The Evolution of a Bengals Fan

It's been a while since I've written anything. Not sure if I haven't had any time, strong opinions, or if it was just laziness. But I got called out. So I have to tell my side. And 140 characters isn't going to cut it this time.

If you ever read Brad Johansen's blog on Local12.com, you'll see a post from yesterday. Or if you haven't, you can see it here now. I'm the guy. I asked the stupid question. Now, if you get where I'm coming from, you'd know the reason I asked. In this particular instance, I wasn't worried about if the game would sell out in a football sense. I was worried about it from a TV standpoint. I can't remember from year to year if people go to preseason games. What I do remember is that in the 3 years I've worked at Local 12, I've been witness to, and rolling live breaks for, several Bengals preseason games. But instead of calmly explaining "they never sell out home games, no one does. You must just be thinking of away games". I get snark. But it got me thinking about two things: One, I might just start asking Brad stupid questions to get him to post blogs, and two, who was I as a Bengals fan.

Brad has painted me as some sort of uber-fan, so anxious for a productive and entertaining season that I believe that the city of Cincinnati will sell out preseason games, and I began to wonder 'Am I?'.

Decidedly, I am not 'That Guy' as Brad proposes. I'm far too pessimistic toward the Bengals for that. But my allegiance to the team has evolved over the years. In the fall of 2001, I was in the 8th grade and becoming more understanding that there was a world outside of the tiny bubble I called my life. At that time I was a scrawny little kid who's only experience in organized sports was baseball. And I wasn't even very good at that. So football was not my wheelhouse. I had friends at school who played, sure, but I could not have been on the field with them. I'd have gotten snapped in half. So I lived and breathed Reds. But around this time, I also became aware that you could be a fan of a sport without ever having played it. The thought hadn't even crossed my mind. I began to expand my horizons.

It would have been understandable at that time if I had chosen to root for a team other than the Bengals. They were mired in something worse that terrible. I don't think anyone would have faulted me for rooting for Denver, Green Bay, or San Francisco. These were some of the biggest teams at the time, and perennials every playoff season since the inception of the sport. But the draw of staying loyal to the hometown appealed to me. And there was some loudmouth rookie receiver from Oregon State who proclaimed that he wanted to be in Cincinnati, to turn the team around. It intrigued me. I got hooked on the stripes.

Over the next couple of years, as the Bengals shifted away from being the Bungals, I grew with them, in my understanding of the game. I began to understand subtle nuances to the game. I started to understand how and why certain teams run particular plays at various times and with different results. It was a learning process that I began to enjoy. I relished watching each week. And while each year often starts with hope now, there's always that underlying Bungaldom that remains a part of every person who has ever rooted for them...and I too, have acquired that trait. I understand that with great expectations, comes great let down.

So while I am excited for the beginning of a fresh new season for a Bengals team that seems to be headed in a more positive direction than any Bengals team since I've been a fan, I can't say that I'm overly excited for the preseason. Because as you'll remember, I won't be getting to sit on my couch with a bowl of chips, enjoying the game. I'll be at work, making sure the game hits the air properly for everyone else.

So, I foolishly asked a grizzled sports veteran if he thought a meaningless preseason game would be sold out. And I got what I deserved; a snarky answer. But all I wanted to know was how many people he thought were going to care about this year's edition of the Bengals as much or more than me...and if I was going to get to go home from work on time.

Super Bowl Pros and Cons List

I have taken a, what's the word? Brea...? Hiat...? Sabbati..... Oh right, that's it. I got lazy. Yeah. I just couldn't find the right topic to get excited enough about to make time to sit down and slap down some stuff that a million other people didn't already beat to death (I'm looking at you, Manti Te'o). Plus, I'm doing this for my own amusement and the few people who take the time to look. But, since the match-ups are set, I thought I'd get into a little Super Bowl talk.

Now, even though the Bengals made the playoffs, I never hold out hope for them. And as evidenced by the interwebz, lots of people didn't get the teams they wanted in the Big Game, either. But honestly, unless you're a fan of one of the two teams, are you ever really happy with the teams that make it? Every team has an element of "that's a neat story, good for that guy" mixed with "boy I hate that player/team".

But if you want some reasons to root for or against each team specifically here are my top 3 reasons for each team, pro and con.

Ravens-Pros Maybe Ray Lewis will finally be satisfied and go away. There are other players on their team. It would be nice if they got to win a ring too. The memory of Art Modell will be a feel-good thing for everyone. Except Cleveland...but then what feels good in Cleveland?

49ers-Pros People will finally give Colin Kaepernick some credit for his skill. Not just point out that he has tattoos. While he doesn't have as many years of NFL experience as Ray Lewis, David Akers will be the oldest player to step onto that field. He has never won a ring. I root for things like that. I won't have to go through the pain of another division rival winning another Super Bowl before the Bengals. (If Cleveland gets one first, I quit).

Ravens-Cons We're going to have to listen to Ray Lewis incessantly tell us why God helped him win a football game. Cause God cares more about him and the Ravens than anyone else. Michael Phelps will get to vicariously claim this victory. As if we need that guy to win any more trophies for anything. Yeesh. I guess it could be worse, he could be Ryan Lochte. Flacco will further his status as 'elite'. And I suppose it's true. But I won't want to hear about it.

49ers-Cons San Francisco already won the World Series. If they get this, we'll have to hear "San Francisco is the 'sports capital of the world'" for a whole year. Randy Moss would finally get a ring. And you'd have to hear about it. From him. Repeatedly. Alex Smith can kiss his career in San Francisco goodbye. As much as the foundation has been building all season, Kaep winning the big one has to be the cement in his shoes.

The obvious storylines will be there. The Harbaugh brothers coaching against one another. The 'love him/ hate him' situation surrounding Ray Lewis as he retires. But the one I think a lot of people will gloss over is possibly my favorite. As franchises (Just the Ravens, not a team that used to play in Baltimore under a different name) both teams are undefeated in Super Bowl play. RayRay's first Super Bowl win was also the Ravens only Super Bowl. Conversely, the Niners will appear in their 6th Super Bowl, tying Denver for 3rd on the list of Super Bowl appearances. San Fran has won all 5 previous match-ups (Although, admittedly, two of those were against the Bengals, soooooo...yeah). So, in two weeks, one team will be undefeated in Super Bowl play, and the other, will not be.

As I noted last night on Twitter, last season's playoff victory margins versus this year's break-down like this:

Wild Card
2011: 6, 17, 21, 22
2012: 6, 10, 14, 15
Divisional

2011: 4, 7, 17, 35
2012: 2, 3, 13, 14

Conference

2011: 3, 3 
2012: 4, 15

Super Bowl

2011: 4
2012: ?

So as you can see, this playoff season, we've been treated to some tighter games than last year. And unless I lay down a 5 dollar bet with someone, I'm just gonna root for a good game.

[Side note: I will be at the helm of Master Control at Local 12 the night of the Super Bowl, so I'll mostly be rooting for a long, long game so that the news starts late and I don't have to stay for the whole thing. My own selfish reasons, I guess. Unfortunately, I anticipate extra people to be lurking around all night, so I'll probably have to stay away from social media and stay on my game. You'd all like to see the Super Bowl and not a repeat of Homeworx or Andy Griffith right? Guess I better do my job.] 

And on that note, I leave you with the Super Fans, to pick the winner of the Super Bowl...although their quip about 'the queers' might be a bit insensitive.

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Community returns: 18 days

Walking Dead returns: 20 days

...In case you're counting.