Project Mayhem on Hard Knocks

So the Bengals will be on HBO's Hard Knocks during the pre-season.  HBO will film the entire BEngals training camp.  As Joe Reedy writes, "The series will be five one-hour episodes, starting from the time players leave their families until the final roster cutdown. A 50-person crew from NFL Films will shoot the series and will have more than 1,000 hours of footage. The crew will be given all access to the players’ and coaches’ meeting rooms, training rooms, dormitories and practice fields at Georgetown College and PBS.

At each practice, six players or coaches will be miked."

In summary, HELL YES.  Bengals fans will get the ultimate inside information on what really goes on behind closed doors on player personnel decisions.  But, just as important, this allows WDR another nationwide medium to spread our manifesto and launch another Project Mayhem task.

The WDR writers are throwing around some ideas, but we want to open this to all our fellow comrades.  More billboards?  A rally at a practice?  Please post your ideas in the comments or send them to us at whodeyrevolution@gmail.com.

Comments

[Leo deTrotskyo]

Road trip to Georgetown! I'm in!

[Marc]

I think a rally in G-town is a good option. Signs with his record as GM, # of scouts vs. other teams, stadium deal, etc....all of the things we know point out the fraud that is Mike Turd. I don't know if it will make the cut on HBO, but if enough noise is made, they have to at least film it, and maybe it makes the DVD release. It would have to be HUNDREDS of people there at the rally.

Other than that, I'm not sure, I've never watched a hard knocks. My guess is they will focus on the team, and not really the owner. I heard Dallas owner Jones was visible on theirs, but that's only because he's a publicity whore. Mikey doesn't have the guts to show his face on there and I could see him striking some kind of deal with HBO to keep himself out of the footage.

Another option may be to contact HBO and try to get an on-camera interview with some of the WDR founders, that way maybe they would then have to go to MB for an interview to answer/defend some of the WDR points.

[Wyatt]

From reading about it on both SI.com and Bengals.com, it sounds to me like the prsident of HBO Sports and Steve Sabol, who's apparently the series' editor, both have man-crushes on Mikey Boy based on Paul's legacy, so I think any kind of protests will be left on the cutting room floor. However, I'd certainly encourage you to do something on the off chance HBO wants to get a realistic look at the Bengals and their fans. I'd suggest that the more creative you are, the more likely your voices (our collective voice) will be heard. Hire a plane to fly a banner over the practice field, REPEATEDLY - it's old-school, yes, but it will eventually get attention, and HBO's cameras are high-quality, so they'll be able to pick up whatever message you end up going with.

[T]

I think that it would be impossible to profile this team without highlighting the failures of the past 18yrs and how that has tarnished Paul Brown's legacy. Someone out there must have a contact at HBO. I will check around. I think face time with WDR founders would help a lot more than a group of pissed off fans at practice.

[joe]

do you think america really wants to see WDR's founders. Get real. this is a story about a football team getting ready for the season not a story of a city or group of people's perception about a football team. and in case you haven't noticed a lot of people think this team is gonna win this year. not just homers either, there are a lot of national media members picking this team to win

[Brother Adam]

I was flipping through radio stations on my drive in this morning and Fox's national show was talking about the Bengals and Hard Knocks. First they wondered why HBO would ever pick the Bengals. They're guessing other teams must have turned them down. Then they questioned why the Bengals, who love secrecy and spin control, would ever agree to do the show. Finally it came to them - HBO must have offered Mikey a free HBO subscription and a travel mug in exchange for doing the show. This make perfectly logical sense to me.

[Mike H]

Hard Knocks has been a REALLY good show. They'll film what makes a good story and interesting TV. If you make a big enough splash to make it an interesting story, my guess is they'll put it in.
ROAD TRIP TO GEORGETOWN!

[boriskat]

I wonder if you could plant one of your "hire a GM" billboards next to the GTown practice field...

[Hofbraunow]

With the opportunity of major TV coverage, whatever the final plan is, it should involve

very visible, readable signs (large, bold, block letter print: the billboards were a damn good start!!!), i.e. no washed-out, thin magic marker print.

It needs to show up *very clearly* on TV. A person should be able to see/read it on the TV, even if watching from across the room.

It should also involve:

A big marquee on the back of a pickup truck, and

One or more large bullhorns, and

cool stuff for WDR supporters/revolutionaries, and for potential recruits,

and a large stereo playing music for the revolution, for starters, such as:

"We're Not Gonna Take It" by Twisted Sister
"Burning Inside" by Ministry
"The Ace of Spades","Bömber" by Mötörhead

"Anarchy in the Who Dey [not yet released]"
or
"Anarchy in the Cin-C[a]y [not yet released]"

Any stuff by the Clash or GBH

etc. etc.

or if you want, we could play tamer stuff, like from Pete Seeger

¡VIVA!

