Here are some indicators your franchise has issues:
- A leading sports periodical ranks you dead last of all professional sports teams
- Your franchise player would rather pay $50 million to play with his kids than play for your team in his prime
- THE UNITED STATES LARGEST DAILY CIRCULATING NEWSPAPER FEATURES YOUR TAXPAYER DESTROYING STADIUM DEAL ON ITS FRONT PAGE
We'll focus on the last of those points for now. While notable for its prominence, it's not like this is the first credible journalistic source to focus on the Bengals' stadium deal. Entire books have already been written on publicly financed stadiums and have also singled out the Bengals deal as the worst. The article cites some additional studies I had not seen, and again, all pretty much agree the Bengals deal is as bad as it gets for taxpayers.
It's easy to see why. The lead negotiator representing the county, Bob Bedinghaus, went to work for the Bengals after he was de-throned from his political seat largely based on backlash from the stadium deal. Guess there were no hard feeling left over from those intense negotiations. Even by todays' embarrassing ethical standards for politicians (actually, there are no standards), that was an appalling move. We've written about this ad nauseum already, so there's nothing much to add.
Only the Who Dey Perspective, a sad little propanda article on bengals.com that specializes in spinning the abominable track record of the Bengals management, tries to defend the deal anymore. That the Bengals felt the need to create a public outlet to justify their own ineptitude only serves to confirm it. I don't know who Jack Brennan is, but I certainly hope they paid him quite well to ruin his name by associating it with this organization.
I could add something, how about this quote from the article:
“Robert Boland, sports business professor at New York University’s Tisch Center says that while the Cincinnati deal was skewed, it’s important to remember there were two sides at the table. “You can’t blame the Bengals at all for negotiating the most favorable deal they can,” he says. Hamilton County was a “willing participant.”
but yeah, Mike Brown is the devil... blah blah blah
Posted by: WhoDeyFans | July 12, 2011 at 08:41 PM
What particularly pisses me off is not the deal and the stadium.
It's the product on the field since. The deal is done. If this team could have continued the build up to success that they performed to in 2005, we'd have a team we could be proud of.
Instead Mikey ball still reigns and we have an embarrassment.
I don't blame the bengals for taking advantage. I dong blame the taxpayers for voting for something when times were good.
I blame Mike Fucking Brown for getting his stadium, getting his coach, getting his quarterback.............. And fucking the entire thing up.
Posted by: JM | July 12, 2011 at 09:32 PM
@whodeyfans - the point is quotes like that from Robert Boland become meaningless because when the lead negotiator for one side becomes an employee for the other side, it makes the negotiations appear rigged. The conflict of interest is enormous. And we're supposed to believe it was just coincidence the Bengals got the best deal of any stadium lease and the negotiator for Hamilton County now works for them?
There's a line from someone, I forget, that goes "I keep getting more cynical, but I can just never keep up." You should view the negotiations in that light.
This is, of course, the county and its citizens fault for letting all this happen. And you can't blame Mike Brown, per se, for getting the best deal he could...but at the same time, they knew they were raping the county. You hope someone who owns a business with such an important public function would not focus so ruthlessly on only his own personal gain. But he does. And so I will continue to crucify him for failing to acknowledge the public responsibility that comes with owning a taxpayer funded sports franchise.
@JM - everyone should have cast a cynical eye on Mike Brown's claims about needing the stadium to compete as well.
Posted by: Sleeping With Bieniemy | July 13, 2011 at 10:53 AM
Lies, all lies! Mike Brown loves us! He would never do something so repugnant. He gives tens of dollars a year back to the community. All he wanted was a middle-of-the-road deal like any other team was getting at the time. D@mmit, I can't find them right now, but I know I've got a couple of obscure, obtuse stats that prove it. So trust me, OK?
All these newspapers and magazines and scholars and writers just hate on our benevolent, totally non-money-grubbing owner because he is a redeemer and they are jealous. Besides, I know for a fact that all of those people meet every other Tuesday night to make up lies about Mike Brown and to throw kittens into kiddie pools filled with marshmallow fluff. You aren't going to listen to people who would do something like that to cute, innocent little kittens, are you? Don't believe the slander! Believe me!
Posted by: Kool-Aid Man | July 13, 2011 at 12:43 PM
http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Who-Dey-Perspective-Bengals-rebuttal-to-Wall-Street-Journal/ff819630-11b3-43b6-bade-15369dfe5cef
The propaganda meisters have formed their rebuttal.
