MiddletownJournal.com

Obviously, ‘Sisyphus’ was a Bengal

By Chick Ludwig | Monday, October 6, 2008, 10:35 PM

BENGALS PUSH BOULDER

AGAIN AND AGAIN

===LUDWIG AT LARGE earned a bachelor of arts degree in journalism from The Ohio State University in 1976. As part of my electives, I close Classics 120 (Greek Civilization) and Classics 121 (Roman Civilization), and scored As in both classes. However, I got punished with a B in Classics 222 (Classical Mythology). But I learned enough in the class to remember “Sisyphus.”===

In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was caught being crafty and deceitful. As punishment, Sisyphus was forced to roll a boulder uphill only to watch it roll back down again, and he was forced to repeat this act throughout eternity.

Sisyphus would’ve made a great Cincinnati Bengals player.

Just when you think they’re on the verge of winning, they lose. They keep pushing the boulder uphill only to watch it roll back down again.

Over & over & over & over & over again.

The Bengals have already lost as many games in 2008 as they did the entire 2005 regular season when Cincinnati reached the postseason for the first time since 1990.

Imagine … 18 years and 1 playoff appearance.

Sisyphus is back. Reincarnated. Living in the ‘Nati. Wearing Bengals stripes. Pushing the boulder uphill. Watching it roll down. Doing it all over again.

For more on Sisyphus, go to:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sisyphus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TheMythof_Sisyphus

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Monday wrap-up: Carson’s ‘fine;’ Watson’s coming back; is Chris Henry doomed?

By Chick Ludwig | Monday, October 6, 2008, 06:46 PM

BENSON’S ROLE COULD EXPAND

ONCE HE LEARNS THE OFFENSE

QB Carson Palmer came out of the Dallas game in good shape with no further damage to his right elbow.

“His elbow is fine,” head coach Marvin Lewis said. “We’ll see where he is Wednesday. But he came through the game fine.”

Palmer threw for 217 yards and 2 TDs against the Cowboys, and showed fairly good accuracy except for a wild overthrow to Chris Perry while scrambling out of the pocket.

“He was on the move,” Lewis added. “And I’m sure he wishes he had it back, but we didn’t make a good connection there.”

Lewis said the club expects to re-sign backup TB Kenny Watson after he was terminated in favor of WR Chris Henry, who didn’t catch a pass.

As TB Cedric Benson learns more of the offense and understands the blocking in pass-protection that’s needed, his role will expand because starter Chris Perry (5 fumbles, 3 lost) has become a liability with his lack of ball security.

Who gets cut when Watson comes back?

It wouldn’t be a total shock if Henry gets cut.

He looked lost on the field and wasn’t in the game when he was needed most — the ugly 2-point conversion attempt that failed with 7:39 to go.

Trailing 24-22, Palmer and TE Ben Utecht didn’t hook up on a low-percentage fade patter in the left corner of the end zone.

Palmer’s pass was bad and Utecht’s attempt to catch it was worse.

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Remembering Trotwood’s ‘Boo’ Davis

By Chick Ludwig | Monday, October 6, 2008, 11:08 AM

LAMAR ‘BOO’ DAVIS

FAMILY & FRIENDS

Exactly one year ago today, my life changed.

The lives of everyone who knew Lamar “Boo” Davis Jr. changed.

I was in the upstairs “bonus room” of The Miamisburg War Room, helping my son put together a weight set — the bench, bar and free weights — when the call came in.

“Boo” was gone.

The Trotwood-Madison High School freshman basketball star had collapsed and died during an open-gym workout at Wayne High School. He was 15.

Boo, a 6-foot-5, 210 pounder, averaged 20 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots per game for the Dayton Basketball Club’s Kingdom Elite AAU team and was considered one of the finest players for his age — not only in Ohio, but the Midwest.

Boo’s jersey number “21” was retired in a ceremony at the Kingdom Sports Center in Franklin, Ohio. His jersey is encased in glass on Kingdom’s “Wall of Fame.”

