Well, no, not exactly. We still get arrested for stuff like that. That’s a lyric from an Arlo Guthrie song.
Who, Doc?
Never mind.
Rolled into sunny and 85 Wednesday. Walking around downtown, I started sweating. Too hot here. Can I come home now?
The hysteria should be more hysterical here. Huge town that loves its melodrama and is king and queen of the Big Event. It’s not, probably because LA can swallow whole even an event as big as the Super Bowl. Whenever I fly in here, I’m amazed at where the ‘burbs begin and how much longer it takes before I can spot downtown.
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It’s about 10 minutes. Ten minutes in a plane that’s descending at a couple hundred miles an hour. LA just goes on and on and . . . picture Cincinnati, if its suburbs started near the Kentucky Speedway.
I’m staying in the so-called Media Hotel, and it’s about a mile and a half to where I get my press pass. Not complaining, just observing. LA is crazy spread out. Which gets me to Topic A this AM:
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Where should all major championships be held, every year? And they should be held in the same places. No more Detroits for the NFL, no more rewarding some club for building a building. Where are the best, most logical venues for our major championships? They’re here:
NFL: New Orleans, hands down. Compact, warm and the ultimate pro when it comes to hosting huge events. And of course, a 100 percent fun-o-rama blast. No brainer.
Final 4: Indy, and I can’t think of a close second. What town says basketball more than Indy?
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MLB: Dodger Stadium. No Bowie Kuhns/Bud Seligs freezing their behinds off. There’s really no good reason to be cold at a baseball game. If you insist on pushing the postseason into November, play the games where November is doable.
CFP and championship game: Rose Bowl. Perfection.
NBA: Madison Square Garden
Your suggestions, please.
That gets us to Topic B . . .
HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE MEANS NOTHING in the Super Bowl. Unless you believe the Rams derive a huge edge from getting to change in their own locker room. I guess there’s some small advantage to going home at night for the week before the game. Or maybe not. For decades, NFL teams held training camp in far-flung places, figuring the cocoon effect helped with focus. There wasn’t much for the old Bengals to do in Wilmington.
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But the fact is, the crowd at a Bowl isn’t the crowd at a home game in Cleveland in December. The attendees are what the really OGs used to call “swells.’’ People whose wealth far exceeds their rooting interest. Meaning, there won’t be the sort of roars this Sunday that the Bengals encountered two Sundays ago, in KC. And they won in KC, anyway. And in Nashville.
THE BIGGEST WONDER could be how the youngsters have handled the Week(!) Even that can be overblown. Especially this year. The Men didn’t even get here ‘til Tuesday, a couple days later than teams usually arrive. But it would do them well in a high-rollin’ town such as this, to remember why they’re here. It’s not to tour the clubs.
Cris Collinsworth said this to me, this week, “You can’t win the game before Sunday. But you can lose it.’’
One name for Bengals fans: Stanley Wilson.
I DID A COLUMN that will appear online Friday and in the TM Saturday, an open letter from Bengals alumni to this club, on the eve of the game. Talked to 10 former players, everyone from Cris and Boomer to Krumrie and Reggie Williams. What struck me was the passion these guys still have for the team. It’s beyond unusual to see so many alumni of a pro team still living in town. Especially a cold weather town. I counted 20, then stopped counting. You just don’t see that many places.
ROGER GOODELL tried to address his league’s hiring problem on Wednesday. It sounded a lot like Mike Brown addressing his Bengals problem in the 90s.
“We just have to do a better job,’’ the commissioner said.
Yeah? Cool.
From a piece on The Undefeated:
The workforce in the league’s New York City headquarters looks like America, and there are Black people under Goodell who have their hands on levers of power. Leading by example, he hires and empowers qualified people from various racial and ethnic backgrounds
Of the 17 highest-ranking officials in NFL Football Operations, nine are Black. Eight of the nine have vice president-level titles or higher, and the group is led by a Black man: Troy Vincent, executive vice president of football operations.
That’s good, but kinda irrelevant.
Goodell gets it. NFL owners do not. There are 32 of them, none Black. Goodell works for them, not the other way around.
The best thing would be Black ownership. That isn’t likely to happen, at least not en masse. The second-best thing would be for all concerned citizens to vote against tax levies that build stadia. And to boycott big advertisers. Blacks pay taxes, too, and they’re not being represented fairly. Taxation without representation = Tea in the harbor.
Nothing gets the NFL’s attention like money.
