The Front Row with JASON ELLIOTT Dec. 29, 2012

Either you’re first or you’re last.

Well, as was the case in my Fantasy Football playoffs, I’m last again.

But it wasn’t for lack of trying.

AFTER WINNING my first two playoff matchups, I’d finally made it to the championship round — probably the first and last time I’ll ever accomplish this feat.

It’s worth mentioning that my loyalty to the Seattle Seahawks is very much alive with my team, drafting Marshawn Lynch, Seattle’s defense and Matt Flynn during the summer months when the league was first getting going.

Flynn didn’t hang around long and was later moved so that I could get Russell Wilson.

Early on, I opted to leave Wilson on the bench in favor of Jay Cutler, who at the time was putting up points and doing a fairly good job.

So well in fact that I opted to start him when the Seahawks played Chicago earlier this year and wound up playing to a tie.

That was the last time Wilson sat on the bench.

Since that game in which he outscored Cutler, I’d started Wilson and as the Seahawks have gone — so has he and a string of two playoff wins when the team had scored 108 points in two games — which helped put me in the championship game.

On championship Sunday, things didn’t start all that well.

Staring at a 111-51 deficit entering the final game between San Francisco and Seattle, it looked bleak.

Then Seattle started to score on offense, then on special teams and before I knew it, I’d gotten a little closer.

And had it not been for a late touchdown by the 49ers, I probably might have won the championship, but it wasn’t meant to be and I lost.

Even a few days after, the loss still stings, but things happen for a reason.

Besides, I’d trade a championship in the Super Bowl than fantasy football anytime.

ONE OF many New Year’s resolutions I’ve got is to pay more attention to the leagues I’m in.

Whether it be football, baseball or basketball, all it takes to win a few games here and there is just the ability to pay attention.

So far this year, I’ve managed to forget to set my basketball lineup at least five times and it has wound up costing me a ton of points.

Not even perfect games this year from Jered Weaver and Felix Hernandez could help my chances this year and I finished in last place.

With basketball, it’s still early, but chances are that the same thing will happen once again.

Considering I’m the guy that drafted Allen Iverson instead of a player actually with a team, I’d say there’s a good chance of that happening again.

A really good chance.

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]