In many cities, a potential playoff-clinching season finale would cause all work to grind to a halt for a week as fans were consumed by the run-up to the decisive game.
In Cincinnati, that scenario has led to a much different reaction. Bengals players, who can earn a wild card spot by beating the Ravens on Sunday, are begging fans to show up for the game.
“I’m just happy for the team and the city of Cincinnati,” cornerback Adam Jones was quoted as saying by The Associated Press after the Bengals beat the Cardinals 23-16 on Saturday to put themselves in position to make the playoffs. “The fans did a great job getting behind us, and we need all of you this week. We need the fans this week.
“Who Dey! Please come support us. I’m Adam Jones, and I approved this message.”
Although it may seem unthinkable that fans would not come out to support a 9-6 team with a promising young quarterback in Andy Dalton, an exciting rookie wide receiver in A.J. Green and a front-flipping wideout in Jerome Simpson, it’s hard to blame Cincinnatians for their lack of interest. The Bengals play in a stadium that was built with the help of a sales-tax hike in 1996 and came in roughly $450 million over budget when it opened in 2000, according to the AP.
As residents of the Cincinnati area struggle to recover from the recession, Bengals owner Mike Brown and his family continue to gain benefits from the taxpayer-funded stadium; the family reportedly paid cash for an estimated 30 percent share of the team recently, adding to the portion they already controlled.
And while this season has been a modest success, the on-field history for the Bengals is far from illustrious. Fans have voted with their feet, filling less than two-thirds of the 65,500-seat stadium. They have even reacted with barely tepid interest to a buy one, get one free ticket offer for Sunday’s game.
The players can beg all they want, but unless they have a few hundred million dollars to help make the taxpayers whole, they will probably see another ocean of empty seats on Sunday.
Photo of the day
A surprisingly successful season has turned Bengals fans’ worlds upside-down.
Quote of the day
“Not every game is going to be just alley-oop left and right.”
— Clippers point guard Chris Paul, after Los Angeles’ relatively highlight-free 105-86 win over the Warriors on SundayÂ
Tweet of the day
Something tells me Mr. Bryant is going to be OK.
Video of the day
Don Cherry tickles the ivories even when there are no ivories to tickle.
