As most of you know, I'm a huge Game of Thrones fan.  After I watched the first two seasons, I needed to keep my fetish going by hitting the Fire and Ice series. After reading the books, I was even more captivated by the stories and their amazing attention to detail.

My expectations for the 3rd season rose to heights I've never felt for any sort of fiction folklore. That's just how good the 3rd book was. (Which was based on the 3rd season)

I had a nightmare just over 20 months ago to the date. At least I thought it was. After giving a long, blank stare at my 40-inch Samsung I came to the realization that what just happened was reality — and what a harsh one it was.

On Sept. 28, 2011, I, along with baseball fans from around the world, witnessed Robert Andino hit a fly ball to left field in Camden Yards. Carl Crawford gave a feeble attempt to catch it, and the ball dropped to the ground, next to his sliding body. When his throw to the plate in an attempt to gun down the winning run was late, the Orioles had the 4-3 win over the Boston Red Sox on the final day of the MLB regular season. The play was a microcosm of Crawford’s failed tenure in Boston, of the roller-coaster that was the 2011 Red Sox.

This piece has zero to do with sports so if you are looking for hot takes on prospects and OTAs, get lost...But come back here on Monday!

I've always viewed certain dates as checkpoints more than celebrations. Maybe I'm just someone who looks back at things more than looking forward to what is on the horizon. It is such a contrast to when I was younger.

As a youngling, I couldn't wait to get the fuck out of high school or college. I counted the days down to when I could take that first sip of alcohol at the age of 21. I knew exactly how long until I turned 16 and could drive my parents' car straight into a series of donuts in a parking lot because. That represented the apex of my freedom.

I have a Sunday morning routine. I roll out of bed, go to the bathroom, and brew a cup of coffee while watering my plants. Once coffee is in-hand and the plants are properly fed, I head straight to my computer. It is a pretty mundane beginning to my day. Once I open up my computer, I head to Twitter to see if anything new is brewing in the sports world. I guess it is my version of the Sunday paper. What is now being added to my Sunday morning routine is seeing the majority of my followers bitching about one thing...

Bucky Gleason's Inside the NHL column.

Here’s the deal:  When I typed up the Buffalo Wins  A.L. preview earlier this week, I employed the same set of study skills that helped me wade through Buffalo State College 15 years ago.  That is to say, I did no research at all and just pulled stuff out of my backside.  In between that and writing this, the much-anticipated (?) N.L. preview, you know what I did?  I decided to do some legwork because like you, I had a burning need to know who the 7^th guy out of the bullpen will be for the Padres.  Two conclusions after skimming through the “experts” magazines –

1) If these guys want me to drop $8 (!) on one of these, could they at least use the current logos for each team??  

2) Their predictions for the American League standings…ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE NONSENSE I WROTE.  And it all it costs you for this is some memory…..and self-respect?  Anyway, TO THE PREVIEW!

(I had a 3.14 GPA, BTW)

THE NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST

Hey…HEY YOU!  Have you already been worn down by the Sabres’ death spiral of a season?  Are you ready to punch Todd McShay on first sight still 2 months out from the NFL draft?  OF COURSE YOU ARE!  Well, I have good news for you. 

Major League Baseball is into its 1^st week of Spring Training, and the World Baseball Classic is rapidly approaching.  Not only does this mean Springtime is almost here, but also it’s a happy reminder that there is not a 3^rd Buffalo major league franchise to crush our soul (Joe asked me to do a baseball article.  Blame him. – J.G.) American League predictions for 2013 season!

THE AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

1) Tampa Bay Rays – Certain things you can take to the bank.  These would include the Rays 1) being supported terribly by the locals, 2) having to lose a player or two every off-season, and 3) Joe Maddon will have them near the top of the division anyway.  And oh yeah, they have David Price and Evan Longoria.  GET OFF YOUR ASSES, TAMPA AND GO WATCH THIS TEAM PLAY!

Warning: This is a very graphic post about what goes into dogfighting. It is pretty graphic at certain points. So, be warn.

To me there exists nothing in this world which, given the right circumstances and given the appropriate amount and manner of retribution, can't be forgiven. The fallibility of our nature and the idea that -- at least here -- we have a measure of freedom to do and think as we please lends to that. People are going to make mistakes. Sometimes, those mistakes will be big ones. But somehow, someway, all of that can be erased under the right conditions, and given time.

In the retrospectives of Michael Vick's largest mistake, we often hear it referred to as the "Michael Vick dog fighting scandal". And that in and of itself is enough to concoct horrible depictions in some people's brains, of cheesy rap music blaring over a fortified dog ring where onlookers straddle over and watch canines fight one another. To some, that is enough.