I have to confess my mortal sin. I am up at 5am to watch the 1st game of the season. It's something I didn't think I'd care to do about 2 months ago. It's approaching 6am and I'm here to tell you my sin: I turned my back on our team during the off season, and I feel ashamed for what I have done.

I had a hard time with losing alot of our veteran players and replacing them with people that I have never heard of, but I took it on the chin. It happens in baseball, especially with the A's. Then January 3rd happen. Nick Swisher traded to the White Sox. It was the worst trade that could happen to me. I live in a small town in Arkansas that is a retirement community. It's a retirment community for old grouchy people from "Up north", with the majority of them coming from Chicago.  Most of them are rude and arrogant and treat us like we're all a bunch of hicks because we're not from Chicago. The majority of them are like nails on a chalk board to the rest of us that live here. They move down here for the "Simple life" then complain because things aren't done like they are in Chicago. I have come to loathe the people and the town of Chicago. yeah, I know it's not right to judge, but it's hard not to do. I was afraid he'd have to change who Swish is, but I've watched some Sox games (I know, dispicable) and they talk about him all the time. They talk about how his distinct personality will bring something to the clubhouse they don't have.....fun.

The Swisher trade wasn't the only break up that turned me off of the A's. The short story is I was with a guy. We were A's fans. We met at an A's game. Some of my best A's memories were with him, or, because of him, so when he turned out to be a total $#@!#*#@, anything Green and Gold would make me hysterically cry.  I thought, "I can't handle baseball this year" I was pissed off. I was hurt, and I was angry.

Then something strange happened. I realized it was time for pitchers and catchers to report. Then I watched some Spring Training games here and there. It was good to have baseball back. It was actually comforting as opposed to painful. It was comforting to hear baseball. It was like my true friend was back. Then I felt ashamed. I had actually walked away (For a brief time) from my true love; From the one thing that makes me happy.

So here I sit at 6:08am, so damn giddy to be watching our team on tv I can't stand it. I can't believe I could feel like this so early in the morning!! I hope that I can redeem myself in the eyes of the A's Gods for what I have done. I have confessed my sin. The biggest sin a sports fan could commit, and I am sorry.