The Cincinnati Bengals have four wins under their triple-extra-large belts. They finished October with a winning record for the first time since George W. Bush's dad was president. Their improved play has some fans talking about the team making the playoffs.

The Bengal family at Paul Brown Stadium:   Back row: Kristy, Stephen M., Chrisd, Matt, Jefri Ann.   Front: Stephen F., Maragret, Mary Lou holding Kyler, John L., Faye (Michael E. Keating photo) | ZOOM |

        All of which puts a little more bounce in your step if you spell your last name B-e-n-g-a-l.

        “You know, it's never bad being a Bengal,” says John R. Bengal, a salesman from Deerfield Township. “However, there is some cautious optimism in town.”

        That's a radical departure from last December. With the Bengals mired in the midst of their 10th straight non-winning season, Tempo checked in with John R. Bengal, his brother, Stephen F. Bengal, and other members of their family. (Dec. 5, 2000 story) They are believed to be the only local clan with the last name “Bengal.”

        Family members told of enduring a decade of hearing their name taken in vain. They kept their sense of humor, though.

        What a difference a year makes.

        “This year, my (comeback) to anybody who might come up with a little joke is, at least they're winning this year,” says Stephen F. Bengal, owner of a West Chester machine-tool company.

        “People are actually saying good stuff,” says Mary Lou Bengal, who lives in West Chester and is Stephen's ex-wife. Such as? “What'd you do to get them going?' Like we always have something to do with it,” she says, laughing.

        Stephen Bengal is happy to see the Bengals winning, though his first allegiance is to the Bears in Chicago, where his family traces its roots. “They happen to be playing pretty good too, so all the way around it's a pretty good year for me.”

        As for the Cincinnati Bengals, “We're looking forward to the rest of the season turning out pretty decent,” Mary Lou Bengal says.

        Pretty decent? Yeah, that would an improvement.

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