Grief counselors told grieving families that the best way to honor “Boo” is to keep his memory alive with stories. So if you see Boo’s family —parents Lamar Sr. and Gerie; his sister, Tarea, 11; and brother, Amari, 7 — don’t shy away. Mention Boo and the impact he had, and still has, on your life.

And you can still sign Boo’s “Guest Book” — powered by Legacy.com and brought to you by the Dayton Daily News — at:

http://www.legacy.com/Dayton/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=95745085

An unbelievable 53 pages of comments to Boo already exist in the guest book. At the time, it was a record.

I say let’s shoot for 100 pages because this is one record that shouldn’t be broken.

Catch ya later, Boo. Until we meet again, keep rebounding, dunking, scoring and blocking.

Your friend, Chick Ludwig

NOTE — LUDWIG AT LARGE scheduled this blog entry for 11:08 a.m.; the exact time Boo was pronounced dead at Children’s Medical Center.

Boo’s obituary:

http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/10/07/33651421_ddn100707davisobitp2.html

Boo’s feature story:

http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/10/06/ddn100707davisobitinside.html?UrAuth=aNaNUOcNYUbTTUWUXUaUZTZU]UWU\UcUZU\U%60UcTYWYWZV

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Here’s why the Bengals stink

By Chick Ludwig | Monday, October 6, 2008, 12:38 AM

DALLAS’ 31-22 WIN WAS

GOT WHAT THEY DESERVED

10 BENGALS BLUNDERS

IN LOSS TO COWBOYS

1. Tight end Reggie Kelly whiffs on quarterback Carson Palmer’s first pass of the game and it’s intercepted by linebacker Greg Ellis at 14:46 of first quarter, leading to a field goal and 3-0 Dallas lead.

2. Cornerback Johnathan Joseph misses a tackle on Felix Jones’ 33-yard TD run around right end at 6:00 of the first quarter as the Cowboys take a 10-0 lead.

3. Kyle Larson’s 54-yard punt is downed at Cowboys’ 3-yard line, but Kyries Hebert is flagged for illegal touching and the referee rules a touchback at 3:09 of first quarter. The Cowboys answered with a 10-play, 80-yard drive that QB Tony Romo finished with a 4-yard TD pass to TE Jason Witten.

4. Tight end Ben Utecht’s 21-yard catch at Dallas’ 2-yard line at 8:19 of the second quarter is overturned by instant replay and ruled incomplete. Video evidence showed Utecht didn’t get right foot down. Shayne Graham kicked a 41-yard field goal.

5. A holding penalty on wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh nullified tailback Chris Perry’s 17-yard TD run at 1:02 of the second quarter. Graham kicked a 31-yard field goal as the Bengals trained at halftime, 17-6.

6. Chad Ocho Cinco’s false-start penalty pinned the Bengals at their 4-yard line at 5:14 of the third quarter. Kyle Larson’s 40-yard punt gave Dallas the ball at the Bengals’ 49.

7. Bengals rookie linebacker Keith Rivers intercepted Romo and raced 39 yards to the Cowboys’ 41, but Cincinnati squandered great field position and had to settle for Graham’s 40-yard field goal, pulling the Bengals within 17-16 with 14:02 to go.

8. After the Bengals recovered Graham’s onside kick, Cincinnati was driving for the go-ahead score when Perry fumbled at Dallas’ 37. Two plays later, Romo hooked up with Terrell Owens for a 57-yard TD and 24-16 Dallas lead at 11:46.

9. Palmer throws a 10-yard TD pass to Houshmandzadeh at 7:39, but the 2-point conversion attempt is a low-percentage fade pattern to tight end Ben Utecht in the deep left corner of the end zone. Ocho Cinco and Houshmandzadeh are split to the right, but get ignored.

10. With 1:52 remaining, Romo throws a left-side pass toward Miles Austin that tips off his hands. Bengals cornerback Jamar Fletcher is right there, but can’t deflect the ball that lands in the arms of Patrick Crayton for a 15-yard TD and 31-22 victory.

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Bengals choke again, lose, 31-22

By Chick Ludwig | Sunday, October 5, 2008, 07:28 PM

THEY FOUGHT BACK,

DIGGING A 17-0 HOLE

The Cincinnati Bengals committed blunder after blunder after blunder …

… and they still had a chance to win.

