Why you do?

[Bengalion]

I was born and raised in Eastern Kentucky. First game I ever watched was Superbowl XVI in 1982. Needed to pick a team to root for when I had absolutely zero knowledge, and I picked the Bengals because I liked their jerseys better. I remember when I was in my early teens, late 70s/early 80s, all of my friends were starting to pick their favourite teams. Around that time, I came across a picture of me as a toddler decked out in Niners gear. My dad had a tendency to root for whomever was doing well at the time. When I found that picture, I decided I was a Bengals fan because I refused to root for the Niners after the SB loss.

Needless to say, the 1990s/2000s weren't the best times to be a Bengals fan, but it eventually paid off.

[*rfaulk34*]

(Yesterday, 09:05 AM)HarleyDog Wrote: No story. Just a fan. FU!

LazyAss!!!!

[Stewy]

(Yesterday, 11:56 AM)HarleyDog Wrote: Your fandom is tainted.

I was born in 1970.....I was young and impressionable.

[HarleyDog]

(11 hours ago)rfaulk34 Wrote: LazyAss!!!!

Has it ever occurred to you that there may be a story, but I drink so much beer, I don't remember? All I know is I blacked out one day when I was 10 (Pabst Blue Ribbon), and I wake up every day seeing Bengals garb everywhere in my house and mancave. So, I guess my relationship is similar to the movie "50 First Dates." Every day, I wake up and realize I'm a Bengals fan, and I rush to the computer to see how good they are and how successful they've been. 

Did I also mention I battle depression? 

And, if you don't like this answer, you can take it up with me tomorrow.

[sandwedge]

(Yesterday, 11:02 AM)Nepa Wrote: I grew up in northeastern Pennsylvania and had never been in Cincinnati. I became a Bengals fan via the Cincinnati Reds.

I became a Reds fan in 1964, when they were making a last-minute run to catch up to the Philadelphia Phillies, who had built up a seemingly insurmountable lead in the pennant race but totally fell apart in the last two weeks (10 straight losses at one point, Bunning pitching on 2-days rest). The Reds didn't catch them (the Cardinals did), but they ran off 9 straight wins at one point and it came down to the last game of the season, and I was hooked. And what a team to get hooked on. Pete Rose and eventually Johnny Bench and Perez and Joe Morgan and the Big Red Machine. And, amazing, when nightfall came, I was able to pick up a radio station from Cincinnati on my tiny transistor radio, and spend many nights (including school nights, hiding under my blanket) listening to the games. Still remember staying up late to listen to Art Shamsky hit three homeruns in one night. Still brings joy to my heart thinking about those teams.

Through the  Reds, I became a Cincinnati Royals fan (the Big O), and then the  Bengals when their franchise got started.

I still live in Northeastern PA (well, moved back there, to my original property, to raise my family) and don't see many Bengals fans out here (area is Steelers, Eagles, Jets, and Giants), but every once in a while see one with the Bengals hat on.

What year did the Royals leave Cincinnati? I was a Celtics fan, the 70s and 80s was a great time for the NBA and then it went to shit and when the Sonics left Seattle I totally despised the NBA