THE FRONT ROW with MARK NELKE: Can't be too picky with March Madness anymore

Sorry, Boise.

We felt for you, too, Spokane.

Maybe you'll fare better, Portland and San Diego and ...

The NCAA's recent idea to play the entire NCAA men's basketball tournament in a bubble in the Indianapolis area, without fans, triggered a mixed bag of emotions.

On the plus side, that means there's a chance there will be an NCAA tourney in 2021, fans or no fans.

Of course, that would be better than what happened this past March, where there was no tourney, no fans, no national champion.

ZAGS FANS were convinced their team was going to win the national title this past season, and are equally convinced they will win this season, wherever the tourney is played, fans or no fans.

So those fans will take any tourney they can get, even if they can't be in the building, because it's better than what they had to suffer through earlier this year.

The Lakers and Lightning each won championships in a bubble this year, and the Dodgers won a World Series before a smallish crowd far from home.

But those titles still count, the celebration — by the teams and their fans — was still real.

Plus, in this era of one-and-dones, you never know how long a team like the Zags are going to be able to stockpile this kind of talent on an annual basis.

BUT MUCH of the fun is going to the games in person, whether you live in the area, or you just pick a town that seems like a fun place to visit — and while you're there, watch six college basketball games, four first-round games on a Thursday or Friday, two second-round games on a Saturday or Sunday, with a day off in between to recharge.

For some towns, that was their fans' only chance to see high-level college basketball in person.

So Spokane was screwed out of its chance to host the first and second rounds this past March, and looks like Boise will miss out in 2021.

Both cities have hosted games before, and Spokane will again, and perhaps Boise will too. But that's small consolation for those planning to attend this past March, or next March — especially if that was to be their first NCAA experience.

Fortunately, if you have the wherewithal to accumulate enough electronics, you can watch all the tourney games in 2021 from the comfort of your living room.

BUT TRUE, there's nothing like being there.

Walking around at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., standing where Martin Luther King Jr. once gave a speech.

Remembering the Alamo in San Antonio — and feasting on all-you-can-eat barbecue.

Checking out the Muhammed Ali museum in Louisville — also, eating KFC in the arena while watching hoops.

Hiking among the cactus in Tucson — and pigging out on all-you-can-eat ribs.

(OK, so there's a bit of a food theme to these trips as well).

Getting your kicks on Route 66 in Albuquerque.

Popping in and out of all the Honky Tonks on Broadway in Nashville — the fried bologna sandwiches being a bonus. Or eating hot chicken.

Walking into an Italian restaurant in Boise — and watching the eventual national champion UCLA Bruins walking out after their dinner.

Mingling with the homeless people on the way to the arena in Salt Lake City.

(Jeez, Mark, couldn't you think of something more flattering to say about Salt Lake?)

OK, posing for photos with the Stockton and Malone statues outside the arena in Salt Lake City.

In any event, you can't accrue memories like that through a TV monitor.

But, after what we went through this past March, it would still be a better memory than re-watching old games, because there was no tournament.

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