To Live And Die With The Bengals

To Live And Die With The Cincinnati Bengals

When does somebody know that they are going to be a fan of something for the rest of their lives? It is truly a bizarre question. Some might say it is like asking if you knew that you were going to marry that girl the first time you laid eyes on her. In my case, Cincinnati Bengals Football was a birthright of sorts. Please let me explain.

My father was a local legend of sorts. He was the captain of Elder High School’s class of 1960 team that only had two losses one of which was to Purcell High School which led to a three-way tie for their League. In that loss to Purcell, my father was beat on a naked reverse by Purcell quarterback Roger Staubach. Football is in my blood.

When I was about ten years old, my dad got me a job with the Cincinnati Bengals as what was then called a Press Runner. Before the invention of things like the internet, sport’s writers were dependent on mimeographed sheets from the official statistician. At the end of each quarter, half, and game, 6-10 kids ranging in ages from 10-17 years old would run through the press box with stacks of stat sheets and distribute them to the sportswriters.

For this hard labor job, we were paid ten bucks a game and all the hot dogs and soft drinks that we could consume. Also we got to watch the game and meet all kinds of giants from the worlds of both football and journalism. I actually stood behind Tom Mees and his cameraman while he did a quick on the spot interview with Rocky Bleier. That was incredibly cool.

The Cincinnati Bengals were the best they ever were going to be during those years. During the 1980’s they made it all the way to the Superbowl, twice. Those were the days of Boomer Esaison’s amazing “play action” fake outs and James Brooks’ unstoppable running. To this day, I swear there has never been a tougher hitting running back.

My deep loathing of Bill Walsh (who should have been our head coach) and Joe Montana began around this time as well. I actually took the 1988 championship loss personally. I cried when Tim Krumrie’s leg snapped.

Also, it was glorious to see our little Midwestern city become the sometimes little engine that could. Winning in the NFL has a way of boosting you up no matter what the other current political and economic realities your city may be facing.

Of course I ended up playing High School Football at Purcell Marian, my father’s old nemesis. I was an offensive lineman. Our coaches showed us videos of Anthony Munoz. His technique was perfect. We learned everything that you needed to know about Offensive Line play from watching him.

In spite of everything that has happened to my beloved Bengals over the last two decades or so, I think there still may be a little spark left underneath all of the ashes of the past. It is for this reason that I am still and always will be a fan of the Cincinnati Bengals.