THE FRONT ROW with MARK NELKE: Taking care of the ball — no matter what shape it is

So how could a question about taking care of the basketball ultimately lead to a friendly dig at a quarterback who ALMOST won a Super Bowl?

When the coach knows the person asking the question is a longtime 49ers fan.

Last week, after a loss to Lake City, Post Falls boys basketball coach Mike McLean was explaining how his team wanted to run its offense until the Trojans got a good look at the basket.

“For us, Mark, we’re trying to say, ‘Let’s not throw that pick-six turnover that goes the other way quick,’” McLean said. “We try not to be like Jimmy G, right? We don’t want to throw a pick-six in a bad spot.”

Ouch!

TO BE fair, Mr Garropolo hadn’t thrown too many pick-sixes recently. However, under pressure in recent games, there was usually that one throw (at least) in each game that had 49ers fans screaming “No, Jimmy, no” — like the one that essentially ended the Rams’ game in the NFC championship.

McLean talked about his team not wanting to toss up a careless, quick shot against a hungry defense.

Then he twisted that needle just a little further.

“I don’t want to be scrambling, throwing a pass over my head … ” McLean noted.

Argh …

IN RECENT years, the state-qualifying wrestling tournaments in North Idaho provided a smorgasbord for area wrestling fans.

For several years, the 5A, 4A and 3A state-qualifying tournaments were all held at Lakeland High, all on a single day, with the finals in each on side-by-side-by-side mats.

A fan could come to Lakeland and watch all three tournaments.

But then COVID-19 came along, and last year’s tournaments were split up.

Same with this year.

The 5A tournament is scheduled for Feb. 19 at Lake City High. The 4A tourney is that day, at Lakeland. The 3A tournament is Feb. 17, at Bonners Ferry.

But once COVID goes away, they’ll go back to all three tourneys at the same site, right?

Well, maybe not.

The coaches seem to like having separate tourneys, Lakeland coach Zach Horsley said.

“I think I’m in that camp; I think it’s best for the kids to not have all that distraction,” Horsley said. “It’s a long day (with three tournaments at the same site); they’re there from 9 o’clock to 5 o’clock. And with only the champion guaranteed to go to state (in 4A, where Lakeland is), that finals match is important. And you’re going to wrestle it after being in a gym for eight hours?”

So as much as he enjoyed the spectacle of three tournaments under one roof, Horsley said the move to separate tourneys is “kinda bittersweet.”

Now the tourney can be wrapped up in four hours, tops, instead of eight.

“The 5As were pushing for it (separate tourneys) several years ago,” Horsley said. “Us 4As liked it, because ours was pretty boring — with just us, Sandpoint and Moscow. And the 3As got into it more than everybody else.”

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 208-664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter @CdAPressSports.