The Front Row with JASON ELLIOTT Dec. 16, 2012

It's about that time of year again.

The Saturday afternoon that if you're a high school wrestling fan, your day is going to be spent inside Christianson Gym at North Idaho College.

And if you're a baseball fan, having nightmares about the upcoming season.

A LITTLE later on this afternoon, the championship matches of the 41st annual Tri-State Invitational wrestling tournament will unfold under the spotlight at Christianson Gym.

What I've learned in watching this event the past three years is to expect the unexpected.

For one, even if you're the top seed in your bracket, that road to the championship match isn't an easy one as the chance of having at least three defending state champions in your bracket is pretty good.

It's not a coincidence that a lot of the wrestlers that compete in the semifinals and finals end up at North Idaho College wrestling for the Cardinals.

So what ends up happening today?

Will a wrestler come out of nowhere to win?

Probably.

Will a bracket go according to how organizers drew it up and the No. 1 and 2 seeds advance to the finals?

Most likely.

The amazing thing to me about the tournament is that it is in the second weekend of the year for most teams. Chances are, the level of competition won't be the same at any other tournament the rest of the year - including state.

Most teams are here because they're the best of the best.

Today, they just prove it.

WHILE THE idea of Josh Hamilton joining the Seattle Mariners might have sounded appealing at first, it's probably for the best that he didn't wind up with the team.

Hamilton agreed to a five-year deal to go to the Los Angeles Angels, after becoming a star with Texas.

Earlier this week, the Mariners signed Jason Bay, the former Gonzaga and North Idaho College outfielder with the hopes that he can become the hitter he was with Pittsburgh and Boston before being injury prone with the New York Mets.

Bay, while with the Red Sox, hit one of the longest home runs I’ve seen in person at Safeco Field that wasn’t in batting practice.

And that was long before the Mariners decided to move in the fences to increase their offense.

It makes sense that the M’s signed Bay because it’s almost a risk-free move.

He’s from British Columbia, has the Mets paying for most of his contract, and if he doesn’t work out — the team can cut him.

However, I think it will work out for him.

A change of scenery and chance to play close to home might get him back to the All-Star caliber player he’d become.

He’s just got to prove it.

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