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EDIT: Season 2 Cast List HERE.

As you may have noticed I’m a fan of Fantasy and Science Fiction literature. Well HBO is too as they’ve ordered a pilot for Game of Thrones the first book in George R.R. Martin’s epic Fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire. Kings queens bastards zombies imps you name it this series has it.

The author and show producers have been taunting fans with casting clues tormenting us for days on end before a new actor is announced for a role. You have to remember this series is on par with Lord of the Rings in that the characters are larger than life as epic as the story they are beholden to.

I have amassed a running tally of the cast so far. Most all of the major players for the pilot have been filled so I thought it a good time to show you all what to expect (hopefully) come winter of next year. You’ll probably be seeing “Winter Is Coming to HBO” posters next Fall don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Series Regulars (Alphabetical)

Mark Addy is Robert Baratheon

Alfie Allen is Theon Greyjoy

Sean Bean is Eddard Stark

Emilia Clarke is Daenerys Targaryen

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau is Ser Jaime Lannister

Peter Dinklage is Tyrion Lannister

Michelle Fairley is Catelyn Stark

Aidan Gillen is Petyr Baelish

Jack Gleeson is Joffrey Baratheon

Iain Glen is Ser Jorah Mormont

Kit Harington is Jon Snow

Lena Headey is Cersei Baratheon

Isaac Hempstead-Wright is Bran Stark

Harry Lloyd is Viserys Targaryen

Richard Madden is Robb Stark

Rory McCann is Sandor Clegane

Sophie Turner is Sansa Stark

Maisie Williams is Arya Stark

Featured Cast (Alphabetical)

John Campbell-West is Samwell Tarly

Ron Donachie is Ser Rodrik Cassel

Jerome Flynn is Bronn

Conleth Hill is Varys

Jason Momoa is Khal Drogo

Donald Sumpter is Maester Luwin

Guest Cast (Alphabetical)

Amrita Acharia is Irri

Roger Allam is Illyrio Mopatis

Josef Altin is Pyp

Gethin Anthony is Renly Baratheon

Ciaran Bermingham is Mord

Esmé Bianco is Ros

David Bradley is Ser Walder Frey

Susan Brown is Septa Mordane

Dominic Carter is Janos Slynt

Antonia Christophers is Mhaegen

James Cosmo is Jeor Mormont

Charles Dance is Tywin Lannister

Joseph Dempsie is Gendry

Kate Dickie is Lysa Arryn

Stephen Don is Stiv

Emun Elliot is Marillion

Lino Facioli is Robin (Robert) Arryn

Elyes Gabel is Jhogo

Ian Gelder is Ser Kevan Lannister

Julian Glover is Grand Maester Pycelle

Jefferson Hall is Ser Hugh of the Vale

Ben Hawkey is Hot Pie

Rhodri Hosking is Mycah

Margaret John is Old Nan

Wilko Johnson is Ser Ilyn Payne

Dermot Keaney is Gared

Sibel Kekilli is Shae

Susie Kelly is Masha Keddle

Mark Lewis Jones is Shagga

Simon Lowe is the Catspaw Assassin

Francis Magee is Yoren

Clive Mantle is Greatjon Umber

Joseph Mawle is Benjen Stark

Brendan McCormack is Ser Vardis Egan

Ian McElhinney is Ser Barristan Selmy

Luke McEwan is Rast

Roxanne McKee is Doreah

Kristian Nairn is Hodor

Rob Ostlere is Ser Waymar Royce

Art Parkinson is Rickon Stark

Aimee Richardson is Myrcella Baratheon

Lalor Roddy is the Wineseller

Dar Salim is Qotho

Eugene Simon is Ser Lancel Lannister

Jamie Sives is Jory Cassel

John Standing is Jon Arryn

Mark Stanley is Grenn

Conan Stevens is Ser Gregor Clegane

Owen Teale is Ser Alliser Thorne

Peter Vaughan is Maester Aemon Targaryen

Natalia Tena is Osha

Eros Vlahos is Lommy Greenhands

Bronson Webb is Will

Callum Wharry is Tommen Baratheon

Miltos Yeromelou is Syrio Forel

There’s something thrilling about death being just a helicopter blade away…

View More.

I’m trying to figure out which of these will, historically speaking, suck more.

Avatar Trailer
Delgo Trailer

“Okay, let’s make this official.”

Bob Aram, who represents both fighters, said both have verbally agreed to the terms, and that he expects the contracts to be signed by the end of this week. Aram did not disclose the purse split, but one would be crazy to think that it is anything more than a 60/40 split favoring Pacquiao.

So how do these two match up? Well first of all both of these guys are south paws, so this may level the playing field for the cut-prone Cotto and the duck-and-swing style of Pacquiao. The cuts have really affected Cotto’s recent fights, so this may bode well for him. If Manny has one single strength over the Puerto Rican, however, it’s hand speed. He’s made the best fighters in the world look like they downed a few Valium before their matches.

On the other hand, we have to consider whether Cotto’s monstrous body punching will force Manny’s hands to stay at home base long enough to put the Pac Man on the defensive. Personally, I don’t think so, but we’ll see what the critics say.

To me, speed beats strength at 145 lbs., which is the catch-weight these guys have agreed to fight at. Another question, which I don’t weigh as much (no pun intended), is whether the naturally larger, stronger fighter (Cotto) will be able to bully the smaller guy (Pacquiao) after having to drop weight to a less than comfortable amount. The reason I don’t care about this is that these guys are professionals. Pacquiao started out fighting at 103 lbs. and he’s dethroned world champions at 130, 135, 140 and 145 already.

A final comparison is quite simply who wants it more. Both of these fighters can unload their fists in any given round, and few can claim to have the brute strength of Miguel Cotto while even fewer can lay claim to the explosiveness of Manny Pacquiao. But when it comes down to it, will the Filipino dynamite lay waste to the Puerto Rican tank, who has looked less than convincing in his two biggest fights, or will history rewrite itself yet again?

We’ll find out November 14, I’m already counting the days!

P.S. I’ll have you over for the fight if you can guess who I was quoting at the start of this write-up. You have to get to my place on your own dime, though.

Fans of George R.R. Martin’s fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire, are rejoicing at all of the casting news announced early this morning for the HBO pilot being filmed this fall (so far the show includes Peter Dinklage, Sean Bean and Mark Addy as the bigger names, with Gillian Anderson being rumored to jump on board as well). But one can’t help but shake one’s head in dismay at the Hollywood Reporter’s inability to put accurate facts into their releases.

Apparently in this series one must ascend to the Iron Throne in order to ensure their survival for the 40-year winter to come. This sounds enticing, but it is handedly false and mostly unfounded. Sometimes, editors, less is more. If you haven’t read the books, leave out the details.

Sigh.