Some good lunchtime reading from our Sports department today on this afternoon's match up between the Mariners and Red Socks.

Deep down in this story -- which focuses on the competitive history of Mariners' hit machine Ichiro and the Socks pitching phenom Daisuke Matsuzaka, who will face off today for the first time since they played in the Japanese leagues -- there's a quote on competition. Ichiro is talking about what it will be like to face Dice-K, who has matured since the two last squared off in August 2000.

"I hope he arouses the fire that's dormant in the innermost recesses of my soul," Ichiro says. "I plan to face him with the zeal of a challenger."

Wow. Now that's a quote. I would love to hear the all-stars of business and technology talk that way about their competition.