If you're from Las Vegas, running into a lot of orange tonight and reading this right now, understand you're up against 31 years of "Who Dey" frustration."The city's on verge of just breakin' out right now," said Jim Foster, who is known throughout Who Dey Nation as "Bengal Jim."Raiders fans weren't all that interested to watch Mayor Aftab Pureval officially proclaim Saturday as "Who Dey Day" in Cincinnati.They were plotting ways their team's defense could interrupt the winning Burrow-to-Chase combination.Jim Mohring, who has spent the past three days ordering more of everything for the Holy Grail, told us "It is fun to watch this city united behind our Bengals."I asked him if "Who Dey" is the best sports chant ever and without hesitation, he replied, "Yeah, without a doubt."Mike Applegarth and his son Bailey didn't think so.They're Raiders fans who came in from Wyoming.They got in last night, started checking out the city, and have the highly-partisan audacity to tell us point-blank: "'Go Raiders' is always the best cheer of all time."Maybe they don't realize this city is bathed in orange and black right now.And as for the atmosphere, Anthony Muñoz tackled that one for us."I just love the excitement of the fans — it's a fanatical group, and that's the great thing about it," Muñoz said. "Looking forward to getting to the stadium and walking around to my seat."No. 78 said it'll be rocking.Blake Westlund, 26, will help rock it.Born in West Chester, he had a sudden thought down in Tampa yesterday.Quicker than you can say, "Who Dey," he acted on it."Bought a game ticket and I'm ready to roll and break this curse."Ah, the curse.It has hung like an albatross on the shoulder pads of Who Dey Nation for 31 seasons.Gary Gruber, a season ticket holder since the mid-80s, was well aware of the Bo Jackson curse. I asked if he's felt the weight of it."I really haven't," he said as he sat with a full table of friends. "I never really felt the Bo Jackson curse. I was more concerned with the Pedro Bourbon curse on the Reds that he finally took off."Trading stories, saying "Who Dey" everywhere you go, that's the colorful vibe of orange and black that has this community turbo-charged right now.One fan we spoke with at the Banks will cheer from Cabo San Lucas tomorrow."We're going to be landing two hours before the game," said Erin Walton as she celebrated her 10th year with Taste of Belgium. "Going to be watching it on the beach somewhere."Bengal Jim said he understands the connection. He considers the game with the Raiders the biggest Who Dey Day in 31 years."There's people that are coming to the tailgate and going to the game tomorrow that haven't been to a game in ten or fifteen years," he said. "They're back."Fans from all over are converging and conversing.Canada, Europe, Florida — they all want to be there to witness what they hope will be a special moment in Bengals history.At the team's pro shop Friday, fans were gathering whatever merchandise the supply chain had provided.Grown sons of a diehard fan will be wearing their colors tomorrow.They don't know what a Bengals playoff celebration feels like."Three of my four boys will be in the stadium with me tomorrow," said Bengal Jim, a bit wistfully. "So, when that final whistle blows and we got the dub, we're winnin' tomorrow, I will be crying and hugging every one of my boys."So, welcome to the Jungle, Raiders fans. That’s what you’re up against.
If you're from Las Vegas, running into a lot of orange tonight and reading this right now, understand you're up against 31 years of "Who Dey" frustration.
"The city's on verge of just breakin' out right now," said Jim Foster, who is known throughout Who Dey Nation as "Bengal Jim."
Raiders fans weren't all that interested to watch Mayor Aftab Pureval officially proclaim Saturday as "Who Dey Day" in Cincinnati.
They were plotting ways their team's defense could interrupt the winning Burrow-to-Chase combination.
Jim Mohring, who has spent the past three days ordering more of everything for the Holy Grail, told us "It is fun to watch this city united behind our Bengals."
I asked him if "Who Dey" is the best sports chant ever and without hesitation, he replied, "Yeah, without a doubt."
Mike Applegarth and his son Bailey didn't think so.
They're Raiders fans who came in from Wyoming.
They got in last night, started checking out the city, and have the highly-partisan audacity to tell us point-blank: "'Go Raiders' is always the best cheer of all time."
Maybe they don't realize this city is bathed in orange and black right now.
And as for the atmosphere, Anthony Muñoz tackled that one for us.
"I just love the excitement of the fans — it's a fanatical group, and that's the great thing about it," Muñoz said. "Looking forward to getting to the stadium and walking around to my seat."
No. 78 said it'll be rocking.
Blake Westlund, 26, will help rock it.
Born in West Chester, he had a sudden thought down in Tampa yesterday.
Quicker than you can say, "Who Dey," he acted on it.
"Bought a game ticket and I'm ready to roll and break this curse."
Ah, the curse.
It has hung like an albatross on the shoulder pads of Who Dey Nation for 31 seasons.
Gary Gruber, a season ticket holder since the mid-80s, was well aware of the Bo Jackson curse. I asked if he's felt the weight of it.
"I really haven't," he said as he sat with a full table of friends. "I never really felt the Bo Jackson curse. I was more concerned with the Pedro Bourbon curse on the Reds that he finally took off."
Trading stories, saying "Who Dey" everywhere you go, that's the colorful vibe of orange and black that has this community turbo-charged right now.
One fan we spoke with at the Banks will cheer from Cabo San Lucas tomorrow.
"We're going to be landing two hours before the game," said Erin Walton as she celebrated her 10th year with Taste of Belgium. "Going to be watching it on the beach somewhere."
Bengal Jim said he understands the connection. He considers the game with the Raiders the biggest Who Dey Day in 31 years.
"There's people that are coming to the tailgate and going to the game tomorrow that haven't been to a game in ten or fifteen years," he said. "They're back."
Fans from all over are converging and conversing.
Canada, Europe, Florida — they all want to be there to witness what they hope will be a special moment in Bengals history.
At the team's pro shop Friday, fans were gathering whatever merchandise the supply chain had provided.
Grown sons of a diehard fan will be wearing their colors tomorrow.
They don't know what a Bengals playoff celebration feels like.
"Three of my four boys will be in the stadium with me tomorrow," said Bengal Jim, a bit wistfully. "So, when that final whistle blows and we got the dub, we're winnin' tomorrow, I will be crying and hugging every one of my boys."
So, welcome to the Jungle, Raiders fans. That’s what you’re up against.
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