But these are the Bengals, who — when they aren’t screwing up — they’re choking.

They lost to the Dallas Cowboys, 31-22, for their fifth straight loss to start the season.

The Bengals played hard, but not smart. That’s why they’re 0-5 heading to the New York Jets, who are 2-2 and well-rested from their bye week.

DALLAS COWBOYS 31, CINCINNATI BENGALS 22

FIRST QUARTER

Dallas — Nick Folk, 30 FG; 13:06 to go. Dallas leads 3-0.

Dallas —Felix Jones, 33 run (Folk kick); 6:00 to go. Dallas leads, 10-0.

SECOND QUARTER

Dallas: — Jason Witten, 4 pass from Tony Romo (Folk kick), 12:12 to go. Dallas leads, 17-0.

Cincinnati — Shayne Graham 41 FG; 8:15 to go. Dallas leads, 17-3.

Cincinnati — Shayne Graham 31 FG; 0:34 to go. Dallas leads, 17-6.

THIRD QUARTER

Cincinnati — T.J. Houshmandzadeh, 18 pass from Carson Palmer (Graham kick); 7:59 to go. Dallas leads, 17-13.

FOURTH QUARTER

Cincinnati — Shayne Graham, 40 FG; 14:02 to go. Dallas leads, 17-16.

Dallas — Terrell Owens, 57 pass from Tony Romo (Folk kick); 11:46 to go. Dallas leads, 24-16.

Cincinnati — T.J. Houshmandzadeh, 10 pass from Carson Palmer (pass failed); 7:39 to go. Dallas leads, 24-22.

Dallas — Patrick Crayton, 15 pass from Tony Romo (Folk kick); 1:52 to go. Dallas leads. 31-22.

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Palmer WILL start for ‘Men in Black’

By Chick Ludwig | Sunday, October 5, 2008, 02:47 PM

BLACK JERSEYS,

VS. COWBOYS

===LUDWIG AT LARGE can’t decide if the Bengals resemble “Darth Vader” or “Executioners” in their all-black unis.===

Carson Palmer is back!

His inflamed right elbow has calmed down and he’s all set to start at quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals today, Sunday, Oct. 5.

Kickoff against the Dallas Cowboys is at 4:15 p.m. Eastern at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas, with Jim Nantz and Phil Simms calling the game for CBS Sports.

Oh, yeah, and the Bengals are wearing black jerseys and black pants for the first time this season.

BENGALS PRE-GAME INACTIVES

OUT FOR TODAY’S GAME:

QB Jordan Palmer is the designated third quarterback.

SS Dexter Jackson

FB Reagan Maui’a

LB Corey Mays

WR Andre Caldwell

WR Jerome Simpson

DT Pat Sims

DT Jason Shirley

LINEUP CHANGES

FB Daniel Coats starts in place of Reagan Maui’a

LCB David Jones starts in place of Johnathan Joseph. However, Joseph is expected to play.

SS Chinedum Ndukwe starts in place of Dexter Jackson

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Bengals-Cowboys pregame: They said it

By Chick Ludwig | Sunday, October 5, 2008, 12:29 PM

FIVE GUYS WITH

GOTTA LOVE IT

CHRIS BERMAN, ESPN — “They (the Dallas Cowboys) get what the doctor ordered — the Cincinnati Bengals.” He then called the Bengals and Rams “the Washington Generals” of the NFL. The Washington Generals were routinely beaten by the Harlem Globetrotters.

CHAD OCHO CINCO, Bengals wide receiver — “I feel like I’m in a cocoon. I feel constricted. I feel like my mouth should start running again.”

TOM JACKSON, ESPN — “I like Chad, but you have to know when to keep quiet. When you’re 0-4, it’s not the time to start chirping.”

CRIS CARTER, ESPN — “He (Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo) hasn’t let the big stage change him. He’s still the same guy he was when he was a backup. I think he’ll manage the situation well.”

JIM NANTZ, CBS SPORTS — “If (the Bengals) can pull off the upset, it’ll give them momentum that could turn around their entire season.”

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