Our Iraqi correspondent

That's my brother-in-law Mitch, posing in front of some bombed-out structure near his Marine base camp in Iraq, where he's serving another tour of duty for the next few months. He just arrived and, without giving away as much of the declassified information that we think we even know, he's assured us he's supposed to be pretty much out of harm's way while dispatching Harrier hover fighter jets during the ongoing peace-keeping mission.
Not as important, but with as much enthusiasm as he can muster, he's going to email dispatches to us describing how he and his cohorts are keeping up with the sports world.

It's an 11-hour time difference, so anything live here means a middle-of-the-night viewing there, but a lot of it becomes delayed for the Armed Forces Radio and TV Service.

He wanted us to know that he saw the Miami-Pittsburgh NFL opener, which kicked off at about 5 a.m. "I watched some (live) then saw the replay last night at 7p.m.," Mitch wrote. "The difference is the only beer we have is non-alcoholic."

Here's the first complete dispatch from our Iraq correspondent (an Indianapolis Colts fan who grew up in NFL-less L.A. before moving with his wife and two kids to the Marine base in Yuma, Ariz.):

"I am doing fine out here. I just started a fantasy football league ... makes time pass faster. As far as sports, it's pretty good here. We get college and pro games. Got to see the Colts, although it was preseason. We see "The Contender," (the ESPN reality show), so that's always fun. Most guys are waiting till football season is in full swing.

"Just trying to get more info on the Lakers, new signings, rumors, etc. The Dodgers come on every now and then, just like to see them race for the pennant. My roommate loves the Yankees -- yes he loves to waste his cheers -- then again, he loves 'Friday Night Lights.' All that movie just to root for some losers. Hahaha. Well, take care I will update you as I can."