bengals fans

[Grizz08]

I have only been alive since 1990 but since then i have gone to home games every year, my dad has had tickets for over 20, i stayed with them even through the 2-14 season when the only 2 teams they beat were the new texans and the playoff run saints, and also when they beat the 9-0 chiefs... who else out there has stayed with them and hasnt been a fair weather fan like a bunch of bengals fans have been???

-EB- WHO DEYYYYY?????????

[Dadraftnick]

Its been hell for the a long time but its heaven now.

[Section 310]

What does it matter? I am happy to have a full stadium again.

[GROIIIDayton]

I've been going to games since 1989. At one time I hated all these bandwagon jumpers but now I am just happy to be good and go to games where the whole stadium is excited about the game. A long time waiting makes everythin so much more worth it. It is great seeing a full stadium and how much people get into the game these days.

[Riagogogoindanati]

We all have to become a fan at some point............I have been a fan since I was about 5 years old............circa 1978. They weren't very good then...............but, the '80's was an awesome time to live through. Watching with my dad in the basement with the fire going. Ahhh! Those were the days! I went to my first game when the Bengals made their last appearance in the play-offs againt the Oilers, I was about 15 years old. I don't have season tickets, but I try to go to atleast 4 home games and 1 or 2 road games a year. Tailgatin' it up with my dad..............It's been a long haul and a long time since we've had a team to be hopeful about. Let's enjoy this and embrace the bandwagon fans with open arms! Because, (I believe I heard this quote used on Bengalszone once before) "I love bandwagon fans. They validate a teams success."

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

Let's see, I moved to Cincinnati in 80something, and have been a fan ever since. Mostly through the harsh years, but honestly starting while the team was pretty good.

I'm still a Bears fan as well, since that's where I grew up, and even in the dark years of Beardom, I've stood behind them too.

[AMC]

I distinctly remember both Super Bowls. I have never wavered. Year in and year out...It makes the last three years, and especially this year of course, very, very sweet...Being around for both Super Bowls and being born and raised in Cincy, it makes those 15 years worse than if, say, you were born in 1990.

[buck3y3d]

Any fan who posts in here is probably not fair weather.

I started being a fan in 1995 because it was the first time I recognized what football was (at age 8). Plus, being born and raised in Cincinnati, who else would I cheer for?

[PhunkE1]

Believe me I tried to jump ship in the late 90's. I was fed up with the futility and figured since the Colts were the closest team to Cin. I'd root for them. I could never bring myselft to do it. I came to the conclusion that if you're a true fan of a team you will always be a fan of that team through thick and thin. My family moved away from Cin in the late 80's (the year before the last superbowl). You can take the cat out of the jungle, but you can't take the jungle out of the cat.

[smith288]

Born in 1990? Good Lord.... I never thought I would be one of thoooose guys but... "I feel old"

[duus]

Believe me I tried to jump ship in the late 90's. I was fed up with the futility and figured since the Colts were the closest team to Cin. I'd root for them. I could never bring myselft to do it. I came to the conclusion that if you're a true fan of a team you will always be a fan of that team through thick and thin. My family moved away from Cin in the late 80's (the year before the last superbowl). You can take the cat out of the jungle, but you can't take the jungle out of the cat.

You got that right. Made the mistake of moving to Pittsburgh in '91 for grad school, met my wife (definitely not a mistake!!!!) , and never left. How many folks have lived in Pittsburgh, wearing orange and black all year long, every year through-out the 90s? Let me tell you ... that was the hardest decade of my life! Cowher came in in '91 and has owned this town ever since. I have been abused verbally and physically. I have learned to absolutely HATE the Steelers and their fans for the years of misery they have put me through ... for doing nothing more than supporting my team through ... uh ... 'tough years'. Well, it's payback time, baby! Screw them! Screw these arrogant jerks! My greatest desire is for them to implode over the next 3 weeks ... and if that doesn't work, then I'll sit back and watch the '05 Bengals own them in the playoffs in January.

Fair-weather fan? Band-wagon? No way ... living here just makes me absolutely love the Orange and Black all the more! Bring it.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

Any fan who posts in here is probably not fair weather.

I started being a fan in 1995 because it was the first time I recognized what football was (at age 8). Plus, being born and raised in Cincinnati, who else would I cheer for?

Ack! I'm ancient!

By the way, how many people are big enough Bengals fans to name their Children "Boomer" or "Ickey" ?

By the way, I met a young boy about a month ago as he was wearing a Bengals jacket, and I heard his dad call him "Boomer". I thought to myself gee, guess he's a long time Bengals fan. So I chatted with them in line and felt really stupid when he said the kid was named after the character on Battlestar Galactica!

