THE FRONT ROW with Eric Plummer Aug. 18, 2013

Sportswriters are famous for their hyperbole. Calling someone the best in the world at something happens all the time, but rarely is it ever true, and with all due respect to Muhammad Ali, how could it ever be truly proven?

That said, I'm going to go ahead and call Rathdrum's Brandon Palaniuk the greatest bass fishing/wrestler in the world. If there was ever a way to combine the two activities into one hybrid sport, would anyone be able to hang with Palaniuk?

The former Lakeland state champion wrestler has made a name for himself as one of the top professional bass fishermen in the U.S., recently winning $100,000 and an automatic berth into the 2014 Bassmaster Classic, the world championships of bass fishing.

Palaniuk's ascension to the upper echelon of the sport may have surprised some, but not those familiar with the 25 year-old.

In 2006, Palanuik went 41-2 and claimed his second 4A state wrestling title, ending the state tournament on a wild and emotional ride.

With seconds left in the 135 pound state final, Palanuik was cruising to an eventual 14-3 major decision victory when he was thrown to the mat, snapping his right arm in two places upon impact. Palaniuk quickly left Holt Arena in an ambulance, a bittersweet ending to a decorated high school wrestling career.

Nobody knew at the time that his broken right arm would eventually net him six figure checks and numerous endorsement deals, but head coach Rob Edelblute proved somewhat prophetic after the match.

"It went from horror, to excitement, to a numb feeling," described Edelblute at the time. "I think he was more worried about his casting arm than anything."

And rightfully so.

Time flies when

you're having fun

A few years ago, Mark Nelke asked me if a Clark Fork player's parent was so and so, and said he could remember covering said parent a couple decades earlier.

Stick around in this business long enough and you're bound to cover another generation of players, many boasting not only a familiar last name, but similar looks, movements and athletic traits.

I had a similar where-has-the-time-gone moment recently when looking up University of Montana senior setter Koko James, who now goes by her given name of Kortney.

It seems like not too many moons ago she was a freshman starting setter for Sandpoint, ultimately leading the Bulldogs to a 100-17 record and two 4A state titles during a dominant four-year run.

The fact she's entering her fourth year as the starting setter for the Grizzlies is no surprise, but how fast the past seven years have flown by certainly is.

James's senior year also marks the end of a family volleyball dynasty, so to speak. Sandpoint's Randy and Kathy James raised three daughters, each of whom went on to play college volleyball. Older sister Jennie was a middle blocker for Idaho State, middle sister Kelsey was a setter at Idaho and Koko has been the starting setter since she set foot in Missoula. All three had their college paid for by digs, kills, blocks and set assists.

James has amassed 2,860 assists, good enough for No. 6 all time on the Griz list. No. 1 on that list? Former Coeur d'Alene standout Ann Schwenke, whose unbelievable 4,650 career assists record might just stand for a while. Schwenke also holds the record for most assists in a match, with a whopping 98, another record that might stick around for a while.

Also on the Montana campus at the same time as Schwenke? Yours truly, as well as hard-hitting starting safety Sean Dorris, who eventually received an invite to the Houston Oilers training camp - Tennessee Titans for you younger fans - and is currently the defensive coordinator for Post Falls.

Seems like just yesterday.

A shout out to the stripes

There is an old sports adage that says if you don't notice the officials, they must be doing a great job. True, true.

As someone who has played sports, coached sports, covered sports and officiated sports, I've got a pretty good understanding of what makes a good official.

The great ones call what needs to be called, including all safety-related fouls, and mostly let the players dictate the outcome on the field, keeping a nice flow to the action.

Ever been to a football game where there is a flag thrown on seemingly every other play? The pace drags, and fans, players and coaches alike get frustrated. Sometimes it's sloppy play, other times it's overzealous officiating.

I remember covering a girls basketball game a few years ago between Bonners Ferry and Sandpoint that featured a total of 78 free throw attempts. It seemed like two players couldn't jump for the same rebound without a foul being called, and not surprisingly, the game flowed like Molasses in winter.

In short, officials are part of the game, for better or for worse. Luckily, North Idaho boasts some of the top crews in the state on an annual basis.

I have the utmost respect for high school officials. Crews travel North Idaho to spread out places from Clark Fork, to Mullan, to Plummer, and do so for very little pay.

Here's a shout out to the refs for calling the games, and a thank you for being there for the kids.

And here's hoping for a stellar 2013 fall sports season for everybody - players, coaches, parents, fans and yes, the officials.

Eric Plummer is the sports editor at the Bonner County Daily Bee in Sandpoint. For comments, suggestions or story ideas, he can be reached at "[email protected]."