Ben Ferguson of Chicago writes in wondering why, given our recent spate of noting honorary Members of the Revolution (Dustin Dow, Rick Brunsman, commenter BMN), why don't we have an Enemies of the Revolution label as well?
In fact, it turns out Ben already has the first nominee (not named Mike Brown of course) in mind. The floor is yours Ben:
The first enemy named would be Bill Cowher. I don't know if you caught any of CBS's pregame show (which I usually try to avoid) before the Ravens-Jets game, but Boomer, Marino, Cowher and Shannon Sharpe were debating a bunch of questions and one was "Will we have 6 new postseason teams next year, like we did this year?" Cowher's reply was basically that yes, we will because parity rules the NFL.
But then he specifically goes on to mention that he thinks the Bengals will be one of the teams that will rise from obscurity to make the playoffs in the 2009 season.
Very curious. A few people mentioned to me that they heard him say that. Tell me more Ben.
Ben goes on to say, fair enough Mr Cowher, but it's not like our offense was wowing anyone when Carson was at the helm to start the season. Especially when we were playing against experienced, playoff caliber teams...so there's no reason to think it might get back to 2005 form anytime soon. It's a long rant but I did enjoy this line:
Chris Henry
"promising" not to get arrested during the offseason is just like me
promising I won't steal one of my friend's Graeter's cheese crowns when his back is turned.
But enough with fun locally-specific analogies, on to Ben's main point:
Do we think coach Cowher really believes the
Bengals are going to make the playoffs next year… or is he trying to
create some anti-WDR propaganda by making Bengals fans believe their
team can win just by maintaining the status quo? We all know Cowher
wants to see the Steelers do well year after year, and when he coached
in Footballtown USA I'm sure he appreciated those two gimme wins per
year.
Maybe Cowher has read up on the revolution and wishes to counteract it by heaping undeserved praise upon Mike Brown's Bengals, causing some of our fans who you all had started to win over to scratch their heads and think "Hmm… Bill Cowher HATES the Bengals, but he thinks we're gonna be GOOD next year! Maybe those WDR guys don't really know what they're talking about… I better be sure to renew my season tickets, and while I'm doing that I can also pick up Benson and Henry jerseys for all the nieces and nephews!"
Ben, are you proposing a conspiracy theory when the much simpler explanation is that Cowher is a subpar TV analyst who still remembers the Bengals offense as if its 2005? Are you proposing that a former NFL head coach and national media personality who is no longer affiliated with the Steelers still loves them so much he will read our local team blog and try to neutralize its efforts? You are? Well consider me sold! Great call Ben. Any excuse to pile on that jackass is cool with me.
Bill Cowher, consider yourself Public Enemy Number 1 of the Revolution!
When I heard Cowher say that I about crapped!
I think the actual quote was "the Bengals WILL be in the playoffs next year"
Like he knows something.
It totally came out of left field, I was slacked jawed thinking WFT!!!
Is he gonna be coaching here next year?
Posted by: 5chw4r7z | January 05, 2009 at 04:15 PM
and then as they went to Commercial you could hear Cowher say; We Dey! We Dey! We Dey! and laughing as it went silent. I am sure after hearing this from Chin Boy clueless Bengals fans who are sitting on the fence to renew their season tickets or not were convinced and licked their envelopes and ran to the mailbox. Music to Mikey Boy's ears. Mike Brown and ML probably sent him a Thank You note. I wonder what Cowher will say if they don't even sniff the playoffs next year. I am sure we can email to remind him. Keep this one for the archives.
Posted by: TigerJ@w | January 05, 2009 at 04:48 PM
What Cowher's recent comments regarding the 2009 Bengals is simply Anti-WDR (and therefore anti-Bengal), and *pro-Steeler* propaganda...
Posted by: Hofbraunow | January 05, 2009 at 05:57 PM
5chw4r7z, that's the only other explanation...
The Steelers got Dick LeBeau (and Kenny Anderson?) from us (and he's done well there without the oppression of the Mike Brown),
so, maybe we get Cowher...I don't know if I want to win that way, don't really know how I'd feel about it, at the moment...(although I am glad that LeBeau was able to get out)
Posted by: Hofbraunow | January 05, 2009 at 06:34 PM
again most of you all need to get over youselves with some of the dribble you let fall from your holes...
1. chris henry hasn´t done anything wrong in well over 2.5 years...the one time he was in the news this past offseason was for a bogus charge that was dropped within days - unfortunately the bengals again made a wrong move by releasing him immediately without waiting for the facts and the over-zealous tyrant goddell went ahead and suspended him anyway...for the last time - drop the chris henry sidebar...it´s the weakest argument you all have and it´s just plain lazy analysis...
