Sublime to ridiculous in less than 24 hours. Historical hysteria one night, Three Stooges the next afternoon. You can’t say our sports are dull, ever. The way the weekend just ended topped ‘em all. We’ll get to UC’s magic momentarily, First, the Men’s tragic.
The NFL has always had a three-caste system. The names change, but the hierarchy never does. By this time every season, there are a few Good teams, a few Bad teams and Every Other Team. You know who we’re talking about. Generally:
Patriots, Chiefs, Steelers, Ravens, Packers = Good.
Jets, Lions, Jaguars = Bad.
Everyone Else.
The Bengals straddle the Bad fence. We’ll give them a break because they’re EE this year and have the potential at least to stay EE for a few years.
Sixteen teams have between five and seven wins. Half the league.
On Sunday, Cincinnati had a chance to move to the outskirts of the Good. An 8-4 record, 3 straights Ws, another very winnable home game next Sunday. And they whiffed. They whiffed in a way that’s becoming wearily familiar. They’re 7-5, top of the middle class. Two (older) cars, one (big) mortgage, three (young) kids in private school. They clip coupons, they take vacations when mom and dad pay for the Florida condo. They come close to running out of money before they run out of month.
Middle class is fine if simply making the expanded, 14-team playoffs is your goal. Realistically, that should be the goal at PBS in this Verge Season. Thanks, Mom, but we won’t be coming to your place on Clearwater Beach this year. We're getting our own place. But when you give glimpses of Good, fans (and media) believe the hype. Then days like yesterday happen. Hey, Dad, is the beach place still available?
Without further ado. . .
TEN THINGS FROM 22-41.
1. Tee Higgins and T. Boyd said the Bengals didn’t start the game with “energy.’’ Huh? Z. Taylor said during the week it was a huge game. The candor from Higgins and Boyd suggests the Bengals still seek some maturity.
2. Given the rush, Burrow was lucky a dislocated pinky was all he suffered. For a team not known for its pass rush, the Chargers got after it. Six sacks. And they played three-plus quarters without Joey Bosa.
3. We said O-line depth would be an issue for the Men. And it was. Backups Prince (right guard) and Hill (center) were overmatched and penalty-prone.
4. Burrow doesn’t always help his line. He doesn’t always step up in the pocket and he can hold the ball too long.
5. Fifty-one thousand at PBS on a perfect day. Not good.
6. Herbert versus Burrow. You make the call. It seems obvious.
7. Great receivers don’t do what Chase did Sunday in the 1st quarter. Great throw, bobble, INT. Different game if he makes that easy catch.
8. Never seen a team screw up PATs quite so thoroughly. How do you call a timeout, then get flagged for a delay?
9. A pass to Mixon for his fumble, even though it turned the game. He hasn’t lost a fumble in almost four years.
10. Inconsistency lives. Last four games, Bengals win two by a combined 50 points, lose two by 44. Something’s missing as the playoff push commences.
Now, then. . .
THE GOOD STUFF. Shortly before 8 on an enchanted Saturday evening, tens of thousands of UC fans bounced from their seats and onto the field at Nippert Stadium, to take part in a dream fulfilled.
I’m not a fan of storming the field. It can be dangerous, it suggests that fans feel like they’re part of the win. They’re not. But this time? This time was like no other time.
I can recall covering a UC game a few decades ago. Memphis, I think. Snowy day. There might have been 500 people at Nippert. UC football was so down, there was serious talk of de-emphasizing the program. Rick Minter, an unsung hero of the resurrection, used every media opp to beg folks to come to the games.
So, yeah, storm the field. It’s all yours. You owned the disappointment, you deserve the celebration. This wasn’t overserved undergrads getting their kicks. It was a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Other days had been glorious – recall UC beating Wisconsin in the Dantonio Era – but didn’t approach this. In 33 years here, I’ve never seen a clearer, more communal joy. Eric Davis’ homer off Dave Stewart – 1st inning, Game 1, 1990 Series – comes close. The Bengals ’88 AFC title W is right there.
But what occurred Saturday night at UC tops ‘em all. I feel privileged to have witnessed it.
NOW, ABOUT ALABAMA. . . The Sabans finished the year playing their best ball. They’re not invincible, though. They needed a miracle to beat .500 Auburn. But who picks against Nick Saban when the game matters everything?
UC hasn’t lost a non-bowl game in two years. Georgia beat them at the buzzer last year in the Peach Bowl, and this UC team is much better than that one. After I’m done here, I’m thinking of taking a roadie to Belterra and parting with some Thinwallet cash. The opening line on the game was Bearcats getting 14. Sign me up.
HERB JONES, RIP. . . The UC star died at age 51.
He was the glue for a couple of Huggins’ early teams. Huggs loved the guy’s lunchpail sensibilities. Whatever the team needed, Jones provided. He was a ferocious rebounder. He never didn’t guard. When he had to score, he did it in bunches. All while never taking credit for any of it.
I’ve never asked him, but I’d guess Huggins would list “Herbert’’ among his top three or four favorite players here, right there with Kenyon Martin.
RIP, Herb. Gone, not forgotten.
WONDERMENT. . . I wondered for years why NFL coaches didn’t consider 4th down as a viable option to keep a drive alive. Then they started using it. Here’s another head scratcher:
Why don’t teams, in obviously desperate situations, let their opponent score?
Late in a one-score game, what’s more important: Allowing a FG or TD, or possessing the ball?
Last night, Ravens-Steelers: Ravens up 13-12 late, Steelers mounting a long, run-dominated, clock-killing drive. Once Pittsburgh is in obvious FG range – these days, any kick 40 yards or less – why not matador it and get the ball back with a realistic chance to re-take the lead?
With the 2-point conversion, the Steelers led 20-13, with 1:48 left. But the Ravens had burned two timeouts. I realize they scored anyway, then missed the 2-pointer. But doesn’t it make sense to give your team more time to rally, when the other guys are a very good bet to score?
PKING HATES THE BENGALS (CONT.) He labeled Mixon a Goat of the Week because Mixon fumbled for the first time since December 2017. Man. . .
I’M A LITLE LATE ON THIS, BUT IT INTERESTS ME. . . A month ago, Bob Castellini sold his Scottsdale resort, The Sanctuary. For those hoping he might sell the Reds, that was a glimmer of hope, albeit a very small one. If he sells his winter place, where he lives during spring training, might he also be thinking of selling the team?
Um, no. Or at least probably not. A year ago, he sold his Colorado home, I believe to Carl Lindner III. He still has a winter place in Georgia. He’s probably just shedding properties as he edges toward age 81.
Meantime, how’s that Hot Stove season treatin’ ya? Oh, that’s right, there is no hot stove season. No Redsfest, either. That was canceled months ago. The hits just keep on comin’.
TUNE O’ THE DAY. . . This whole album is just so good. What if you combined the power of rock with the funk of soul? You’d get this album. No wonder Clapton envied this guy.
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