Will this Bengals team capture imaginations like Al Davis' 80's Raiders?

by carsick on Aug 2, 2010 5:11 PM EDT

In the 80's, Al Davis put together a team of misfits and ne'er-do-well's and won a whole lot of games. To the dismay of many, the Oakland Raiders captured the imaginations of urban culture and hip hoppers intrigued by the outlaw culture. Raiders merchandise flew off the shelves all around the country.

Now, of course, the Bengals used to have guys actually getting arrested on a regular basis, and now are getting the reputation as maturing former bad boys with a singular purpose. But the question remains, will we start seeing Bengal's strips in Chicago's East Side, Brooklyn and in music videos from LA?

Would it be cool to go to Florida and see kids in Miami who've never stepped outside of the state wearing Bengal Stripes?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Cincy Jungle's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Cincy Jungle's writers or editors.

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I'm in New York. But that doesn't count. I'm a lifer.

I’d wait until after the SB win. Then, we’ll add another seat on the bandwagon.

2010 - The Year of the Tiger.

by UpStateMike on Aug 2, 2010 6:13 PM EDT reply actions

It could be.

We already have the reputation of giving guys second (and third… and fourth) chances in order to get cheap talent. Right now we have a bunch of former first round talent that has had trouble in the past.

But the point of the Bengals getting troubled players is to turn them around. They try to make them respectable people. From what I understand about the old Raiders, they just got a bunch of thugs and let them run loose as long as they were winning games. “Just win, baby!” was also their owner’s motto.

"Before I write I let my mind go blind and let the Lord do His thing. " -Tupac Shakur

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it looks like work." -Thomas Edison

by sexsalad on Aug 2, 2010 6:35 PM EDT reply actions

Maybe

But Oakland started that culture in the early the 70’s…and Chicago doesn’t have an “East Side.” …unless you’re referring to the aquatic life living in the lake.

by JohnCockToastin on Aug 3, 2010 10:00 AM EDT reply actions

I currently reside in Chi-town

and can say proudly that the Bengals have an amazing bar for every sunday. It’s in Lincoln Park and is called Kendall’s. It is 100% Bengals bar on sundays with large blow-up Bengals guy out front, the marquee also advertising quotes each weekend about our opponent. The place is packed full almost every sunday, and in addition to all the stripes, they also serve knock-off skyline : 3 and 4ways and coneys (free up until last year). They have all the fight songs, and give out free who-dey shots after each touchdown. If anyone else lives in the Chicago area I would highly recommend making Kendalls your Sunday hot spot!

it comes down to mind over matter....if you don't mind, it won't matter

by TruWhoDey on Aug 4, 2010 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions

Echo That

I was at Kendall’s last year for the away Cleveland game as was FRICKEN mesmarized how awesome it was to be amongst that many Who Dey fans in a different city. I literally had the best time I’ve ever had watching the Stripes.

by JohnCockToastin on Aug 5, 2010 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't think it would be cool

The Raiders appeal was largely gang related. While I want to have the nation wide appeal, I would prefer something like what the Steelers have, where in every city, of a bar or resturant is playing every game, there will be a large Steelers contingent being obnoxious instead of the Raider gang following.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1890409/posts

by jim0ijk on Aug 3, 2010 10:25 AM EDT reply actions

Wasn't only gang related

They had celebrities galore on their sidelines long before it became the norm. James Garner was their biggest chearleader on their sidelines making a total spectacle on the sidelines every game along with all sorts of other Hollywood A-Listers at the time. This was going on in the 70’s long before NWA and EasyE thought they’d adopt the Raiders as their team.

The Raiders of the 70’s were intrigueing to everyone for similar reasons why we all like the Bengals defense: They were castoffs and misfits who were told they weren’t good enough in other places. Guys like Phil Villapiano who was a hard nosed dude (from Bowling Green), “Kick ’Em In The Head Ted” Hendricks who was a goof ball, Lester Hayes (who along with Biletnikoff) was loaded with Stick ‘Em, The Snake who would stay out in bars drinking until 3am and then show up the next day and play…the list goes on and on. They were a comical team that had a HUGE cast of characters. THAT’S why people jumped on their bandwagon. They were easy to love and were good.

It just so happens to be that the thugs followed suit.

by JohnCockToastin on Aug 3, 2010 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

There was celebrity appeal in LA for the Raiders as there was and is for the Lakers. But the gang stuff started in the 70’s and was trendy when NWA came around and propelled it forward.

What I want is true nationwide bandwagon stuff, like watching games nin bars in groups, not the fake wearing of sports gear to show your gang affilition or just because it is trendy.

by jim0ijk on Aug 3, 2010 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions

I hear ya

Unless the Bengals start winning fast and furiously and sustain it for a decade plus…we’re probably never going to be that lucky.

by JohnCockToastin on Aug 3, 2010 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions

“Unless the Bengals start winning fast and furiously and sustain it for a decade plus…we’re probably never going to be that lucky.”

That is exactly what I want.

by jim0ijk on Aug 4, 2010 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Actually...

There are already Bengals fans in Florida. I’ve seen plenty.

Redemption. The year belongs to us.

by cincylove on Aug 4, 2010 5:53 PM EDT reply actions

A lot of fans are apprehensive. I live in Dallas area and I’m surprised quite often at the number of fans here who actually respect the Bengals, but bring up the squealers here and they might just puke on your shoes at the thought..
I think some Bengals fans equate respect with die-hardedness or even bandwagoners.
I would much rather have respectful fans year in, year out than a handful of bandwagon fair weather fans who will drop you at the very first sign of trouble which is what the Raiders had.
The Cowboys and Steelers have fans everywhere by virtue of winning so many superbowls and shrewed marketing.
If the Bengals want anything even resembling that they had better begin collecting Lombardy trophies real quick or we’ll remain the team most people write off and who’s real fans remain loyal even when they win 1 or 2 games per season..

If life is short what else have you been doing that has actually taken any longer?

by Yeah-Yeah on Aug 6, 2010 1:41 PM EDT reply actions