for love or money

What factors as success is different for different people. Some people see being successful as having a healthy and happy family. Some people see it as financial security and luxury. Some people see it as kicking ass at co-ed softball. I am not one to decide which of these is more valid and therefore more successful. But it does provide some illumination for the case of the Cincinnati Bengals.

In one of George Carlin's prolific rants about sports, he discussed the fact that the players were the only ones essential to the game. He said if the fans went home, the tickets weren't sold, the guys would go play ball in an empty lot, just as it all started. George's problem was with the owners- whom he hated even more than fans and media. And when you take a closer look at Mike Brown, you're going to see his point.

Mike Brown has made his decision on success, and it has more to do with the cash than rings. Most NFL teams have 4-6 scouts who go to colleges, other teams, semi-pro leagues and the like to recruit new talent. The Bengals have one- the rest of the recruitment is done by coaches, who really have better things to do. Like figure out how to win games.

Mr. Brown is also a major proponent of revenue sharing- generally a popular opinion among small-market team owners. However, other small-market owners aren't as thrilled with Mike, because he declined the $100+ million the team could have garnered for naming rights to the stadium and was happy to let the residents of Hamilton County pay for the stadium (without so much as a 25% off coupon so any of them could actually attend a game).

Is success putting butts in the seats and selling jerseys? Because if that is the case, Mike Brown is all sorts of successful. But if it is winning and pride and Super Bowl rings (and the resulting increase in revenue across the city when there's a team to cheer), well... Mighty Mike has struck out (or thrown an interception- there's just not an appropriate football analogy... at least I kept it in sports).

It's disheartening to the Bengals fan (as indicated by sites like this) to see this sort of behavior by someone who is really the descendant of football royalty as far as Ohio is concerned. But the amazing thing about fandom is that there is always hope. Once you become a true fan of a team, it tugs at your heartstrings for life. You try to turn away. You vow to never watch another game. You seek out a different team to love. But you always come back. As much as you try, you can't quit them. They complete you.

I'll still watch the games. I'll still be a Bengal fan, because I'm not a fan of Mike Brown. I'm a fan of dorky little Shayne Graham, and stereotypical handsome quarterback Carson Palmer, reformed prodigal son Chris Henry, and my personal favorite, Mr. Personality- so full of himself but still in on the joke, Chad "Johnson" Ochocinco.

I am not a fan of Mike Brown. I'm not a fan of the HamCo Commissioners who kowtow to his every wish. And honestly, I'm not a fan of the fans- who want everything for nothing, and complain bitterly when it's their own heart they are choosing to putting on the line.

That being said- WHO DEY!