Bengals Fan: I Refuse to Hate Mike Brown

What you are about to read is a true story about my life, but it is also about the Cincinnati Bengals. It might not make sense at first, but I’m about to explain why, even as a frustrated Bengals fan, I simply refuse to hate Mike Brown. 

My wife, who I’ve known since we were both 14 years old, has wanted to go to London her entire life. However, we are now 32 years old and I have not gotten her there…yet. You see, I want more then anything to do this for my wife, but I’m not the wealthiest man. Also, admittedly, I have made poor choices that have prevented us from attaining this goal.

Now, imagine someone comes along and tells my wife that I don’t love her because I haven’t taken her to London, or that I never really intended to take her, and therefore I have been lying to her face telling her I am trying my best, when in fact I haven’t been. I would hope my wife would know that is ridiculous. My entire life revolves around this woman that I’ve loved since I was a young man. I can only assume that whoever hypothetically told my wife this lie, did so with the intention of getting my wife to turn her back on me.

My point? Imagine the Brown family trying to win a Super Bowl their entire lives for “their wife” the fans. They haven’t  done it …yet.   They are doing what they can, the only way they know how. Just like me with my wife, they WANT to give their fans what they desire, but just haven’t figured out how to do it.

Mike Brown and his family know nothing but a world that centers around football. They have built their lives around trying to navigate the pitfalls of an NFL season and win the City of Cincinnati and all of the Bengals fans around the world a championship. So I simply don’t hate Mike Brown. I don’t resent him for not achieving a goal he has worked literally his entire life to achieve. Actually, I sympathize with him.

I would be devastated if my wife actually accused me of intentionally misleading her to hope for something that I never intended to follow through with. If she truly believed that I was that horrible, I wouldn’t expect her to stay with me.

Please do not misunderstand me.  If you are someone who believes that Mike Brown, and the Bengals organization truly aren’t making what they believe to be the best choices for this team, then I commend you for remaining a Bengals fan.  I certainly don’t question your fandom, and I don’t want you to go cheer for another team.  Honestly, I’m impressed by your commitment to cheer for a team that you believe is not committed to you in return.

Still, when someone tells me that the Bengals are  “ok with mediocrity”, and “they don’t WANT to win”, I respond in the same way I’d expect my wife would to anyone who questions my commitment to her. You are wrong.

It hasn’t happened yet, and maybe it will take some additional effort to actually get it done. I might have to learn a new skill to bring in some money, to get my wife to London.

Just like the Bengals might have to open themselves up to a modern approach to running an NFL franchise. Isn’t that what bringing in an all new coaching staff was all about? It still might take some time, but big goals are rarely achieved overnight.

I refuse to even begin to turn against the team I cheer for, and hating the guy who runs it does no good. I am a fan who believes them when they say they want the same things I do. So I will tough it out, in good times and bad…till death do us part.