I remember watching the last Ravens-Bengals matchup, near the end of the 2006 season, while I was still in Arizona. Going to an out of state school (ASU in particular) was infuriating during the fall because, instead of watching the Ravens clobber people, I was forced to choke down yet another abysmal season of Cardinals’ football. To be fair, the Cardinals do hold a soft spot in my heart now (they’ve got spunk, if nothing else). But that’s besides the point.
 
My roommate and I went out to this sports bar for the game (which was primetime), and as we devoured our burgers or wings or whatever it is we got that night, we watched the Ravens lose slowly and painfully. It was like a game of Monopoly; it had been over for a while, but there were still 2 maddening hours left of formalities. We ended up losing by 6 points, which is roughly a third of the number of convicted criminals on the Bengals’ roster.
 
I wanted to start throwing food at the T.V. Not my food, but someone else’s. I needed mine to comfort myself and ease the pain via massive calorie intake.
 
That game perfectly foreshadowed our playoff loss to the Colts later that season. They were both slow and painfully drawn out, leaving behind only a bitter emptiness within Baltimore fans everywhere. The Colts game, however, gets extra points for ruining my 20th birthday.
 
I ‘ll be watching tonight, looking for redemption. And also a glimpse of the cheerleaders.

1. Carson, September 11, 2007:

   Hahaha, you said the Cardinals have spunk! I bet they do, esp that Leinart twatsicle. BTW, those AZ Hooters girls were bangin!