A huge problem with a crystal ball is, it's as reliable as a ’72 Chevy Vega. My crystal ball has been in the shop for three decades. Same as my Ouija board and my astrologer’s pack of tarot cards.
When people question my ability to see the future, I remind them that if I could do that, I’d be in Vegas making the touts look foolish, not in Cincinnati reading tea leaves.
Yeah?
For two years, I questioned openly Zac Taylor’s constant talk about Bengals culture. The need to fix/change/improve it. The implications were clear: I inherited a lousy team/culture. Don’t expect me to fix it overnight.
It came off as a little arrogant, given Taylor’s career 6-25-1 record.
Well.
If the Ouija board had been working, I’d have changed my tune some. The Bengals are 4-2 and culture has been a reason. There’s a chance fans will look back at this season and see one symbolic moment: Ja’Marr Chase escorting Joe Mixon into the end zone in Detroit. So far, that’s the shining example of Zac’s thriving Culture Club. We-ness over Me-ness.
More:Paul Daugherty: Are you ready to take the plunge, one more time, with these Bengals?
At the moment, the Bengals are one, big, happy family, standing atop the mountain of love, adoring football and each other. Maybe in the offseason, Taylor can have the Democrats and Republicans over to his house for a rousing game of Foto-Electric Football.
How much does the feelgood mean when Lamar Jackson plays for the other guys? I guess we’re about to find out.
Is this the week the Bengals season shifts one way or the other? A win legitimizes their January dreams, a loss relegates them to the NFL’s bloated and mediocre middle?
No. You can’t define an entire season by one game, unless it’s the last one, in February. Too much can happen, most of it injury-related. Look at what has become of the Browns since August. You’d have better luck reading tea leaves.
The Bengals don’t have a lot to lose in Baltimore on Sunday. Few expect them to win. Only a blowout L would quiet the increasing noise surrounding their hopeful performance across the first six games. Despite their all-aboard injury train, the Ravens still have the best team in the North, maybe in all the AFC. They might not have Marcus Peters, but they still have Marlon Humphrey. No JK Dobbins but plenty of Devonta Freeman. And all of Lamar Jackson.
More:Daugherty: Meet Cyclones head coach Jason Payne. He's never stopped striving, surviving.
Resiliency is an attitude. Baltimore is pretty good at it.
Something to consider: The Bengals are nurturing a few big-game players. Burrow. Chase. Logan Wilson. This is definitely a big game . . .
. . . that they’re not quite ready to win. Remember, this is Cincinnati’s Verge Season. An acceptable L, possibly in the last minute, more seasoning for big games down the road. Do you wanna see Lamar in a close game at the end, football in his mitts? Me, neither.
Ravens 23, Men 20.
Now, then . . .
WHAT IF DUSTY HAD STAYED? His Astros are one win from the Series, then four more for Baker’s punched ticket to the Hall of Fame. He’s very, very good at what he does. He was the perfect man to calm the stormy waters drowning the cheatin’ ‘Stros and their merry band of trash can lid-bangers. Same as he was the right guy for the Reds, Cubs and Giants.
The man can manage.
Positive, fatherly, calm. You might not have appreciated his pitching moves but seriously, what Reds manager have you ever actually liked? You hated the fact he kept Corey Patterson in CF while abjectly ignoring the fact the Reds had no one else.
Playing Scott Rolen in ’12, when he should have been starting Todd Frazier? I never said Johnny B. was perfect.
Fact is, the Reds weren’t winning when he got here and they haven’t won since he left.
Baker has benefited from having lots of very good players on most of the teams he has managed. That’s no indictment. Come on down, Joe Torre. And Joe McCarthy, Miller Huggins and Casey Stengel.
Baker’s 12th all-time in wins. He needs a ring to get his key to the HOF.
WHAT IF THE REDS hadn’t traded Adam Duvall for Lucas Sims and two other pitchers whose names escape me and there’s a reason for that? Duvall was traded at the All Star Break in 2018. He was the same hitter then as he is now, difference being back then, he was five years from free agency.
