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Chick Ludwig covers the Cincinnati Bengals. He also writes about his other passions: college football, basketball and golf.Home > Blogs > Chick Ludwig At Large > Archives > 2008 > November > 14 > Entry
Droppin’ an F-bomb on The Chickster
STEVE TOVAR SPARES
THE CHICKSTER’S LIFE
AFTER 1997 RUN-IN
The date was Nov. 30, 1997.
The Bengals had just lost a wild shoot-out, 44-42, to the Eagles at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.
That day, Eric Bieniemy became the only player in Bengals history to return eight — yes, 8 — kickoffs in a game.
After the heartbreaking loss, Bengals quarterback Norman Julius “Boomer” Esiason walked into the locker room and hurled his helmet at the defense:
“You guys don’t deserve your paychecks!” he screamed.
So in the open locker room the following day as the media gathered around linebacker Steve Tovar, I piped up with the question:
“Do you guys deserve your paychecks?”
Tovar unleashed a profanity-laced tirade in my direction that included a couple of F-bombs.
He absolutely, positively wanted to strangle me, and probably would have had we been alone.
It was my first season as the full-time Cincinnati Bengals beat writer for the Dayton Daily News.
I learned a valuable lesson that day.
I should’ve said: “Boomer said you guys didn’t deserve your paychecks. How do you feel about that?”
Up to that point in time, Tovar and I had a great relationship. We spoke — usually about Ohio State football — nearly every day.
Sadly, we’ve never spoke to one another since.
The good news: As linebackers coach for the University of Kansas Jayhawks, Tovar reads my E-mails with Bengals Alumni Updates.
TO STEVE FROM CHICK: THANKS FOR NOT KILLING ME!
REMINDER TO FANS: PLEASE HELP FEED THE HUNGRY
The Freestore Foodbank and the Cincinnati Bengals are teaming up again for the Annual Meijer Canned Food Drive.
Canned foods and monetary donations will be collected at Paul Brown Stadium Sunday, Nov. 16, prior to the Bengals home game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Non-perishable foods and cash donations will be accepted at each entrance to PBS by Freestore Foodbank volunteers. Gates open at 11:30 a.m.
The Bengals have hosted the Freestore Foodbank Canned Food Drive for over 25 years. The Food Drive in 2007 brought in 11,099 pounds of food and $12,424 in cash. The Bengals are challenging fans to break that record this year.
The Freestore Foodbank will distribute more than 16,000 food boxes to needy families during the three days prior to Thanksgiving and again three days prior to Christmas. The food will provide holiday meals for more than 37,500 persons, half of whom are children.
Bengals fans are reminded that every contribution makes a difference for the tri-state families in need, so please show your support this holiday season and bring canned food or a donation to the Bengals-Eagles game.
WOMEN’S PRO FOOTBALL
The Dayton Diamonds will be holding their final tryouts of the year on Saturday, Nov. 15, from noon to 4 p.m. at John Wolfe Park in Trotwood. The park is located at the corner of Turner and Denlinger Roads.
The Diamonds encourage team members from last season and the women who have already tried out this year to attend the practice.
For more information, go to:
http://www.daytondiamonds.net/
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: Bengals
Comments
By Sherry
November 14, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this
Hey Chick, Always good to read your blogs. Cracked up when I heard you on the Radio talking about the tumble you took a few weeks ago. By the way, Eagles are in town and a hometown boy plays for them — Celek. Wouldn’t you think the erstwhile Mayberry Press would do an article on him and Trent Cole (from UC). Well, they did — but it was minimal. It would have been nice to see them featured more. What do you think?By Chick Ludwig
November 14, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this
Sherry: Great hearing from you … I may have to put up “The Four Seasons” Sherry video in your honor. Dayton Daily News will have a story on Trent Cole on game-day Sunday … all the best, ChickBy Brian
November 14, 2008 6:58 PM | Link to this
Boomer’s return was such a cool and exciting ride. Boomer’s threat to throw a football up the rears of his offensive line if they didn’t start blocking is the stuff of legend. If he was playing these days Eric Ghiaciuc would require an on-call proctologist after each game ;-).By blindeye
November 14, 2008 10:00 PM | Link to this
Oooo, yuck on that video! Paatooie! You would have been better off with You Dropped A Bomb On Me with the Gap Band. Aside from the music it’s nice to see stories about Boomer and is days with the Bengals. Call it what you want but the guy was a leader and stood up for his beliefs. I remember when he layed down in front of the strike bus to stop the replacement players from getting into the practic facility. This guy was a leader from day one and what a roller coaster ride it had to be to see all of it happen.