Katie Blackburn Knows How to Copy + Paste (Sort of)

So yesterday we posted an email response from Katie Blackburn, that commenters jumped on immediatly as a canned response that they had also received. So below are two more examples of emails Katie has recently sent back to fans.  You will see many of the exact same sentences, but each email does seem to be customized.  My personal favorite is her response to "Will" where she clearly just changed the name, but forgot to re-format the font and size.

UPDATE: One more email has come in from an intrepid Comrade.  Posted at the bottom, and almost identical to these other two emails.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Blackburn, Katherine
Date: Thu, Jan 6, 2011 at 2:46 PM
Subject: RE: It's Tough
To: Will

Will There is reason to believe that next season will be a good one. We had 395 yds and 371 yds of offense in our last two games against top 10 defenses and teams that were playing to win. We have a solid defense with two young defensive ends that we’re really starting to make an impact. Next year's schedule is not as difficult as this year's where our opponents had the highest winning percentage of any team in the NFL. The great thing about football is that for the next season you do get to start over and we will start over with a good attitude and high hopes and expectations. Who Dey! Katie

From: Will
Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2011 5:20 PM
To: Blackburn, Katherine
Subject: It's Tough

 Katie,

I've got nothing other than memories of going to games with my late grandfather holding me to this team.  Retaining Marvin and making no specific mention on how the organization will change with his retention is just another disappointment on the pile of disappointments, and I don't even hold Marvin responsible.  We, as fans, are just begging to see some sign that things will be different. 

I don't know how much longer I can do this.

Will

------ Forwarded Message
From: "Blackburn, Katherine"
Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2011 14:00:48 -0500
To: Jordan
Conversation: 2011 outlook and tickets
Subject: RE: 2011 outlook and tickets

Jordan I believe that we have a very strong base of players that provide the
team with a strong chance to do well in 2011. We did win the division and
make the playoffs in 2009. Our schedule this year was difficult (our
schedule had the highest winning percentage of any team in the NFL) and we
did not win enough games. We were all very disappointed with that result.
When we played our two young receivers in the last several games our offense
performed far better than it had been. We had 371 yds and 395 yds of offense
in our last two games against top 10 defenses and teams that were playing to
win. Our defense has performed solidly and our two young defensive ends,
Carlos Dunlap and Michael Johnson began to create sacks and a pass rush that
is much needed. There are many reasons to have strong expectations for 2011
where our schedule is not as difficult and we have a good base to build
from. We will work hard and look forward to the 2011 season.  Thanks and good luck. Katie

From:	"Blackburn, Katherine"
To:	"WDR Comrade"
Date:	01/07/2011 02:17 PM
Subject:	RE: State of the Bengals

 [NAME} It sounds to me like you are just repeating things that may be said on talk radio but I can assure you you are mistaken on many points. We are going to work to have a great 2011 season. We have a strong base of players. Our offense performed very well the last couple of games when we put in the two young receivers with 371 yds and 395 yds of offense against top 10 defenses and teams that were playing to win. We have a solid defense and our two young defensive ends, Carlos Dunlap and Michael Johnson were having success creating sacks and a much needed pass rush. While we did not have the results this year that anyone is pleased with we were in the playoffs and won our division in 2009 and our schedule this year was the most difficult in the NFL on a winning percent by the opponents. The great thing about the sport of football is that we get a fresh start next year. Whoever is here as coaches, players and the front office will be working their hardest to have a great season.  With all due respect calling someone a sorry individual who you have never met seems out of place. We operate in a very responsible and upstanding manner and I take pride in doing so.  Katie
 
From: WDR Comrade
Sent: Friday, January 07, 2011 12:37 PM
To: Mike Brown; Blackburn, Katherine; Blackburn, Troy
Subject: State of the Bengals
 
Dear Brown Family,

      Thanks to the product you consistently put on the field I will no longer be cheering on your team. I use to consider it my team but not any longer. You are not making the changes that need to be made to make this a competitive team. Bratkowski should have been fired after this year but you feel more loyalty to him than the fans who pay your bills! You do not want to win you just want a profit and are sorry individuals. There is more to life than money clearly your father did not teach you this lesson Mike. Don't be mistaken I will no longer be buying tickets apparel or even use products that are sponsored by the Bengals.

Disgruntled EX-fan,
  [WDR COMRADE]

Comments

[Neutered Bengal]

I amazed she can actually list those reasons to have hope over and over again without seeing how hopeless those reasons are.