[Mike H]

I like the point about signs being very readable.
The "We're not gonna take it" by Twisted Sister is a pretty funny idea too.

[Hofbraunow]

*NOT ONE RED CENT*

* ¡VIVA WDR! *

A giant sign, with a giant penny, with a "NO" slash thru it...

Color the penny red if you want, with the circle-and-slash in stripes (orange-and-black)

[Ashley]

I went to the practice game last year and the seating was first-come first-serve, so if we all arrive early we should be able to sit together in a group, which will make us easier to ignore. (This doesn't count the front and center seats, which are pre-reserved for the players' families.)

Maybe we should all wear a certain color other than orange and black just to stand out... (Brown, to get his attention?)

Also there was a ton of waiting time from when we got there until the game actually started, so this could be a good time to try to convert some other people in attendance. It was extremely hot last year so maybe we could print up fans or something, so people will use them whether they already support the cause or not. I don't remember if you can bring you own food or drink but we could maybe give out slushees or something to people as they walk in from the parking area.

As for the music, I think we should repeatedly play "I wont back down". Its message applies to the Revolution and it is also the song we are all tired of hearing as we walk out of the stadium!

I hope someone from WDR contacts HBO, just to let them know whats going on. If HBO wants drama, they definitely picked the right team but if they want a little more I'm sure the Revolution would love to be thrown into the mix.

[Hofbraunow]

Also, combine with a super-sized version of the "98-186-1 Get Pissed" urinal cake design

[Hofbraunow]

We should definitely have a good, varied mix of relevant WDR party-sanctioned music.

It would be cool to have a compilation CD of WDR: Music for the Revolution, to sell in support of future PM Tasks. I suppose licensing (for the tracks) might be complicated, but we could still make a paper list!!!

[BenzooPeesOnMikeBrown]

Billboard: Hard Knocks? Try being a Bengals fan. 98-186-1.

Billboard: Hard Knocks? Maybe that's what Mike Brown's head needs. 98-186-1

[Showtime]

Ashley, I see you have a lot of information there, so I just have one question: Will you marry me?

In all seriousness, the setup in Georgetown is pretty conducive to whatever we want to do. A lot of open area, no barriers to getting in (i.e. tickets), fairly quiet. Whatever it is would have to have a very high level of organization, however, as anything less wouldn't be worth doing.

[ItmightbeJB]

Maybe we can wear black t-shirts with an orange number on them. The number? .351. The worst winning percentage in all of sports. People would notice so many people wearing the same shirt and ask them about it.

Another more flamboyant idea would be to get a skydiver to parachute onto the practice field during practice. He could be tethered to a banner that reads "HIRE A GM." Of course we'll have to have a bail bondsman standing by to get our brave comrade out of the Georgetown pokey.

And yet another idea. Wait until dark and shine a giant image of MikeyBoy on the sky with a red circle and a horizontal line through his face. The international "NO MIKEY" bat signal might bring the cameramen out of their hotel rooms.

[Dylan Hamilton]

We just have to bring as much attention to the revoloution as possible. Periodically, WDR will get some spotlight around the city, or even some little blip on the national scene. While it is true, and Hard Knocks may not even spotlight the revoloution if they were at Georgetown it wouldnt hurt to try.

If there is a consistent presence at Training camp I think that would grab the attention of film crew, like all of the previous ideas of billboards, and things like that, that would be a great thing to do. But maybe we need to go big, it may garner attention outside of hardknocks too. If something massive could be pulled off, maybe it would be covered elsewhere as well

Go Big or go home
SHOCK AND AWE!

[The Slushovsky in NYC]

Possible idea...
Co-opt the strategy of fans of recent struggling TV shows: "mailbomb" HBO and NFL Films' offices with some small item symbolic of WDR's message. Ideally, the item should be edible, humorous, office-friendly, and/or useful to the recipients. The effort would promote awareness (and perhaps positive feelings) toward the WDR movement by the Hard Knocks staff. Or at least it might portray the momentum of "Bengal fan disgruntlement" as an idea worthy of coverage.

[The Slushovsky in NYC]

Further thoughts:
I think it's safe to predict that HBO will portray the Bengals and Mike Brown in a mostly positive light. There's going to be a lot of "Bengals = underdogs, hungry, yay" and "Mikey = NFL nostaglia, legacy, yay". (Cue the grainy black-and-white photos... cue the voiceover about a proud family tradition... oh god, I'm tearing up, I promised myself I wouldn't cry.) So Mikey will again benefit from the spillover fairy dust that falls from everyone's memory of his father. BUT, even if it's through rose-colored glasses, the show will HAVE to somehow address the 800-lb gorilla of the Bengals' terrible record and some of the potential reasons behind it (whether or not they admit that Mikey might be one of those reasons).

