MLS.net has an interesting report on a media Q & A with Fire owner Andrew Hauptman that took place "in a private room at a fancy Chicago restaurant." Backdraft was not invited to the event, but we can still glean some insight into the mind of the most important person for the future of the Fire from the article.

It is reassuring to read that he respects the club's past, explaining he sat down with Bob Bradley, Peter Nowak and Frank Klopas to learn about the Fire's traditions. "It all goes back to ensuring we give enough respect to that history," Hauptman said.

It's also encouraging that Hauptman realises the Fire's principal aim should be to make soccer fans in Chicago fans of the Fire, rather than coverting Joe Public into a soccer fan. "We have a huge amount of work to bring in those people who do know about soccer," Hauptman said.

Hopefully we will get to know our owner better over the coming season, but these are encouraging signs.

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The Fire salvaged a point in the 92nd minute of the season opener thanks to a fine strike by Blanco, after Real Salt Lake had taken the lead twenty minutes earlier. We'll have a full wrap-up of the game later, but for now, you can watch the highlights at the MLS site and consider the varied reaction to the game below:

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The Fire today announced a new television deal that will see them broadcast a record 18 games on My50 Chicago WPWR-TV. Good news for the team locally, but long-time announcer Kenn Tomasch will not be part of the commentary team this season. Fred Huebner will be the play-by-play man and he'll be joined by Chris Doran as color analyst. So what happened to Tomasch?

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