[Marc]

It really is just more of the same from those knucklehead Browns. They would rather argue and continue to stubbornly support their brand of losing football. With each email, they have another opportunity to explain how the things they are doing will lead to success. Or what changes they are making to address the fans' concerns. But as they did with the PC, they are defensive and choose to defend their losing ways. The whole organization shows signs of living in denial. Maybe there is a hereditary gene in the Brown family leading to this mental illness. I don't think it's actually Katie answering these emails, but these responses are setup somewhere on a cheat sheet for the interns to copy and paste from.

[My name is Rich, I'm smittin with Katie Blackburn and now the whole world knows it!]

The spin doesn't surprise me.
But I still can't believe they'd include the statement "It sounds to me like you are just repeating things that may be said on talk radio" because I don't know why you'd insult or otherwise anger your fan base.

I guess PR isn't their strong suit.

[Jason]

What do you expect from them? They get countless hate mail. At least they reply to them. They are trying. And of course they are going to argue fans to try and gain support.

And yeah responses are going to be the same. Fans are sending the same complaints.

[Randy]

What is Katie's email address?

[Marc]

Jason,

After the end of the 57 game consecutive sellout streak, a hugely disappointing season, and accomplishing the fastest to 200 losses feat, I would expect them to try and explain to people how they plan on making changes to address the losing. Just do some quick searches to see what other Owners/GMs do when they fall far short of expectations. At least "pretend" that you care about winning. Most other clubs tell you how they plan to address the failures, where they think they went wrong (you can't fix a problem unless you identify that), and usually announce going in a different direction (ie cleaning house with the staff).

They get ZERO credit for answering emails, and NO, they aren't trying. Unless you mean they are TRYING to deflect blame for their repeated failures. You don't seem to get it, you don't gain fans' support by arguing with them. You gain it by building confidence. It's probably some intern doing the replies anyway. The fact that the complaints/responses are the same should tell them something, THAT THEY SUCK!

[CurseofBoJackson]

Jason, the point is that instead of giving even the slightest hint of an apology about the poor season (s) and poor decisions, they attack the fans and defend their garbage way of doing things. If this were a business not lucky enough to be propped up by a socialist structure, they would FAIL epically (sp?) and would have ceased to exist years ago. They either fail to see this or completely embrace it and know how it works, either is maddening.

[GregC 78&69]

mike.brown@bengals.nfl.net
katie.blackburn@bengals.nfl.net
troy.blackburn@bengals.nfl.net

[Rk]

I have messaged them all and only katie responds with the cut and paste responce.

[TheSlushovsky in NYC]

"We operate in a very responsible manner"??????????????? I'm not hearing any responsibility, I'm hearing EXCUSES!!

[JM]

MFB won't respond to emails because he's worried that those new fangled emails might require the same postage as standard mail.

[Douche]

I also sent an extremely long email to Katie and Mike today. I copied Whodeyrevolution in on the email. I realize Mike probably won't reply but maybe Katie will. I also mentioned in the email to not give me the same copy/paste response she has been giving folks and I even quoted that response she has been using. So we'll see what she comes back with if anything. Lance Mcalister responded and said I should snail mail it to Mike considering he probably doesn't read email and will respond back in writing. I may do that this evening.

[Douche]

To add on to that, I copied in whodeyrevolution, PDoc, Lance Mcalister, Mo Egger and Joe Reedy. I wanted to copy in Peter King but was unable to locate his email address.

[CurseofBoJackson]

Are any of you following the thread on Reedy's blog? Although it includes plenty of lemmings and folks that would be satisfied if Brat goes, the feel is one of letting go for most. Actually kind of encouraging, althouhg I assume some fans are ashamed to be reupping and just won't admit it in a blog forum?

[UJ]

I would like to use the analogy that Brown Family's ways of business could be compared to an alcoholic that will not stop drinking. They are simply in denial and don't realize that they hurt the one's that support them the most.

We the fans are simply the loved ones that keep enabling their behavior. As long as we buy tickets, merchandise, luxury boxes, and concessions they will not stop!! I'm just as guilty of this behavior and I'm starting to realize that I'm apart of the problem. It's very difficult to turn your back on your loved ones but an intervention is needed.

