What this win would me to me

[duus]

What this win would me to me

I grew up in the Cincinnati area. I was a teenager for both Super Bowl visits by our Bengals. I recall great emotion from those days. The incredible anxiety throughout the playoffs. The unspeakable joy of making it to the Super Bowl. The hurt of losing those Super Bowls.

Sometime shortly after that second Super Bowl appearance, I chose to leave the area and move to Pittsburgh for graduate school. To be very honest, even being a big Bengals fan through the ‘80s, I can recall nothing more than an sense of indifference toward the Steelers.

Fifteen years later, having lived in Pittsburgh since, having witnessed the Steelers control our division year in and year out, having survived our Bengals being humiliated through-out the ‘90s, I have grown to despise this team. The first several years were not nearly as bad as the recent years. Although I am very much a quiet and non-confrontational Bengals fan living in enemy territory, I have been pointed out, verbally ridiculed, smacked in the head, threatened with my life, and had my Bengals items ripped and torn. Why I have never fought back I will never know. It’s been very frustrating, and has left me disliking the entire organization. I’ve done nothing more than wear a jacket, shirt, or hat from time to time.

But now, after 15 years of pain, my team plays these Steelers for “all the marbles.” What will this win mean to me? Well, first it will mean that I can walk the streets of Pittsburgh with my head held high. It also means that those I know will turn their focus away from me and back to “what has happened” to their team. It means I can regain the pride that I remember. It means that the ridicule and abuse I might still receive will be completely baseless. It means that this Cincinnati kid will finally be the victor. That I will at long last not be “looking up” at my friends.

My message to the Bengals coaches and players: I am only one fan, but I am the one who has arguably taken the most abuse over the last 15 years. A win this Sunday will mean everything to me. It will provide the turning point I have hoped for for 15 years. Life will be that much sweeter. Everything will taste so much better. Please guys … win this one. Just win it. Just win.

Who-Dey!

[walshfan]

They are going to DELIVER for you come Sunday Duus..

There will be no lack of effort on any Bengal.. that Im sure of...

[jungleman]

relax duus we have the better team right now and will win. the only reason they won the first game is the team was so up tight the entire week this week they are loose. relax it will be fine. now get down here to the jungle and be apart of the crowd that sees carson smoke ben in a shoot out.