Welcome to another addition of Mike Brown's biggest failure -- learning from history.
In today's edition, we focus on some correspondence between a Bengals season ticket holder and advertiser and Mike Brown. Notice the date - 1999 - and consider if anything has changed since.
All identifying marks and letterhead have been removed for purposes of anonymity on behalf of the writer.
The entirety of Mikey's letter is rich, no doubt, but I personally enjoy the portion written by Brown that states:
So let me get this right... The example of hard work that the writer demonstrated through your interpretation of his letter led you to follow his "example" and to begin insulting individuals you have never met? Where's the causal connection or logical leap between those two things? Oh, I see, you were being sarcastic?
This juvenile response simply dictates the immaturity of this franchise with Mike Brown at the helm. Do you think the CEO of Procter & Gamble writes letters this tactless to shareholders or individuals upset with the performance of their shampoo and conditioner?
Oh you don't like your Head & Shoulders? You still have dandruff? Well how about this... Go F--- yourself!
I think not. Enjoy.
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Of course, Brown never really addresses the issues raised, like usual. Granted, the tone of the original letter probably just told him to not take this guy seriously anyways, but that's beside the point (and it wasn't a great idea to take the same tone). He provides no justification for keeping himself as GM, the primary issue raised in the letter. He didn't call it a "theme" this time, but his response works all the same.
But did they actually meet? What happened between the writer's second letter and the one from Brown the next summer? Brown says he got another letter the summer of 2000.
Posted by: whymikeywhy | March 21, 2009 at 11:51 AM
All I see are red x's.
Posted by: thom tadsen | March 21, 2009 at 12:33 PM
holly crap, the dude caved in and allowed his company to continue to pay him to advertise his company? That is CLASSIC! LOL I can't believe how many fools fall for Mike Brown's letters. What a wuss! Uh, was it worth is Mr. B? LOL The Bengals continue to lose and MFB has not changed 10 years later. LOL
Posted by: TigerJ@w | March 21, 2009 at 01:03 PM
THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE!!! And was written in '99! Is this for real?
The fact that MB has the stones to write such a snide and snarky response to a season ticket holder like that has me dumbfounded. He even sent back the returned season tickets with a derogatory note- I just can't find the words to express my disbelief. The Browns GM sends a short and passionate email to a fan during the Bills game this past year and he gets smeared in the media - Mike Brown sends this out to a fan with no coverage.
I feel sorry for the original writer of the letter. He likely missed out on the rest of an exciting 4-12 season - another classic Bengals season. Furthermore, he might have missed out on the 4-12 season that followed in 2000. He might have missed out on the utter collapse of Akili Smith after Mike Brown refused to take all of the Saints draft picks for him.
I also feel bad for the owner because he spelled apologize wrong, didn't have the stones to back up his original position, and crumbled when the owner of his childhood dream invited him for a visit.
This is just a testament to the fact that as long as Mike Brown is walking this Earth the Bengals are doomed to failure.
Posted by: Mike H | March 21, 2009 at 03:11 PM
I just want to point out something to the fans that live in Cincinnati.
If something bad happened to Mike Brown then naturally he would no longer be running the team.
Posted by: uh-huh | March 22, 2009 at 10:59 AM
I read nothing coherent among Mike Brown's response.
It has no context to the letter previously sent.
None of this should surprise us, however.
Posted by: Hofbraunow | March 22, 2009 at 05:20 PM
All I see are red x's.
Posted by: thom tadsen | March 21, 2009 at 12:33 PM
ME TO :(
Posted by: Delta5243 | March 23, 2009 at 02:49 PM
It seems that there is a technical error regarding the JPEG documents and Internet Explorer. We are working to fix the problem.
There is no problem viewing the documents in Firefox.
Thanks.
Posted by: Eddie Falznutz | March 23, 2009 at 03:26 PM
Don't I have to be able to think in Russian to get that to work right?
Posted by: Leo deTrotskyo | March 25, 2009 at 09:21 AM