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I was born and raised in Cincinnati.
Reds fan, graduated from University of Cincinnati, so I'm a Bearcats fan too... They've had their share of misery, sure, but we're not here for them...
Support never dies...
But the Bengals...
I became a BIG fan when the team went and hired the then defensive coordinator of the Super Bowl winning Ravens, Marvin Lewis. They drafted stud QB, Carson Palmer. Had a killer WR corps those first few years with Chad 85, TJ Housh, and Chris Henry (RIP). The 2005 team was probably the best Bengals team I've ever seen (it was better than the team that lost to Pitt in that heartbreaking loss a couple years ago).
Support never dies...
That team changed over to this new one we have. Finally trading Palmer for a HAUL (thanks Hue). Drafting Dalton and Green (AJ is the single best WR they've ever had, better than Chad, Pickens, etc.) and really forming a good defense over the years. They let many good candidates go (especially Zimmer, but also Gruden and Jackson, although Hue may not be the coach everyone thought/thinks he is).
Support never dies...
I was on board with Marv through the last resigning (b/c at the time I was a fan of this argument of "look what he's done to a team that was shit before him").
I'm sick of this rinse and repeat though. Why can't the Bengals have nice things? Because we fuck them up apparently. The stadium is trash and apparently going to be a point of contention when the lease is up in 2025 (I think that's the year). Mike Brown will ask for a new stadium or threaten to take the team elsewhere.
Support never dies...
The one constant? A HC who is 0-7 in the playoffs. His past 2 seasons were losing ones. He never shows any emotion other than *stern look, hands clap* on the sidelines. That bored look of his might as well be the newest Bengals logo on the side of their helmet. Why would HE want to stay here? Isn't there another team interested in him, ever?
Support never dies...
Problem is... I hate the people who jump to another team "because they are good". That's a weak argument. I'll buy "I grew up watching them" or "I have family there", but not "I just like them because". That's what I'm sitting here contemplating though. Who else can I like so that I don't have to hear these die hards scream Who Dey for a team run by an owner who doesn't care? His choice of a HC is "Fuck it, let's rehire Marvin Lewis". Is that really what I signed up for as a fan?
Perhaps I'll jump on the Colts bandwagon. I loved Peyton when he played, and was a lightweight fan of them b/c of him, but that team is also trending downward. Is Luck healthy? Isn't that line as bad as Cincy's? Who will their coach be? How can Frank Gore still play football?
What about the Browns? Can't do that, they are easily the worst franchise in the Big 3 (sorry NHL) and a division rival. And they just agreed to keep Hue after going 1-31 the past 2 years.
Fuck the Steelers.
For that matter... Fuck the Ravens.
I feel like a lost fan. I need a team that won't continue to let their fans down and then say "Stay the course" or "Real fans don't let go". Mike Brown is terrible. Marvin did his job, but it's time to move on.
Support never dies... Until it does.
Rant over. As you were.
*sigh* http://twitter.com/phenompyrus
Get Out the Room http://getouttheroom.podomatic.com http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/get-out-the-room/id525657893
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