So could the WDR get a mention? I think it largely depends on to what extent the show will address the fans and their attitudes.

[Bustinatyourchops]

Get real. Your negativity isn't going to accomplish anything. You're acting like little 14 year old boys..."we could do this, or we could do that, we could wear a t-shirt that says this, or put up a sign that says that." Use some logic and quit daydreaming - a little website (I don't need to know how many monthly hits you get or how many subscribers you have) isn't going to do jack with the exception of distracting you from real life. Listen, I love the Bengals, but this is just ridiculous. Who-Dey

[CmonBengals]

IMHO, I would not openly discuss Project Mayhem plans on the site. I know that lately you've been keeping the plans top-secret until you carry them out, coordinating everything through email. I would keep doing it that. You KNOW the Bengals organization has somebody checking out this website, ESPECIALLY now that this opportunity for WDR to get publicity has come up. I also wouldn't be surprised if they have someone posting on here already, trying to cause dissent within the group. Careful. While I'm sure Mike Brown's experience with computer technology doesn't go past the Commodore 64, he or someone else has probably assigned someone checking the site out regularly.

[The Slushovsky in NYC]

LOL: Bustinatyourchops' post, followed immediately by CmonBengals' post... Hmmmmm. I think you might be on to something here, Cmon.

The front office has "trolls" on WDR! Wouldn't surprise me; trollery is free!

[TJanns]

SOMETHING THEY CAN'T IGNORE. Something the cameras can't ignore. Disruptive and during a practice. All about getting a real GM, the teams record under Mikey Boy, and the fact that they are the worst team in all pro sports the last 18 years.

Steve Sabol and HBO will get coverage. (whether it makes the final cut is another story) That's why it would have to be very obvious. LOVE the parade idea. 20-30 guys marching near the practice facility. Brilliant.

[Bob Sugar]

You have to be careful at practice, they can easily kick you out for being disruptive. Remember, the Bunguls stink, and need the practice. The best course of action is to go straight to HBO. Find the truck, find out where they are staying, find out where they get beers at night, find them and bring the attention to them. Mike Brown is not going to be at practice when WDR shows up, especially if we announce a date and time. We need to announce our presence when we know that Mike is doing something in public, directly with a camera for HBO. The goal should be to get a reaction from Mike when the camera is rolling, this is an item that HBO will not pass up to put on the show. The key to this whole operation should be to get Mike to react to us while the cameras are rolling. Also, remember, this is not the players fault, we need to do something that creates a positive reaction from the players and from the media, but please center this operation around Mikey and getting him to react and or acknowledge WDR on camera.

VIVA LA REVOLUTION!

Bob Sugar

[Not as big of a retard as you.]

This has nothing to do with you guys and it's pretty sad your trying to take credit for it....Seriously I'm going to buy tickets on Monday simply because of this retarded arse site...

[Not as big of a retard as you.]

Haha I'm the tard :P wrong post.

[Horbraunow]

*WON'T GET FOOLED AGAIN - The Who* , from the WDR soundtrack

[Hofbraunow]

Oh, no, either my username's been hi-jacked, or else I'm getting liberal with the typing...or maybe it was something I wrote :)

[Robinsgr]

Slushovsky,

I like your idea of bombarding the HBO and NFL films offices with something that carries the WDR message. May I suggest bookmarkers? They are small enough to send in an envolope and serve a practical purpose (which means employees may actually use them and be reminded of our cause). They could have MBs record as GM on them and "Hire a GM", or something to that effect. Thoughts?

[KYCATS]

This is ridiculous - we are actually having a good off-season, this negativity will not accomplish anything. The free market has imposed pain on Mr. Brown: as quality of his product has decline, so have season ticket sales (see recent announcements).

Don't you think it would be better for all of us if this show isn't made into a stunt in which time is spent focusing on a loosing tradition? Wouldn't it be better for all Bengals fans if the team is allowed to show the work it is putting in, and any positive things it has going in the offseason, without casting a negative shadow on things? Improve perception of the team, allow this new team to make a name for themselves? Look forward and at least give us a chance before you begin the public mockery again this year.

[CmonBengals]

"Look forward and at least give us a chance before you begin the public mockery again this year."

I told you the Bengals have a plant here. Who is "us"? KYCATS, are you a member of the organization? Or are you such a sheep that you can't separate your own identity from that of your local sports team?

Just kidding...or am I?

[Wyatt]

To suggest an alternative to the Slushovsky's post, if you've got urinal cakes left over, send them to the HBO offices. Chances are, they've got restrooms that feature urinals, so it could get the message out there before HBO even makes it to Georgetown.