My Interview with Bengal Brian

Well in the last few days we have been thinking of ways to advertise some of our affiliates and let you get to know some of the Admin of these sites. So I started with a guy that helped me greatly when I was trying to get NLS off the ground. He was there if I needed him for any type of question. Well with out getting too caught up into it TSZ is proud and honored to sit down with the Admin of the Lair Bengal Brian.

Mike: Bengal Brain (Brian), lol, thanks for taking the time to sit down with me to answer a few questions about the Bengal's Lair and to inform the TSZ members what your site is all about. We are honored to have your site as an affiliate with TSZ.

Brian: Thanks man. I am honored you hold the lair in such high regard.

Mike: Well you are the admin of one of the biggest fan based Bengal's boards on the net how did you come about all of it? Why did you decide to do it?

Brian: Well.. Actually I really didn't get into the forum world until sometime in 2003. I was still pretty much into cars back then and eventually found myself posting a lot on cincystreetscene.com. I wanted to find a comparable site based around the Bengal's. The actual Bengal's organization didn't have one, nor could I find one that was decent, so I decided to wing it myself.

Mike: Wing it you did and you did a mighty fine job of it. Since I know the site already and I think its great but how would you get other Non-Bengal's fans to stop bye and check out the Lair?

Brian: Because we try to treat members from all fan bases equally. I have even been accused of showing favoritism toward non-Bengal fans. lol Reality though is without any sort of diversity among the forum, you lack a lot. So the staff is very welcoming to all fans.

Mike: It is truly a good board and I made it almost home last year. The Bengal's lair is different from most boards...in that most of you meet up at various times of the year, and have relationships away from the board...how did this tradition start and does it add to the board for you? Or is it harder to be the bad guy sometimes?

Brian: It started with just the suggestion of us all meeting up at Dave and Busters on a weekend night.. It was way too crowded and we ended up moving it to a restaurant. From there on out, we let the women arrange the meetings. We aren't the best planners.. It has really brought a lot of us together as close friends. Those of us that get together occasionally get along really well now. And amazingly, it consists of mostly people who met through CincyBengals.com rather than knowing each other before the site.

Mike: I know Bengal Dave from my experiences at the Lair but I want to know what you think of the guy. In 50 words or less describe your relationship with Bengal Dave.

Brian: Bengal Dave. What can I say? He has been there since the beginning almost. He was one of the original members that seemed to always be on. Dave is a dedicated member and has even knocked down the doors of the Bengal's organization itself trying to get us a partnership and run a forum for them. Ironically, weeks after meeting Bengal Dave about this, the Bengal's added a forum to their site. Although the occasional problem child, Dave is an invaluable asset to the site. We get along and talk outside of the site now as well somewhat regularly.

Mike: Well since you are a Bengal's fan and all who is your all time favorite player? And Why?

Brian: It's quickly becoming Carson Palmer actually. In fact, it may be at this point really. The guy is the best thing to happen to Cincinnati football in a long time. And let's face it. You pointed out that I am a Bengal's fan, so you know, being 30 (almost), I didn't exactly have much to cheer for since I was 11, 12, 13 years old. Before Carson, I would say my favorite was always James Brooks. Icky Woods/David Fulcher/Boomer Esiason right behind.

Mike: Well I hate to do this and all but I think you knew it was coming so pony up. In the Media in the last year there has been many Bengal's players arrested what do you think of this situation? How the team took care of the problems or for that matter how you think they should or could have taken care of these problems.

Brian: Next question! (Drew Rosenhaus) Ok.. Seriously though. I hate the fact that as soon as things look bright, we have this lingering over us now. It's extremely disappointing. And if that isn't bad enough, you get through it all thinking at least one huge bright spot in Jonathan Joseph kinda makes you forget a little. Then HE gets arrested. Not really much I can say about how its been handled. The way I would want it handled, I am pretty sure the players association would have an issue with. Honestly, I also think Henry should have been booted from the team if possible, but it's obvious to everyone he is extremely talented and I sometimes wonder if Marvin is giving him too many chances because of it. I think the team lacked a lot of pride this year as opposed to 2005, so I do think it affected the season.

Mike: Besides running the board and being the networking guru, and always taking time to answer my questions what does Brian do in his spare time?

Brian: I have 2 daughters, 4 and 2. They are the best thing in my life most definitely. I love spending any time I can with them. Luckily, I work from home so I do get to spend some extra time with them when the wife isn't working on those days. I am not much of a TV or movie person, but I do watch a couple shows religiously such as Office, My Name is Earl, Lost, and Heroes. I am a huge music lover and can even be caught sitting around just listening to tunes. I don't quite have the time as much as I used to, but I am also a Madden freak and as of recent, a Guitar Hero freak. But really, due to the ages of my kids, I spend most of my spare time watching them grow up and introducing new things into their lives.

TSZ Mike