JOEY B IS A GREAT GUY. WHO KNEW? Frankly, we’ve max’d out on the Bengals QB discussion, haven’t we? Enough already. It’s tolerated because it’s Super Bowl Week (!) and media need to justify their expense accounts. And because the hype is true. So one more nugget from the Saint Joe Saintliness file:
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“I don’t know if you’re busy next weekend, but I’ve got a couple extra tickets to the Super Bowl for you and your wife if you want to go.’’
And just like that, he sent two Bowl tickets to his high school coach.
Good on ya, Joe, remembering your roots in this craziest of weeks.
AND NOW . . . FunMaster David gets his game face on.
This is probably the biggest week for the city of Cincinnati in my lifetime. Let's take a look at where you can watch the Big Game on Sunday.
At The Banks, it gets started at 2 pm Sunday at The Banks. Admission is free. The Banks is a DORA zone, which means that you can carry beverages from bars out into the street and stroll all the way to Paul Brown Stadium if you so choose.
Elsewhere downtown, the festivities continue at Fountain Square where there will be events all weekend long. Friday night from 4 to-9:30, the Welcome to the Jungle Party features live music from DJ Diamond and then a live band set on the Fifth Third Stage. Admission is free, with beverages available for purchase. On Saturday from 4-9:30, the party continues with the Show your Stripes Party featuring music from DJ Fusemania followed by live music from Audio Graffiti. Finally, on Sunday, the festivities kick-off at 1 with the Game Dey Party, featuring live DJ sets, band performances, free face painting, and much more all the way until kickoff. The game will be shown on the big screen and pyrotechnics will be used throughout the game.
If you aren't a football fan, Loveland will be hosting its Hearts Afire Valentine's Day Weekend Friday-Sunday. Featuring ice sculptures and carving demonstrations, photo contests, special deals from local vendors, scavenger hunts, and much more, love will be in the air in Loveland. Admission is free, but there will be products available for purchase as well as creations from some of the city's best food trucks.
Hey Michelle! says don’t forgot your valentine.
I can hardly think of anything but the Super Bowl and cheering on the Bengals well into February. Who would have ever thought? I’m also here to remind you that it is Valentine's weekend, so plan something now so you’re not in the dog house.
Speaking of dogs …The first ever Cincinnati “Bengaldog” parade is here this weekend! Let’s get all of those pups decked out to show their Super Bowl spirit this Saturday 2/12 at 4 at Queen City Radio. The OTR Kennel Club is sponsoring this fun event that will saunter around OTR and Washington Park and then wind down back at QCR where there will be food, drinks and fun.
Hearts Afire Weekend for Valentines Day in Loveland (of course) Friday - Sunday historic downtown Loveland will heat up the weekend of love with ice carving demonstrations and an ice sculpture tour, craft market, the chasing cupid 5K, fire twirling performers, charity date auction and so much more.
Downtown on Saturday is the Cupid’s Undie Run from noon-4 and is kicking off at Galla Park. The run benefits you and Children’s Tumor Foundation. $45 registration. Find information at my.cupids.org
Fountain Square is all decked out to get the city roaring. Starting Thursday you can party like it’s 1989 with a DJ, hot and cold drinks and fun from 4-9:30. The same fun on Friday & Saturday along with ramped up light shows, a visit from Who Dey, our beloved mascot, Mr. Red, Gary the Lion from FC & Puckchop from the Cyclones will make appearances 10-11:30 Saturday. Sunday 1- until after we win the game there will be live music from Audio Graffiti, face painting, game coverage, dj and everything Who Dey to cheer us onto victory!
Imbiber Dave had a meeting in Houston this week, a place that is home to many LSU alums. I didn’t know this ahead of time, but we were treated to a seafood dinner of epic proportions, and our kind hosts allowed me to channel my inner Cajun.
First course got us going with a heavenly blackened shrimp and crab dish. Then we had gumbo, with a deep brown roux and mild spice. For my main course, I had a wood grilled redfish topped with shrimp, crawfish, crab, and mushrooms. All of this tasting was in honor of our Bengals alums of course.
Now for cocktails, I had a port old fashioned for the first time in my life. It sounded very odd to use port wine in an old fashioned, but I was assured it was delicious, and this recommendation was solid. The port almost took on a cordial quality and balanced the sweetness of a typical old fashioned.
After dinner called for a Oaxacan Manhattan, made with delicious smokey mezcal. This is such a great alternative to the classic, you should check it out.
Putting all the good vibes out there, and hoping for another classic this weekend!
Cheers!
cincybeerguydave@gmail.com
TUNE O' THE DAY . . . These guys formed in D.C. in '79, but have been LA-based since '86.Besides, they play surf music. Like this. Cowabunga, dudes and dudesses.
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