[TJanns]

The Bengals are just like a restaurant. The owner is cheap, stubborn and loyal to a fault. He's unwilling to try and run the business like it's the 21st century. The restaurant (we'll call it 'Browns') has been awful for 20 years. The worst in the restaurant business. It has the lowest amount, and least qualified food suppliers (Scouts). In 1991 it hired a head chef with no experience (D. Shula)

In 2003, Browns finally decided to accept credit cards and hired a manager who was given a little control (M. Lewis). And, it hired a very talented and promising cook. (Palmer)It started to consistently be a fine dining experience. Good staff, good food, good everything. But, that stopped. In 2005 that young chef got hit by a car from the rival restaurant (we'll call them the Steel Van Oelhoffens) and things started going downhill. Lots of waiters were arrested.

Slowly but surely it started getting really bad again. In 2009, things seemed better on the surface, but people realized that Browns still serves up crappy food and service that can't compete with other restaurants. The bus boys may try really hard, you may really like your waiter. But, it always leaves you unfulfilled and it's been this way for 20 years. Sadly, people STILL go and pay for it. Again, people keep going and PAYING for the same CRAPPY service. Because for some, they are just "happy that we have a professional restaurant. you know, some cities don't".

The end.

[Paul]

It seems like this goes beyond making a profit. It's total arrogance and group think in a small minded organization. If the decisions being made were based purely on profit, Mike would make very small, very cheap changes and quickly revitalize the fan base, spelling more profit. They must know that Bengals fans demand very little, and although complacent to disappointment, they will latch on to even small bits of hope. We can talk ourselves into believing some personnel or roster change will cause some chain reaction that will right the ship. This along with the draft, and every year you have a chance. Mike would simply have to swap out Brat for pretty much anybody that's played Tecmo Bowl before and we can all start imagining Carson getting his groove back. And what the hell, bring back Ocho and TO. Flank them with prior-bust of Simpson and we will be back to the playoffs. And who knows, maybe Benson will come back. Then we are getting some stud pass rasher in the draft. Of course this is rhetoric and none of that would happen even if he fired Brat, but we would all talk ourselves into it anyway if he did. But MIke won't even do that one small thing. Nothing. He's old and stubborn and doesn't really know any better.

Sadly, Cincinnati is home to some of the greatest sports fans in the country and they are being taken advantage of.

[Denver Bengal]

I can't fucking take it anymore. I was born and raised in Cincinnati and move to Colorado to go to college 15 years ago. I have always been a die hard fan of the Reds and Bengals and have always been proud to call Cincinnati my home. Since I have lived in Colorado, the Broncos have won two super bowls, been to the playoffs numerous times, the Avs have taken the Stanley Cup twice and the Nuggets and Rockies both have had some level of success in the past few years. Teams with good ownership that try to win and constantly rebuild to win. Cincinnati has been an easy town for people to pick on over the years (Marge, Pete, Reds having down years, race riots, Jerry Springer and so on), which I hate and I am sensitive about because most people don't get the facts right. But nothing brings more embarrassment to Cincinnati year in and year out like the Bengals. I have seen every Bengal game (DirecTV does not blackout Bengal games outside of Cincinnati, which has been unfortunate for my sanity) and I can't even tell you how pathetic the Bengals organization is viewed and operates in the community compared to a real NFL franchise such as the Broncos (who I don't cheer for by the way). The Broncos, despite being in disarray over the past couple of years, at least try to win. They spare no expense, fire coaches, bring in players, no hold outs, apologize to fans, promise that goal is to win championships, etc.---things we are all clamoring for out of the Bengals. I am telling you that the Bengals situation is much worse than we probably even realize. Years of stealing from the community, not caring about its fans, screwing up PR and football operations in more ways than you can mention. I am done. I have had a long distance relationship for years, but I can't support or defend the Bengals anymore until changes are made. No more memorabilia, no more DirecTV, no more wasted Sundays. The Bengals do not try, why should I. I feel sorry for us. Maybe Castellini will buy the Bengals...

[timmyjoe42]

Does she know that 300+ yards of offense and only scoring 7 points is unacceptable? Does she realize that most of those yards came in the air in a last minute effort to come from behind against a prevent defense?

[Jim K.]

I think we should all send multiple emails to the Brown family that says one thing: "To whom much is given, much is expected."

[Bengal in Browns Territory]

I love it...{name}...they forgot to insert a name into the template on the one LOL
Gotta laugh to keep from crying when talking about this franchise and it's ownership.