2.the steelers haven´t gotten 2 gimme wins against the bengals every year since marvin´s been here...true we have the weakest record against this particular rival, but we haven´t been blanked by them every year, and in fact have won in shittsburg a couple of times...as far as the other division opponets, even including this horrid excuse for a season, we still have winning records against them during the lewis era...purely pathetic and piss-poor commentary all the way around to try and repeat something so often as to make it real. we don´t just dump the entire afc north schedule - makes me wonder if you even watch the games when you sit in that shit-hole of a bar in d.c. or you just show up in an orange jersey and ass-grab while stuffing your face with overpriced skyline and blahrr at each other...total joke.
Posted by: this is your farewell kiss, you dog | January 05, 2009 at 07:51 PM
Henry's last arrest was for assault. It was not "dropped within days". He went to trial and there was a hung jury. He went to a 2nd trial and was acquitted. The entire process took months.
Remember Henry was suspended for the first four games of THIS season. He has not played a full season yet.
Posted by: Leeroy Jenkins | January 05, 2009 at 09:11 PM
Why are you revolutionaries are so damn negative. Going 4-11-1 is NOT good... ok... no protest... but as TRUE fans you have to stay positive and supportive to your team... if not, you are no true fans! If you do not like the product, do not go to games, do not buy merchandise etc. it is your choice. but do not be disruptive. you may like the Florence Freedom or the Dayton Bombers. Go there. Why are you laugh about Cowher's comments?? Do you wish the Bengals fail again? If so, you are no fans of the team. The Bengals will have a massive improvement next year. If not... it is heartbreaking for me, but I will still be a fan.
Posted by: bengalmickey | January 06, 2009 at 08:50 AM
Does that say bengalmickey or bengalmikey? As a true fan I do not have to stay positive and supportive. As a true fan I can get pissed off that once again we are the bungles, once again the laughing stock of the NFL, once again "just wait til next year". You want me to get fucking excited about Coach Chin's comments about Cincy making the playoffs next year!? Bold prediction considering no one will remember it next January. Who cares what he says? He's a tv commentator.
"The Bengals will have a massive improvement next year." Of course they will, they will face the easiest schedule. They will still finish 9-7 of 10-6 have a shot at a wild card and have dopes like you frothing at the mouth ready for the following year.
Quit slurping the Brown's collective teats and demand something better!
Posted by: Ray | January 06, 2009 at 10:14 AM
Real “true” fans love the team so much that they are willing to fight for the changes necessary to turn their beloved team into winners (or at least almost winners).
How come some people actually think that you can't be a “true” fan if you dare to question the brilliant direction of the team? (I think these are the same people that think you can't be a true American if you dare question our brilliant government). According to these fans, we should just be glad we have an NFL team. We should just shut up and pray the Bengals luck into another playoff year.
You hear it on talk radio all the time. Some loser calls in after the Bengals 8th loss in a row and bemoans everyone's negativity. This caller will then say that the Bengals just need our support and we need to stay positive and that if you are a "true" fan, you will continue to go to the games and buy Bengals merchandise (actually, they wouldn't say "merchandise" because that is too big of a word).
I just don't get it. If I ran a restaurant and continually served you raw chicken, burnt potatoes and a rotten salad, would you keep coming back and ask for seconds? Would I be justified in expecting your continued support? If I was continually assigned high priority projects at work only to piss them away, would my boss logically reason that I just need support and to be given more high priority projects? If my company was full of incompetent individuals who continually ran the company into the ground, would investors continue to buy our stock?
I just don't get how there are still so many of Mike's mindless sheep around that believe it is their duty to support the Bengals no matter what. They go around saying. “Baa- Baa, injuries. Baa-Baa, Carson will be back. Baa-Baa, did you see how much we improved at the end of the season? Baa-Baa, wait to you see our draft!” It is these sheep – I mean, true fans, that give Mike the motivation (i.e. money) to keep the status quo.
Posted by: Comrade Adam | January 06, 2009 at 10:21 AM
It is everyone's right to demand change and be frustrated of the Bengals play during the last season. I am frustrated, too. But ...yes I will come back next season... winning or losing... does not matter... I suffered in the late 90's and during the first 2000 seasons, but how sweet were the '04-'06 seasons... when I listened to the radio then, everyone was a fan, everyone praised MB and ML... and 2 years later, they are both losers??... come on... you can argue about the management style of the Brown family...ok.. you have the right..see above... but you cannot say, that MB is not commited to winning a Super Bowl or have at least a winning season... if you do not like the product...turn your back on it ...but please do not come back again, when the Bengals are 8-4 mid of season and heading for the play-offs... we do not need you then...
Posted by: bengalmickey | January 06, 2009 at 12:05 PM
Bengalmickey, can I have my share of the stadium money back? When the Bengals refund the stadium money to Hamilton county, I will surrender my right to take whatever action seems reasonable to reverse this horrible situation.
