Remember that being a Bengals fan isn’t about winning − it’s about getting your hopes killed every Sunday, showing up for work on Monday, and pretending this time will be different.
Dennis Doyle
| Opinion contributor
There are two kinds of Bengals fans: those who laugh, and those who quit watching in the third quarter but still check the score before bed − and then lie there, staring at the ceiling.
If you can’t laugh, you’ll lose your mind. So after Sunday’s 39-38 loss to the 0-7 New York Jets − yes, those Jets − I suggest a small act of self-care. Tape these 10 sayings to your bathroom mirror. Repeat them daily until the next kickoff, or until hope returns, whichever comes first.
1. ‘We’ve been through worse. I think.’
We’ve made it to the Super Bowl three times and lost every one. Only Cincinnati could make suffering look like loyalty.
2. ‘Losing to the Jets builds humility.’
And humility builds character. At least we’ll be remembered for something noble.
3. ‘The Ring of Honor still shines.’
Even if some Sundays make it feel like the light’s coming from a single flickering bulb.
4. ‘It’s not Joe Flacco’s fault. It’s destiny.’
Some losses are written in the stars. Ours are usually written on third-and-long.
5. ‘Hope is a contact sport.’
Every fall, we line up, take the hit, and somehow get back up.
6. ‘At least it wasn’t a playoff game.’
We save those heartbreaks for January. Tradition matters.
7. ‘You can’t spell ‘resilient’ without ‘L.”
And around here, we know our letters.
8. ‘The chili still tastes the same.’
It’s the one Cincinnati constant that never blows a lead.
9. ‘We’ve waited decades for better. We can wait one more week.’
Patience isn’t just a virtue − for us, it’s a lifestyle.
10. ‘Who Dey? We Dey.’
Still. Always. Even after this.
There’s no easy way to love a team that can turn joy into therapy in under four quarters. But look at it this way − we’ve probably created more therapists per capita than any city in America.
So take a deep breath. Laugh a little. Remember that being a Bengals fan isn’t about winning − it’s about getting your hopes killed every Sunday, showing up for work on Monday, and pretending this time will be different.
Because if you can’t laugh, you’ll lose your sanity. And if you can laugh, you just might survive another Sunday.
Dennis Doyle lives in Anderson Township and is a member of the Enquirer Board of Contributors.