Let's take a moment to congratulate the 2008 Cincinnati Cyclones on winning the ECHL's coveted Kelly Cup, defeating the famed Las Vegas Wranglers 4-2 in the best of seven series. More importantly, the Cyclones have also been named Honorary Members of WhoDeyRevolution.com. Since their inception in 1990, the Cyclones have persevered through league changes, ceasing of operations, and a move from the Cincinnati Gardens to downtown. Plus, they've had to endure three name changes on that big white elephant, from the Crown, to the Firstar Center, to US Bank Arena.
Here at WDR, we fondly remember the early 90's when the Gardens was rockin' and filled to the rafters with hockey fans, the Clones games were the only place for birthday parties (if you were cool), and the minor league leader in attendance was right here in the Queen City.
Despite competition from the Reds, graduations, the beginning of summer, video games, the Internet, porn, and a host of other distractions...the city of Cincinnati came out in droves to watch the Clones play in the playoffs, culminating with almost 13,000 fans cramming into US Bank for the cup-clinching win last Thursday night.
Cincinnati needed a winner so bad, it didn't matter what sport or if most of the fans in attendance couldn't name a player on either team. This town is so thirsty for a winner, it would crawl through the desert to search for that oasis. And if none was there, they would drink the sand.
Here's to a team that fought through call-ups, anonymity, and overnight bus trips to places like Wheeling and Johnstown. We sincerely hope the entire Bengals organization can adopt the Cyclones sense of team and purpose this season, understanding that a change of culture is the only way Bengals will ever achieve sustained, long-term success in the NFL.
As Seth Green once said in the box-office smash Airborne, "Come on man, Cincinnati is a hockey town!"
At least for one night...truer words have never been spoken.
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