"...but you cannot say, that MB is not commited to winning a Super Bowl or have at least a winning season..." I cannot? What evidence is there that he has such a commitment? There was a brief period when ML was hired that it looked as if MB would defer personnel decisions to a capable professional. This last season showed he was meddling worse than ever.
Nepotism in top positions might be somewhat understandable as preparation for being an owner someday but cronyism and nepotism in the scouting department is the signal that something other than winning is the priority.
There is good saying: "Do what you always did and you will get what you always got." Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity." What changes in organizational design or operational approach has MB made over the last 18 years to produce a better result year-over-year? I haven't seen any.
I was a season ticket holder for 12 years. I got rid of my tickets in the late 90's. I love the NFL and remember fondly the Super Bowl years in Cincinnati. I wish my son could have some of the same experience I had. However, this year, we went to four UC games and one Bengals game. (I got cheap tickets.) At the Bengals game, I offered my son some money to get a drink. He said "Keep your money Dad. We'd rather get something on the way home." My tradtion was going to winning games. His is WDR.
Posted by: Red Scourge | January 06, 2009 at 02:33 PM
apparently you didn´t understand what you were voting for and now think you are entitled to something you´re not. you must have not been that concerned with mike brown when you went to the ballot box, because you voted to keep him and his ways and his business here and help pay for it. that´s right - it´s his business. not yours and not the city of cincinnati´s. it just has our name on it. it´s not yours nor do you have any say over it´s operation as you don´t over Accuprint & Laminating of Cincinnati or the Cincinnati zoo. you voted to subsidize his business without promise of a return and so far the fine print of the deal has held up his notion that he owes the city nothing more. if you don´t like it, do what your kid is saying and don´t patron his business. no matter how cheap the seats are. and i find it hard to believe that you didn´t spend anything that day at the game. even by parking downtown, you´re supporting businesses that get rich off game-day. if you want to e a real red scourge, organize a complete, and i mean, complete embargo on all things bengals and nfl in cincinnati and be prepared to ride it out. show some real understanding and some real courage.
Posted by: tank man | January 06, 2009 at 04:59 PM
tankman,
I think you've missed some of the commentary here. Boycotting the game does nothing to take money out of MB's pocket. Boycotting the concessions and merchandise - along with other direct action, is the purpose of the revolution.
I did not vote for the stadium deal but it is interesting that you mention "the fine print of the deal." The 'deal' was not posted anywhere an average voter could read and understand. Instead, most voters relied on the statements of our public officials that the 'deal' was necessary to allow MB to field a competitive team. Only when Bob Bedinghouse popped up as a new Bengals employee, shortly after the 'deal' was struck, did it slowly dawn on people that there had been no honest, arms-length negotiation….which is why we are stuck with the worst stadium 'deal' in the NFL.
I don't have any say over how Accuprint runs its presses because they don't rent from me. But I have read enough business leases to know that in most of them the building owner has substantial say over the types of activities allowed in the building. Don't believe me? Try to open a massage parlor in Kenwood Mall.
Meanwhile, for the monitors of this site: I nominate Bob Bedinghouse as an Enemy of the Revolution for his despicable betrayal of the People's interest.
Posted by: Red Scourge | January 07, 2009 at 09:02 AM
BengalMikey,
If they start 8-4 next yr, that will bring Mike's overall record to 109-185-1. If you are passionate about your team & not just a CASUAL FAN, you wouldn't defend the man responsible for sucking out all hope that you will ever see winning football in your lifetime.
And when the Bengals go 8-4 next year, we will still bitch cuz it's a FLUKE. Mike is not doing things right & even former beat-writer Mark Curnutte said this after he quit writing about them. He said, "not enough personnel, be it GM or scouts" as to the reasons why they lose. Get lost BengalMikey- as you said to us about the Bengals, if you dont like it, you don't have to be here.
Posted by: Deric | January 07, 2009 at 10:48 AM
Deric, MB's overall record is not so good..ok.. no argument... but I think, that he has the right to do whatever he thinks is best for HIS team..it is NOT your team... so complaining about the weak performance of the team is everybodies right... and it is part of being a fan... I defend MB, because I think, he cares about winning... to call me a "casual fan" is funny... I am more devoted to the team and shoulder much more discomfort to follow my beloved Bengals than you may think... you may be right, that "I do not like what I read here"... but with your "you don't have to be here" you unmask yourself...and that is typical for all revolutions and communist thinking: Another opinion, another way to reach a goal... kick him out of here... go ahead with this... just read you own ideas and have fun with this unfruitful stuff... I think we are both impassioned fans of the Bengals..just leave it that way... but if you and your comrades cannot stand and endure other points of view, then your case is lost from the beginning...
Posted by: bengalmickey | January 08, 2009 at 04:27 AM