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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 > 24 > Entry
Vote now: Bob Castellini or Mike Brown?
TWO MILLIONAIRE OWNERS,
TWO LOSING FRANCHISES;
WHO’S YOUR ‘FAV’ BOSS?
Both are millionaires, highly-successful businessmen who have the distinction of owning professional sports franchises in Cincinnati.
And both their teams are struggling — mightily.
The difference between Reds owner/CEO Bob Castellini and Bengals owner/president Mike Brown are their personalities and how they make their money.
Castellini is up-front and outgoing; Brown is quiet and more reclusive.
Castellini is president of Castellini Co., a fruit and vegetable wholesaler; Brown’s one source of income is the Cincinnati Bengals.
Bob Castellini became the Chief Executive Officer of the Cincinnati Reds on January 19, 2006, leading a group that purchased a majority share of the franchise from Carl Lindner Jr.
Bob Castellini
He’s on his third GM (hiring Walt Jocketty after firing Dan O’Brien and Wayne Krivsky) and third manager (hiring Dusty Baker after dispatching Jerry Narron and interim Pete Mackanin).
From Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Castellini
“Castellini quickly became very popular with Reds fans due to his dedication to winning and down to earth approach, as well as his highly effective rhetoric … Castellini became known for his demand for winning baseball. He implemented a number of ticket specials for fans … and was very open with the fans and players about the workings of the front office … In the winter of 2006, Castellini introduced new uniforms, emphasizing his value of the tradition the Cincinnati Reds hold.”
Reds record under Castellini:
2006 — 80-82
2007 — 72-90
2008 — 74-88
BENGALS HISTORY IN FOUR MINUTES
Mike Brown assumed full control of the Bengals when his father, franchise founder Paul Brown, died before the 1991 season.
Mike Brown
Since PB’s death, the Bengals have set the NFL standard for misery … one winning season and one playoff berth (2005) in 18 years.
Mike Brown is on his fifth head coach — from Sam Wyche to Dave Shula to Bruce Coslet to Dick LeBeau to Marvin Lewis — and still can’t find a consistent winning formula.
“The ox cart,” Brown likes to say, “is in the ditch.”
Despite Brown’s record — 98-184-1 (.348) — the Cincinnati Bengals are valued at $941 million by Forbes, a ranking of 21st in value and 24th in revenue among the NFL’s 32 franchises.
Fans can expect changes following this miserable 1-9-1 season … but those changes will come on the roster and coaching staff … not in the front office.
LUDWIG AT LARGE is curious: “WWPBD” … WHAT WOULD PAUL BROWN DO?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MikeBrown(footballteamowner)
Permalink | Comments (20) | Post your comment | Categories: General
Comments
By Paul T.
November 24, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this
You have got to be kidding, night & day differences. Basically, Bob Castellini inherited a struggling team when he became owner and has been trying to right things since. He seeks to surround himself with knowledgeable baseball people for advice and is pouring his heart and soul into the task because he has pride. On the other hand, Mike Brown inherited a football team from his famous father, who was a wealth of football knowledge, but Mike obviously didn’t inherit the genes. He just sees the bottom line in his bank account that the league, along with Hamilton County, has guaranteed financial success. He needs to swallow his pride and open his eyes to something else beside dollar signs.By Brian
November 24, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this
Bob Castellini seems to genuinely care about his product and is willing to change course if things aren’t working. He’s eager to surround himself with the best baseball people as evidenced by his bringing in a proven winner like Walt Jocketty. Bob appreciates the rich history of the franchise and what that history means to his customers. I’m pretty confident that if the Reds were one top-tier player away from putting it all together Bob would make the deal. Bob genuinely wants to win. Mike Brown on the other hand is governed by child-like stubbornness that prevents change from occurring on any level, from player personnel evaluation to recognizing the achievements of former players. He is content to drive over the same cliff over and over rather than change course. Mike refuses to surround himself with the best football people, choosing instead family members and toadies. Mike will NEVER sign a top-tier free agent from outside his own club no matter how big a difference maker the player may be. Mike’s not opposed to winning, as long as it happens within his business model, but winning probably doesn’t crack his top ten (or thirty) list of most important things.By John
November 24, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this
