One thing Bengals and Colts fans agree on...

It's not quite the rivalry that the Bengals have with the Steelers or Browns, but you think it would be since Cincinnati is only about two hours away from Indianapolis. There might be a debate on who has the better team, better QB, offense, defense, coach, etc.

But there seems to be a consensus on who has the better downtown. Last week, the Cincinnati Enquirer asked readers what city has a better downtown: they loudly responded that it's the hometown of the Colts that's on top.

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061218/BIZ01/612180318/1076

Hundreds of specialty retailers, restaurants and clubs. Dozens of theaters, museums, parks and sports venues. More than 5,000 hotel rooms. A huge convention center that's being expanded - again. Nearly 10,000 single-family homes, condos and apartments. A supermarket.

That's not just a wish list for downtown Cincinnati; it's what downtown Indianapolis already has.

Ten years after its $319 million Circle Centre shopping mall opened, downtown Indianapolis has a multitude of downtown workers, shoppers, residents and out-of-town visitors who bring these places to life and keep them in business.

There's no doubt Cincinnati has some great qualities, even advantages, in its downtown and core: a great history, remarkable architecture, visual and performing arts, riverfront setting, great hills, major league baseball, and so on. Oh, and Kings Island is in Cincy's metro area.

Indianapolis, however, is much more vibrant after 5PM - and more than just an botique arts district full of young professionals. When it comes to football towns, not all the fans are hanging out in the parking lots tailgating in Indianapolis; they're shopping and dining at the restaurants at Circle Centre. Many of the hotels, stores, restaurants, and businesses are accessible via the skywalk to the Convention Center and RCA Dome - everything just seems more together. The Lucas Oil Stadium, to open in 2008, seems a little disconnected from downtown, but because of its retractable roof, can be used year-round and for events well beyond football.

However, in Cincinnati, the stadium just seems disconnected from downtown - it's surronded by a big parking lot, and whaterver is downrown seems hidden between shuttered office buildings. I know that potential is there, with the Banks, and new restaurants going in around Fountain Square, but it's going to be some time- even with residents moving into downtown. And we still have the Bengals and Hamilton County arguing over who is responsible for what at Paul Brown Stadium...

And don't forget about UniGov - Indianapolis and Marion County have worked together for about 40 years, while Cincinnati and Hamilton County are experts at the game of finger-pointing.

Fox Sports writer ranks Bengals stadium 2nd worst.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5941952

Some people I know that bleed orange and black are going to see red:

The Worst

2. Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati.
The fans were so vulgar and there were such displays of drunkenness (no, fans, inebriation is not a right) that the team — to its credit — has instituted a jerk line to call out idiots who cross the line. Fans can use their cell phones to rat out their neighbors. Will it help? I'm skeptical. I realize that Cincinnati fans aren't the only ones who exhibit boorish behavior (Philly fans practically wrote the book on it). Besides those issues, however, there are things to dislike about PBS. I found it difficult to navigate in a car to a suitable lot, and to find the entrance to the stadium. Fans screaming about disrespect ("Who dey! Who dey! Who dey think gonna beat dem Bengals?") is hardly worthy of great NFL chants.

Honestly, I think the stadium is an architectural landmark for Cincinnati - it's sleek and modern, like I like. If it weren't for Stark County's money and buddy ties, the OHSAA state football finals would be there by now. I also appreciate the restrooms: they're large, and the urinals have partitions between them! But Elliott Kalb got most of the article right - the fans have an attitude problem. And 'Who Dey!" should have been retired with the 1980s, the Sam Wyche area, and Riverfront Stadium. When you have your biggest rival clearly, undisputedly answering "We Dey!" because they not only beat you, but they have yet another Super Bowl ring, it's time to find anoter chant.

Bad fans at the Bengals game? Call 381-JERK

Bengals Offer "Jerk" Hotline (WCPO Channel 9)

For the first time, the Bengals are offering a tip line for fans to call to report unruly behavior.

The hotline number is 381-JERK.

It will be set up and ready to go at this Sunday's pre-season game.

The Bengals said they've started this new approach after seeing a rise in bad behavior last season.

There were more fights and beer bottles being thrown, so this year they decided to do something about it.

While the Bengals had a winning season last year, some fans walked away from Paul Brown Stadium with a bitter taste in their mouths after spending time with unruly fans.

It's about bleeping time. Why people would spend hundreds, even thousands to see a football, and then to get drunk and rude is beyond me. I see people cramming bars to get tanked, why don't the Bengals and the NFL put a disclaimer warning to people entering the stadium?

Also: Getting tough on boorish fans (Cincinnati Enquirer)

"You can get a lot of abuse with these things," (Bob) Bedinghaus said. "If you get 6,000 people calling this line - 'Hey, Ben Roethlisberger is a jerk' - then it becomes less effective. The thing to remember is we have caller ID on this line. So if you're crank calling, we are going to be able to ID who you are."

Who's the real jerk, the one with the Super Bowl ring, or the one with 2 Bud Lights in each hand?! Seriously though, sports needs to take a look at its relationship with alcohol: the balance between profit boosts and alcohol's potentially dangerous side effects.