So there's only one logical thing left to be considered.

Maybe Roger Goodell and DeMaurice Smith could be brought in to settle the debt ceiling problem?

The commissioner of the NFL, and the head of the players union, seemed to do a pretty good job bringing an end to the league's lockout recently - the owners and players both seem to be relatively happy - so perhaps their talents could be put to use on Capitol Hill.

As it is now, our interest rates are going to go up, our 401(k)s are going to go down - but by gosh, we've got our favorite football teams showing up for training camp.

We might be drowning in debt by then, as individuals and as a nation, but we'll be able to watch the NFL on Sunday.

At least our country has its priorities in order.

MEANWHILE, WITH the Pac-10 - er, Pac-12 - piquing our interest with its football media day earlier this week, I am curious to see how newcomers Utah and Colorado fit in, especially on the gridiron. Utah, with a couple of undefeated seasons in the past decade, shouldn't have as much trouble making the transition from the Mountain West. The Buffaloes, who are moving over from the Big 12, have struggled in recent years, however.

Better yet is the league's new TV deal, which means just about every conference football or men's basketball game can be seen somewhere - ESPN, ROOT Sports, FX, Fox and, starting in 2012, the Pac-12's very own network.

We’ve been pretty fortunate in recent years in that many of those games could already been seen on FSN or somewhere else. But not every game was on — the networks haven’t been exactly clamoring to come to Martin Stadium in Pullman in recent years to televise WSU football.

On Saturdays during basketball season, many of the league’s games had their start times staggered so you could seen nearly every league game in a single day. But some of the Thursday games went untelevised for no apparent reason.

People like to make fun of The Mtn., but at least most of the Mountain West’s football games can be seen there — of course, getting the channel, depending on whether you have cable, DirecTV or Dish Network, can be a bit tricky. Boise State fans around here were fortunate to find a few Bronco football games on KSKN in Spokane, now they’ll have to find The Mtn. on their dials if they can.

The so-called WAC Network — a hodgepodge of stations throughout the league — will show a football game of the week. You can see Idaho three times — if you can pick up SWX out of Spokane. SWX is also showing the North Dakota game, and the opener vs. Bowling Green is scheduled for Altitude TV.

A few other games — like the one at BYU late in the season — could also find their way to TV.

Not exactly like the Pac-12’s setup, or The Mtn., but maybe someday ...

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at [email protected].