Posted by: Danno | July 13, 2011 at 04:16 PM
I have told you guys before that Bob Bedinghaus was not the only one in on the negotiations on this stadium contract. Jeff Berding who is on MFB's payroll and has been for many years. He just recently resigned from his city council seat to focus on the Bengals. Hmmmmmmmm A higher paying position? Who would have thunk it.
http://www.cincinnatibeacon.com/index.php/magaddiction/comments/jeff_berding_the_bengals_and_todd_portune/
Posted by: TigerJ@w | July 13, 2011 at 06:22 PM
Mike Brown cares only about the citizens of Hamilton County and the City of Cincinnati.He gives and gives and gives...
Posted by: OrangeandBlackButtCrackAttack | July 13, 2011 at 08:29 PM
I am not a resident of Hamilton county(Thank the good Lord) nor have i ever lived in the Cincy area but i can claim to have wasted vast amounts of money on a substandard product. I have been to Cincy numerous times and can attest to the economic struggles the town faces. This issue with the stadium is clearly a "he said, she(Mikey Boy)said" argument. I have a real problem with Mikey not only having his minions refute articles like a whiney child but also show no support to a city that is currently suffering as a result of his product. If Mikey truly gave a shred for the city wouldnt he try to help by offering some of his millions he has saved from his lack of spending on the team to the city or educational programs? He continually refuses to spend any money on anything but washed up, overrated free agents, or criminals looking for a 3rd and 4th chance. I dont suffer from the issues related to the deal but many people as well as a city do. Hey Mikey Douchebag Brown, do something nice for a change and help out the town who agreed to build you your palace you spoiled brat. Furthermore, as a disgusted fan, please put a product on the field that isnt the laughing stock of the country. I canceled my season tickets two years ago and refuse to spend a penny on the Bengals until changes have been made. Regardless of the stadium deal, the constant losing, poor decision making, lack of spending on necessities, (i.e. recruiters, indoor practice facility, coaching thats worth a damn, or an actual good free agent signing) and overall incompetence by Mike Brown is unacceptable. My heart goes out to the the taxpayers of Hamilton county. The only advice i can offer is stop going to the games and stop spending more of your hard earned money for a guy who clearly could careless about your problems. Hit Mikey where it hurts, in his Jewbag wallet.
Viva La Revolution!
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Posted by: Wholesale New Era Hats | July 14, 2011 at 03:04 AM
ahh TheFreshmaker, you seem to exude class in your argument. How many millionaires live in Cincinnati? Why would you only call out Mike Brown in giving back. GE, P&G and UDF have also received tons of breaks from the city and they are not giving back, maybe you should call all of them "jewbags" also.
Posted by: WhoDeyFans | July 14, 2011 at 10:37 AM
Classy is what i do best but in my free time i also strive to stay fresh. Apparently WhoDeyFans you are unaware that GE provided a 20 million dollar education grant to Cincy Public Schools. P&G have a fund for the Greater Cincy Area which provides funding for numerous activities for children and education. Furthermore, both GE and P&G provide part-time and full-time jobs, year round to hundreds if not thousands of Cincinnati residents. I'd say that constitutes giving back. Its a shame you missed the point here though, that being instead of helping a city and its residents Mike does very little if anything for his loyal fans. Additionally, GE and P&G do not have stadium deals in place that are causing further damage to an already weakened economy. Im sure you thought of all this though as you appear to be a real thinker. It must be your ineptitude in common sense that is holding you back.
http://www.ge.com/foundation/developing_futures_in_education/cincinnati_oh.jsp
https://www.gcfdn.org/donors/fundsofthefoundation/proctergamblecharitablegiving/pgfund/tabid/323/default.aspx
Posted by: TheFreshmaker | July 14, 2011 at 01:52 PM
'Shocker' lol, yes, *shocker*...
'Jewbags'? They are not 'jewbags'. They are orange and black Jujubes, and not only is that not my favorite snack at the movies (Sno-Caps), but we are not at the movies.
'Redeemer'? Makes Mike Brown sound like a Coupon Queen. The Original Coupon Queen.
That's all the county, its taxpayers and fans are MikeBrown: coupons.
Posted by: Hofbraunow | July 15, 2011 at 05:31 PM
From the topic blog post (SWB):
"That the Bengals felt the need to create a public outlet to justify their own ineptitude only serves to confirm it.
I don't know who Jack Brennan is, but I certainly hope they paid him quite well to ruin his name by associating it with this organization."
LOL, I only wish that excerpt could be seen/read on the Beng's website!
Next best (maybe better actually) would be Sports Rock (WLWT TV-5). They should start including that with their show;
it would go great with their "Did You See That?" segment.
@ WhoDeyFans, who wrote:
"...but yeah, Mike Brown is the devil... blah blah blah"
and now I know that's not correct, because Dennis Rodman just said that he (himself) is the devil (or was that 'Duh Dabble'?).
Anyway I see a Charity Death Match on the horizon....or at least a car-crush-off, at the 'newly re-landscaped' PBS...
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