Welcome to the Man on Fire blog. Postings will be totally random, about a variety of subjects. Here are today's random thoughts (October 25th):

1 - Just finished reading columnist Greg Easterbrook on www.nfl.com. His column, Tuesday Morning Quarterback, is what inspired the crew at Man on Fire to start blogging. If you like Football, Science Fiction, and Humour, give it a try. Can't say we ever thought we'd see football and science fiction in the same column.

2 - Switching sports, many people will probably have an opinion on a piece written by Vancouver beat reporter Dan Murphy. Murphy thinks people should quit harrassing Vancouver Canucks winger Todd Bertuzzi about the Steve Moore incident, which is by now old news. We here at Man on Fire agree with this assesment, and think that if people are still angry at Bertuzzi, they should instead direct their wrath at NHL commisioner Gary Bettman. He's the one who handed out the punishment. Pestering Bertuzzi about his decision to sucker punch Moore is one thing, but people who go after him because they think his suspension wasn't long enough need to switch targets. Murphy's right, this horse is dead...

3 - Switching sports for the last time, to the CFL... because the staff here at Man on Fire consists largly of former volleyball, hockey, soccer, and football referees we will not make any wisecracks about the ineptitude of the officiating during last Sunday's Stamps-Rider game at Taylor Field in Regina, Saskatchewan. Besides, the fact that we're all Rider fans here clouds our vision.

4 - Today's famous quote of the day comes from one of our favorite people, Sir Winston Churchill,

"Although prepared for martyrdom, I preferred that it be postponed."

The great thing is, he's not joking.

5 - For those who are interested in Churchill we suggest reading his account of his experience as a war correspondant in South Africa during the Boer War. 'London to Ladysmith via Pretoria' and the sequel 'Ian Hamilton's March' are exciting and riviting true stories of adventure. If you think thriller novels are corny, then this book is for you. If you're having troubles finding a copy, it was re-released in 1989 under the title of 'The Boer War'.

6 - With the NHL season starting up, and the CFL play-offs just around the corner we havn't been paying attention to the political and international landscape as much as we normally would. So please excuse our lack of knowledge while we weigh in on the lastest news coming out of Iraq. According to a story on the CBC website 79% of Iraqis who voted in an October 15th referendum on their new constitution gave it the thumbs up. That's 13% more than the two-thirds majority needed. Say what you will about the U.S., but it's news like this that leads us to believe the majority of Iraqis are happier without Saddam.

7 - The Token Toronto Maple Leafs fan here at Man of Fire is not happy with Darcy Tucker. Earlier this week Tucker opined that hazing has a place in sports. To this, The Token Leafs fan replies that if Tucker wasn't on such a hot streak right now this comment would be inexcusable. Teasing the rookies has its place, but hazing has outlived its usefulness. It's difficult to see how the incidents that occured at McGill and Windsor create an atmosphere of togetherness and team bonding. The fight that occured at the following Spitfires practice is a more likely result. On a sentimental note, we were disappointed with Spitfires coach/GM and ex-Winnipeg Jet Moe 'Mustache' Mantha. He was a fan favorite here. We hope he cleans up his act.

That's all for today. Talk to you all soon.

M.O.F.