Friday, October 01, 1999
Reds going to town's head
Queen City unites to back winner
BY MARK CURNUTTE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Reds' pennant drive is good economically for the franchise and the city, but the team's unexpected success is also improving the mood of many people who live in and around Cincinnati.
The good karma created by the Reds rises above racial, economic, political and generational boundaries. Winning teams can bind a community.
“We love to tie our identity to winners and to something that has history,” said Art Taylor, a sports psychologist with the Center for the Study of Sport and Society and North eastern University in Boston.
“You have a blue-collar, young team that wasn't expected to be where it is. That just multiplies the enthusiasm.”
The Reds (95-64) play in Milwaukee tonight. With three games remaining, they are tied with Houston atop the National League Central Division and two games ahead of the New York Mets for the NL wild-card berth.
That contrasts appreciably with the fortunes of the Bengals, 0-3 and apparently in disarray.
“The excitement surrounding the Reds is the antidote to the Bengals,” said Kevin Grace, who teaches courses in society and baseball at the University of Cincinnati, where he is also assistant director of archives.
“There is resentment toward the Bengals, who are getting a (taxpayer-funded) stadium and not performing. (Owner) Mike Brown is now seen as an ingrate by fans.”
The Reds are the talk of the town.
The Blue Moon Saloon, a Hyde Park sports bar, was rocking on Tuesday and Wednesday nights when standing-room crowds watched the Reds on television from Houston.
“It's been since 1990 that we've had that much enthusiasm for the Reds,” said Pete Reed, Blue Moon's general manager. “As a group, people are applauding nice plays and big hits. Everybody's clapping and slapping high-fives. The Reds are drawing a good crowd together. People are really pumped.”
Mike Taylor, 33, of Finneytown describes himself as a fair-weather fan. The '99 Reds have commanded his attention and given him even more to talk about with his wife, Susan, a hard-core Reds fan and native Cincinnatian.
“We both want to go,” Mr. Taylor said this week while waiting in line to buy postseason tickets at the Reds Dugout Shop in the Westin Hotel. “It's so unexpected.”
Joan Kimble, 45, of Anderson Township also walked to the Dugout Shop to buy postseason tickets this week.
“Everyone is talking about the Reds,” she said. “Everyone has a lot of enthusiasm because the team does.”
An increasing number of Reds are showing their colors — red and black — doubling sales of team caps and other merchandise outside the stadium. Sales are up about 60 percent at the 18 stadium merchandise stands and one downtown store run by Sportservice.
“I'm seeing a lot more Reds stuff in the last couple of weeks,” said Dan Dell, owner of the Cellblock dance club in Over-the-Rhine. “I don't know how many people are real fans and how many are just jumping on the bandwagon, but we're seeing hats and Barry Larkin T-shirts.”
Art Taylor, the Boston sports psychologist, encourages Cincinnati to celebrate the Reds season — no matter when it ends.
“Have a parade, make them the top citizens for a day,” he said. “Saying, "Wait 'til next year' might not be enough to prevent civic depression if they don't make the playoffs.
“Appreciate this year. Throw a party. Then everybody will feel good.”
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