[Jet23]

Any fan who posts in here is probably not fair weather.

I started being a fan in 1995 because it was the first time I recognized what football was (at age 8). Plus, being born and raised in Cincinnati, who else would I cheer for?

Ack! I'm ancient!

By the way, how many people are big enough Bengals fans to name their Children "Boomer" or "Ickey" ?

By the way, I met a young boy about a month ago as he was wearing a Bengals jacket, and I heard his dad call him "Boomer". I thought to myself gee, guess he's a long time Bengals fan. So I chatted with them in line and felt really stupid when he said the kid was named after the character on Battlestar Galactica!

That's nothing. I have a son named Essex!

[Whur CHad At?]

I am going to name my kid, if I have any, Levi and Akili.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

I am going to name my kid, if I have any, Levi and Akili.

Your child will stick you in a home so fast if you name him Akili!

Odell, now that's a name!

[Whur CHad At?]

or what about Rudi, or T.J.

[pdxbengalsfan]

im gonna name my kid ben rothlisberger just so i can wake up and beat him every day.

[Whur CHad At?]

hahahahaha nice

[Ox]

My dad raised me a Bengal fan, so I guess my first memory of a Cinci game was seeing Kenny Anderson drop a bomb on the Oilers. SO I guess that was how long ago, '82 - '83? I was about 6 at the time so it was a while. I dunno but it was a long time ago. I could never bring myself to root for another team, even when I've wanted to.

[Charles]

I've been a fan for a fair number of years now. I grew up primarily a Reds fan because they were the hot team in the 70s. I knew what football was because Dad was a Buckeye fan, but we never followed the Bengals much until '81 when they went to the Super Bowl. There was never really any debate about who to root for. The way I was brought up, you root for the teams in your hometown. If your hometown doesn't have a team in a particular sport, then you're free to pick any team you want, but once you pick a team you stick with them and don't go changing loyalties.

So during the '81 season, I really started watching the Bengals and football in general more often. I didn't sleep well the night of the Super Bowl. We got tickets and attended the playoff game in the strike shortened season of '82, the game where the Jets beat the Bengals handily. Thus, by 1982, I had developed deep hatreds for two teams, the 49ers and the Jets.

In '83 I started high school and wanted to play football. That lasted one year. I played four positions that year. I was a kicker, defensive end, guard, and tackle. I did kickoffs and then when I wasn't kicking I would defend the end of the bench, guard the water jug, and tackle anyone who tried to get near it. If I had a better leg back then, perhaps I would have lasted more than one year and maybe I wouldn't be sitting here posting on a message board and watching other guys kick FGs in the NFL.

1988 further cemented my 49er hatred and little did I know then that the bad years were not that far away. Throughout all the lean years I remained a fan, watching the games every week and gradually lowering my expectations, until in 2002 all I hoped for was that the team wouldn't be too embarrassing on Sunday.

So now we have Marvin and a decent team and some of the bandwagoners are back. I don't think you could call me one of those fans, but perhaps some people would. The truth of the matter is that while I followed the team all those bad years and watched the games every week, I didn't attend games in person unless I got a free ticket. I wasn't going to pay money to see what they were putting on the field. I don't think that made me any less of a fan. Spending money is not what defines a fan anyway, but a deep passion and love for a team. That passion has never left me.

Being a fan of one team through everything is kind of like marriage. There are some times when your spouse is going to do something that really ticks you off, times when you will be really mad at each other and have some really nasty arguments. But when the good times come, all of the bumps in the road were worth it. All of those bumpy years, all of the disappointment, are what make this season that much more special. Those of us who have been around and who have rooted for this team all these years can have a greater appreciation for what we have this year than a person who only roots for a front runner. Going through hell makes heaven that much sweeter.

[AMC]

Born in 1990? Good Lord.... I never thought I would be one of thoooose guys but... "I feel old"

Crap, I graduated HS in 1990...at least I remember both Super Bowls!!!! Small consolation????

[not-another]

My mom's a Kansas City Chief fan. My dad's a Cleveland Brown fan. I married a Raven fan. And somehow I ended up a Bengals fan. Well, maybe because I'm the smart one out of the group.

[bengalindian]

I have only been alive since 1990 but since then i have gone to home games every year, my dad has had tickets for over 20, i stayed with them even through the 2-14 season when the only 2 teams they beat were the new texans and the playoff run saints, and also when they beat the 9-0 chiefs... who else out there has stayed with them and hasnt been a fair weather fan like a bunch of bengals fans have been???

-EB- WHO DEYYYYY?????????

Same here, but I've got about 5 years of age on you. WHO DEY.