The Bengals win again...

I had actually spent a good part of Sunday working on the tank of the toilet in mum's bathroom trying to fix a leaky valve, however all I really managed to do was spray the place with the blue water in the tank that started streaming out after I did not secure the new flow meter properly. After attempting to fix this for over an hour and a half, I realized I was swearing profusely at an inaniment object, in this case a toilet tank. Thus the decision was made (by myself) for the sake of my own personal sanity that I should pack up, plan on finishing the work next weekend, drive to my humble abode, and watch the Bengals play the Steelers on TV.

Now, it is a tough occupation being a Cincinnati Bengals fan. They have been referred to for the last decade as the "Bungles" by ESPN sports network, and have a competitive team the last few years for the first time in sixteen years. At the lowest points in the mid ninties I even resorted to wearing a grocery bag over my head while watching at home in case someone looked in the window. It was all very sad...

On Sunday the Bengals went into Heinz field in Pittsburgh, home of the Superbowl champ Pittsburgh Steelers and stole a game from them. I use the word stole because Cincinnati would not have won if Pittsburgh had not handed it to them on a platter by committing so many turnovers.

And of course, some of these "manly men" did what any self respecting wealthy mid-twenties year olds would do: they caught the plane home to Cincy, hooked up with a teammate who was suspended by NFL management for failing drug tests, and proceeded to drink themselves silly at a bar. Here is an excerpt from the newspaper column regarding the incident.

Odell Thurman registered a .181 on the Breathalyzer, then told the cop, "I was driving because they had more than I did." For those unfamiliar, .181 is more than twice the legal drinking limit in Ohio. It's flaming, smoking pickled.

"They" in this case were Thurman's passengers and teammates, Chris Henry and Reggie McNeal. Police said that while an officer cited Thurman, Henry barfed out the vehicle's window. Hear those Ben-gals hurling! Maybe Henry ate some bad shellfish.

Unfortunately win success (in some cases) comes the inability to handle it properly. But as a now successful Bengals fan I can honest say that it has not gone to my head. I have not had to be "tasered" by the local police force for disorderly conduct. I have not been pulled over while being three sheets to the wind. I have not bought liquor for any sixteen year old girls. And, I have not had the urge to wave a handgun at people I think are "dissin me".

Guess I wouldn't make a very good football player....