Jan 25 2007
Dead Beat Bengals
Despite the fact that they finished 8-8 this year, many writers and sports broadcasters are declaring the Bengals losers again, because, with the recent arrest of Jonathan Joseph, the team now has more criminals on the roster than it does total wins — nine. Here’s my theory:
With a quickly developing offense, a new stadium, and a fresh, first-time coach, the Bengals were tired of losing and were ready to win immediately — so they took some risks. Superiorly talented athletes coming out of college often plummet on draft day due to “character issues” or “baggage.” Previous problems with the law and difficulty dealing with authority are just two examples. So, the Bengals, eager to win now, see these fabulous athletes drop to draft positions where they wouldn’t normally fall if they were “good guys,” and snatch them up. They figure Marvin Lewis, known as a “Player’s Coach,” can keep them in line off the field as they make an immediate impact on it. People thought the same thing about Randy Moss and Denny Green, and that didn’t work out so well did it?
But here’s the question — do we care? Do we care if Chris Henry carries a gun, so long as he breaks free for 60 yard touchdowns on Sunday? Do we care if Jonathan Joseph smokes dope, so long as he makes interceptions and bats down balls? As Bengal fans, are we embarrassed by our players, or do we just want to beat the Steelers, Browns, and Ravens no matter the cost? After all, it’s better to be thought of as criminals than perennial losers, right?
I don’t feel it’s ok to carry a gun (just to be cool). While I certainly don’t believe in idolizing professional athletes, I do see them as role models who are being watched by a very large audience (including lots of impressionable young adults).
I want him to bat down balls and make interceptions. I want Chris Henry to catch 60 yard touchdown passes. I also want them to leave their pot and guns at their huge houses. Smoke before you go out and hire bodyguards to shoot people for you. It\’ll take awhile, but they\’ll get it eventually.
I like Keith Olberman’s take. Let’s not focus on the crimes the Begals perpetrate…let’s focus on the great police work done by the cops in the Natty.
How much does the image of our team matter to us? Well, the people in Portland got so tired of their “Jailblazers” reputation that attendance slowed despite the fact that they were winning. These events certainly disrupt team chemistry and focus, but what I’m interested in is, do people care about image or about wins?
Well Brad, as a Bears fan, we’ve had our own little delinquent to worry about by the name of Tank Johnson. And recently he was cleared to play in the Super Bowl after six charges of possessing unlicensed guns, plus countless other police visits in the last couple of years. Frankly, I don’t care as long as my Dad isn’t in a funk for the two weeks after Feb. 4 (I’m not the biggest football fan, but Chicago teams are Chicago teams, and I’ll root for ‘em. Except for the White Sox.). I think it really depends on what the fan is a fan of. People love Lebron James because he was a big news story out of high school, and thus people started loving the Cavs. If people love the sport for the sport, then the extraneous stuff doesn’t matter, just like if people love movies for movies and not movie stars, then they won’t buy six different tabloids to see what kind of diapers Tom and Katie are buying this week.
I direct you to a Page 2 article that sort of addresses the topic.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=granderson/070125
Methinks you worry too much about why the Bengals were so disappointing. The league is built for parity. On any given Sunday… Rex Grossman will throw four interceptions. It seems a big stretch that any Bengal coach or front office person said: well, this guy’s a threat to society but he’s really talented so we’ll take him anyway — because so many teams have similar problems. Wife beaters, drug takers, gun toters abound. Look at Denver…