The Reds gave up Mike Leake to get him, at the ’15 deadline. They acquired a classic all-or-nothing power hitter and a good defender with a very good arm. In his two full seasons here, ’16 and ’17, Duvall averaged 32 HR and 101 BI. Did we mention he was making the major-league minimum each of those years?
The Reds traded Mike Leake for Duvall, then traded Duvall for Lucas Sims. In essence, they dealt Duvall and Mike Leake. . . for Sims. Lordy.
HUGGS, WE LOVE YA, BUT. . . Bob Huggins thinks that college basketball big-timers should ditch the NCAA tournament and start their own event, minus mid-majors. That’s madness.
"We have no power because we don't generate the same kind of TV income that football does," Huggins said Wednesday at Big 12 Media Day. "But we don't try to."
More:Paul Daugherty: Bengals QB Joe Burrow's arm is his gift. Might his legs be his curse?
In 2016, the NCAA signed an eight-year, $8.8 billion extension through 2032 with Turner Sports for the rights to the NCAA men's tournament. "Those Cinderella schools are putting 200 people, at best, in their gym," Huggins said. "We're putting 14,000."
Does he really believe that uninviting Cinderella will make the pie any bigger than $1 billon per? Cinderella and office pools are the reason he gets some of that $1 bil.
It ain’t broke, Huggs . . .
AND NOW. . . FunMaster Brien says, “I never drink. . . wine.’’
The Friends of Music Hall are bringing back their Silent Movie series just in time for Halloween. Typically, these performances occur in the ballroom at Music Hall, but this latest is available to watch from the comfort of your home, which might be a good thing because the film is 1922’s Nosferatu.
The F.W. Murnau film is the original adaptation of Dracula, beating out the Tod Browning production starring Bela Lugosi by nine years. The makeup applied to Max Schreck, who plays the titular vampire holds up to this day. It is an iconic and shocking look, which I am sure you have seen in pop culture somewhere along your travels. The film is one of the most often cited examples of German Expressionist filmmaking and it remains unsettling, even one hundred years later.
The film is accompanied by the Mighty Wurlitzer organ, which rounds out the traditional presentation of this classic. The link to the movie is available as of today and will remain accessible through November 7th. This is a very cool piece of cinema that is worth checking out. Plus it’s free.
For more information on this and other events at Music Hall, please head to www.friendsofmusichall.org/events.
Imbiber Dave says ciao with a good Negroni.
Anyone who has read this blog before knows I’m a sucker for a good Negroni. Put that drink on tap and I’m thrilled. Pearlstar enter stage left.
Full disclosure, we needed this level of excitement to combat the angst felt by A Tavola closing their OTR location last year. How could anyone fill their shoes? Well the ‘Groni is a great start.
The revamped restaurant is gorgeous. The menu is seafood heavy, featuring a 10 different oyster raw bar that truly rivals coastal cities. The walls are bright and the whole restaurant seems bigger. The patio is superb. The fact that chef’s Leroy and David have pulled this off is truly remarkable.
He starts the bias. Beverage Director Aaron is a Cincinnati legend and institution. Now in my defense, I was swooning over the cocktails prior to even realizing that he was the one writing the recipes. Yes I have good taste.
In addition to the Negroni, you simply must try his twist on the Gin & Tonic. Light and balanced, it paired perfectly with our delightful oysters and ceviche. Golf Clap, a wonderful Mezcal Chartreuse cocktail with a subtle hint of pineapple, was amazing alongside the scallop tostada.
If you find yourself in the situation where it is proving difficult to sell the tailgate with beer, wings, and cornhole, may I suggest an afternoon playing bocce ball with oysters here this fall? Don’t worry, you can always order a craft beer once you arrive.
Cheers!
JOHNNY, AGAIN . . . Been in a Rivers mood lately. Here’s another.
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