Hi folks. Before I do my weekly ranting and raving about the Bengals next opponent, I just want to mention where I got the title of this blog from. I was thinking about how the Bengals are in danger of having the game on Sunday black out, and I’ve been listening to Alice in Chains’ latest album (after 15 years!) Black Gives Way to Blue. It’s a pretty good stuff. Once again, even if you don’t like the Bengals, I hope I can promote good rock and roll, unlike the crap that masquerades as music today: Nickleback, Kings of Leon, et al. (sorry if you like those bands, but they’re about as interesting as a butt itch)

Anyway, I would like to file an official complaint with the fans of Cincinnati. Not every single one of them. But a good majority. And the majority of Cincy fans are casual fans. There’s nothing wrong with being a “casual” fan of a team. You don’t have to bleed orange and black to root for the Bengals. But the majority of these casual fans aren’t really true fans. If the Bengals do well, they’ll come out of the woodwork. If they’re doing poorly, it’s as if Cincinnati doesn’t have a football team. Back in to 2005 I was living in Indianapolis, so I didn’t get to witness this firsthand, but I was told the city was abuzz about the Bengals. We won the AFC North that year and then made a quick exit (thanks to Kimo von Ol-Huff-n-Puff, or whatever the hell the name of that douche bag that hit Carson was). The next year I was living in the ‘Nati and it seemed that the majority of the city was behind the Bengals. But then we had a few excruciating losses, and the doubt creeps in. Lots of anger directed at Mike Brown and even Marvin Lewis. Fans were getting restless. Next year was worse, and then the debacle of 2008, and then all of a sudden it’s “the same old Bungles. They will never win. Why pay them any money?”

Okay, now I’ve had my fair share of Bengals bashing on this blog, but I feel like I’m a realistic fan (for the most part… My stepdad rolls his eyes whenever I start talking about how the Reds have a chance at winning each year. Mark my word, Mark: The Reds will be contenders in… basket weaving and butt scratching. Or something like that). Nevertheless, as of right now, the Bengals and Texans game this Sunday is not sold out. The league has granted the team a 24-hour extension to sell the roughly 3,000 tickets left by Friday at 1:00 p.m. or they will black out the game. I’ve already thought about going to the game myself, but I already spent an exorbitant amount of money on my season tickets (6 tix to three games) AND tix to Da Bears game. I’m a teacher, folks. If I were some fancy-pants lawyer like some woman I married, I would be more liberal with my money (I’m already pretty liberal with it, but I’m starting to receive hate mail from Limbaugh… Speaking of whom, I laughed pretty hard when the NFL owners publicly denied him as a prospective owner – HA! Douche bag!).

I have my hopes that they’ll sell out this… Wait, what’s this I hear? I’m hearing this music in the background. Hold on, I’ll turn it up:

Bud Light Announcer (BLA): Bud Light presents: Real Men of Genius.
Other Announcer (OA): Reeeeeeaal Men, of Geeeeniuuuuus!
BLA: Here’s to you, Mr. Fickle Cincinnati Fan.
OA: Mr.FickleCincinnatiFaaaaAAn!
BLA: You’re a great fan of both the Bengals and the Reds, and two weeks ago you just realized you have a college football team in your city.
OA: Bearcatsplayfootbaaaalll?
BLA: You’ve supported your teams through thick… and thick. Thin is not in your vocabulary.
OA: HowcanIrootforaguynamedOchocinco?
BLA: You love when your team is up by the size of the national deficit, but when they’re losing, the bandwagon is abandoned faster than a blind date with Rosie O’Donnell.
OA: Godshe’sfatandIdidn’trealizeshewasgay!
BLA: So here’s to you, Mr. Fickle Cincinnati Fan. Your colors never run, unless your teams actually start playing other teams.
OA: Mr. Fickle CincinnnnNatiii FaaaaAAAan.

Hmmmm… what else was I supposed to do? Oh yeah, the Texans. Um, they can be good, but, um, we should beat them, and stuff. Was that a good preview? How about I’ll do another preview… tomorrowish? Maybe? We’ll see. If you’re lucky. I’m making no promises. Let’s go Bearcats! (Yes, I jumped on that bandwagon… I hate when I mock people and I end up being in that group that I’m mocking… Is that irony? I should know.)