The eve of destruction was the night before PB passed. We have been in the destruction mode since the day he departed. MB is the top man because because of who he knew, not because of what he knows.By John
November 24, 2008 2:05 PM | Link to this
RC has apologized to the Reds fans for having a less than championship team. I don’t remember MB doing likewise to Bengals fans. I believe it is because MB only wants to fill stadium seats, so in reaching his goal, MB has no reason to apologize.By ShockMonkey
November 24, 2008 4:24 PM | Link to this
Based on records, neither one is any good but BC at least wants to win and says all the right things. Having Jocketty in place should be the ticket. The Bengals with Mike Brown are and will forever be a disaster. The Ox cart was flawed and never made it out of the barn. In fact, it’s been mired in deep mud for 18-years.By WayneB
November 24, 2008 6:17 PM | Link to this
The current situation makes one wax nostalgic for Marge Schott , doesn’t it ? No question , Mike (stubborn and stupid) Brown takes the prize. He is in COMPLETELY over his head. Twenty years of stunningly mediocre Bengal football must reflect on the Brown family and confirms they haven’t a clue. Mike Brown’s Bungals have killed interest in pro football for so many of us.By jimi
November 24, 2008 7:34 PM | Link to this
give us just one victory and it will be alright! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I738Qf9DK9QBy thepummeler
November 27, 2008 12:55 AM | Link to this
Well, since you asked,, my LEAST favorite IS and always has been that scum (betrayor) of an owner…MIKE BROWNBy thepummeler
November 27, 2008 1:00 AM | Link to this
I turned the question around but you have to do that to get around the DDN suckies,, if you know what I mean. They never wage any war against the big t*t, Mike Brown. The DDN SUCKSBy thepummeler
November 27, 2008 1:06 AM | Link to this
OH MY, HOW the DAYTON DAILY NEWSPAPER SUCKS. LET ME COUNT THE WAYS. LET ME SEE, THERE’S 360 DEGREES IN A CIRCLE. LET’S SAY…..360!@!!!By BrarHopper
November 27, 2008 2:39 AM | Link to this
Bob still has a chance to redeem himself after a few years in baseball (Carl Lindner can’t be a very hard act to follow, right?). Mike Brown? Doesn’t hold a candle to his father. What a pinhead Mike is. Then again, Bob C held a few fundraisers for George W. Bush at his mansion. I have no respect for THAT! So obviously they are both idiots!By Max
November 27, 2008 3:12 AM | Link to this
I don’t care who Bob Castellini held a fundraiser for in his mansion — if the Reds win, I’ll be happy. If they don’t start winning, I’ll be distressed. I don’t particularly care what his politics are. I just hope that we have a team of which we can be proud.By DALE 78
November 27, 2008 6:11 AM | Link to this
What a question Mr Castellini is trying to win , Pinhead Brown is only trying to fill up his bank account . As long as the people of Cincinnati continueto buy ticket to see the bungles pinhead brown will never change .By Dave Kreitzer
November 27, 2008 7:25 AM | Link to this
I do not believe Catellini has the knowledge nor the foresight to field a playoff calibre team. To his credit, He seems to sincerely want to win which is the antithesis of Mike Brown, who could care less as long as those dollars keep rolling in. The worst thing Cincinnati did was to build him a stadium with all those guarantees. They sealed the doom of the Bengals right then and there.By larry
November 27, 2008 7:44 AM | Link to this
Are you serious the players are in charge not the owners and NOT the coachBy SteelersRockNorth
November 27, 2008 9:05 AM | Link to this
As a Steelers fan, I love Mike Brown! LOL!By Gary Maloy Jr.
November 28, 2008 3:41 AM | Link to this
Seems to me that it’s unfathomable that Mike Brown makes money on the Bengals. I find it amazing that he has no other source of income. If you ask me, the fans should turn their backs - completely - on the Bengals. Force him to sell the franchise, then come back in droves.By Jim Redman
November 28, 2008 5:11 PM | Link to this
Simply put, Bob Castellini has compassion for the fan, Mike Brown does not. Now as a fan, who do you prefer?By AP-FLORIDA
November 28, 2008 6:05 PM | Link to this
As a reds and browns fan my vote is for Mikey, and he would vote for himselfBy HuberTucky
November 29, 2008 3:51 AM | Link to this
There is no nice way to say this: Paul Brown is a loser. A failure. Dud. Flop. A corpse. He is a failure at what he does. He is a dud as a team owner and he truly does not care about the fans. And he is a cadaver without a beating heart in his chest. Flat affect, emotionless troll. This all combines to make him a failure as a human being. A dullard. He is the George W. Bush of pro football team owners. A totally incompetent flop. Bob C is at least making an honest effort and shows some spirit, unlike Brown the corpse.