The Front Row with JASON ELLIOTT April 25, 2012

This time of year, there's a buzz in sports - no matter if it's at the college or professional level.

Friday there was the good side of things, while Sunday's antics by a familiar joker in the NBA proved that some just love trouble.

ONCE AGAIN a large amount of rain on Thursday night threatened to cancel Friday's Scenic West Athletic Conference home opener for the North Idaho College softball team, when the Cardinals were scheduled to entertain the Southern Idaho Golden Eagles.

Having its previous six series moved to Larsen Playfield in Moses Lake, NIC wasn't going to let a little rain keep that streak going.

A doubleheader, which was previously scheduled to begin at 1 p.m., was moved to 3 and later dwindled down to a single game at 6, but still drew one of the bigger crowds I've seen.

When I went to the field earlier in the day, it didn't seem as if the game was going to happen.

Walking on the infield, there was water in a couple different spots and the mud seemed to leave the field unplayable.

Thanks to NIC coaches and the field crew, the teams finally got on the field a little after 5.

CSI may have won the battle that night, but the Cardinals were able to steal the final game of the series with a walk-off hit on Saturday afternoon.

Just as quickly as the official home opener was played, they're scheduled to host Colorado Northwestern to conclude the regular season with four games this weekend.

That is, weather permitting.

LATER THIS weekend, the NBA playoffs will begin.

It is to be determined if the player known as World Peace will get to be a part of it.

Metta World Peace, formerly known as Ron Artest, was celebrating a slam dunk during the second quarter of the Lakers' double overtime win against Oklahoma City on Sunday.

On his way back up the court, his elbow caught Oklahoma City guard James Harden in the side of the head — knocking him out of the game. World Peace was ejected after receiving a flagrant foul.

Harden is out with a concussion, with an uncertain return to the team.

World Peace, who tried to convince fans that it was an accident in postgame interviews, received a seven-game suspension from the NBA on Tuesday.

Whether or not he’s telling the truth — this also comes from the same guy that turned a basketball game into a riot in Detroit a few years ago.

After the season, World Peace should change his name back to Artest — because thanks to his latest shenanigans, he won’t be receiving peace anytime soon.

WITHIN THE next two weeks, spring sports will be winding down and the state playoffs will put a cap on the prep sports season.

Nothing dirty about the end of the season — just wins and losses.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected].