The Front Row with MARK NELKE Jan. 17, 2013

I am here to announce that I was not using performance-enhancing drugs when I wrote my latest sports story.

Trust me.

And those openings at other newspapers that I may or may not have been linked to?

Not interested. Love it here.

Trust me.

Now, while those statements are truthful - trust me! - when you hear that kind of stuff from sports figures nationally ... well, you might as well start cringing now.

WE'VE BEEN fortunate, in covering high school and North Idaho College sports in North Idaho for three decades, that the sources we deal with on a daily basis are pretty much honest with us.

Oh sure, some have tried to fib when we would ask what was going on. Later the truth would come out and we would simply print it, rather than raise a big stink over it. Besides, their actions are something they have to live with, not us.

Anyway, the lies of a certain prominent cyclist that have come to light recently are just the latest example that you have to question just about everything you hear, at least on a national level.

Just like if a coach says he's happy where he is and is not a candidate for a certain other job, well he probably is a candidate. And a week later, he is probably that new team's coach.

In the future, perhaps computers will come equipped with a program that takes what people said and interprets it into what they really mean.

What they said: "I did not use performance-enhancing drugs."

What they meant: "I did not get caught using performance-enhancing drugs."

Or ... "The test was tampered with, so therefore, technically I did not use performance-enhancing drugs. Ha ha!"

What they said: "I am not a candidate for the vacant coaching job at (Team X)."

What they meant: "Darn right I am a candidate, but I can't say that until I've got the job and I've loaded up all my things here and gotten out of town."

Or ... "If you could say your 'sources' said I was a candidate for that job, perhaps I could extract more money and a longer deal from my current employer."

But that's something for the future, perhaps. For now, be wary of anything coaches and athletes nationally say.

(OK, I will admit that some of my work has been done under the influence of bacon. If that's a crime ... guilty as charged!)

Elsewhere ...

IDAHO HAS offered a football scholarship to Coeur d'Alene High lineman Matt James, Vikings coach Shawn Amos said.

James was an all-5A Inland Empire League selection on the defensive line this season.

James’ teammate, Jeremiah Hazard, verbally committed to Idaho State a few days ago.

POST FALLS’ girls basketball team (15-1, 2-1 5A Inland Empire League) has been idle since suffering its first loss, last Tuesday at Coeur d’Alene. The Trojans return to action at home Friday vs. Lake City (10-8, 0-4). ... Lake City’s league-leading boys (10-4, 3-0 5A IEL) play at Post Falls (5-8, 0-1) on Friday in the second game of the doubleheader ... The annual Ter Hark Cup wrestling match between Coeur d’Alene and Lake City is scheduled for Friday at Lake City. Coeur d’Alene has won 10 straight Ter Hark Cup matches.

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached by phone at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter at CdAPressSports.