The Front Row with JASON ELLIOTT Sept. 17, 2011

They're often called boneheads, idiots and if you ask a sports fan, they probably need to have their eyes examined.

But in my 10 years of covering high school sports, and more recently some collegiate sports, I've never seen an official or referee that has fit that description.

THERE HAVE been a couple of times I may have not agreed with the strike zone of an umpire during a baseball game, but then again, every umpire has his own interpretation of the strike zone.

In professional baseball, what could be a strike one night is called a ball the next.

Along those same lines, an umpire that allows the manager to argue his point about said zone could also get thrown out just as quickly.

Maybe it has been the heat, but it seems like officials have been getting a bad rap, whether on a soccer field or a baseball game.

A few times, during some games, I've had players come up to me and ask me to mention a couple of bad calls by officials in the article, despite the fact his team won.

And no matter how big the game is, all it takes is one call and the whole game can snowball.

In football, some officials have said you can call holding on almost every play.

Soccer can be under that same classification and after watching Wednesday's boys matchup between Coeur d'Alene and Lake City - they may as well allow the officials to throw their flags, also.

Both teams came off the opening whistle battling and it continued that way until the final one.

WHEN THESE two teams face off, it is bound to get feisty at times.

Wednesday's match didn't disappoint. Between players fighting for position, the ball and just battling for over 80 minutes, the match came down to a pair of penalty kicks as Lake City won 2-0.

The match, which both coaches dubbed a "circus," finished exactly as such.

One goal was not allowed when a player used his hands in the penalty box and received a yellow card for his troubles.

Another goal was waved off after a foul occurred right before another player scored what would have been the go-ahead goal.

The goal being called off didn’t stop the player from channeling his inner Brandi Chastain as he pulled off his jersey top and celebrated his non-goal.

Circus — sounds about right.

Whether the “Fish” game or any other time two rivals face off, the atmosphere is like a rock concert, with fans screaming in the hopes of getting a win.

And with all that action going on both on and off the court — you almost need eyes in the back of your head to capture every single thing that happens during the game.

To be chosen to officiate games such as these, you’ve really got to know your stuff.

You’ve also got to be able to close out any of the background noise that comes along with these types of games.

And while they might miss a few calls every once in a while, they’re still the best we’ve got.

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].