Dear Mike Brown,

For the past 22 years (going on 23) I have been Bengals fan… and what a painful 22 years those have been. The last time we went to the Super Bowl was when I was born, so basically my entire life I’ve supported a losing team. My father has had season tickets with the Bengals since before I was born and did go to that ‘88 Super Bowl. I started going with my dad in ‘94 when the Bengals were so pathetic that he couldn’t get anyone else to go besides his 6 year old daughter. I was young, dumb, and naive and went because it was exciting for a 6 year old… and because of my loyalty – I’ve stuck around. I guess I’m still young dumb and naive. Sometimes I have to think that I’m a jinx to a team, but then I realize it’s not me… its you.

For almost my entire life you have run this team (since ’91)… run it into the ground. It’s safe to say I think your father would be ashamed of how you have brought the team to this point, this place of desperation. Your father was a great man who understood football… you don’t. You understand business, that’s clear, and you understand how to make money off the little guy. But is that what’s football about? Is that what your father would’ve wanted? No. He enjoyed winning; he enjoyed seeing a city happy and the stadium full.

I bet your father would ask you: Why do you refuse to sign top-notch talent? Why do you refuse to bring in a GM who understands how to ACTUALLY run a team? This is not about your wallet, and if you truly sat and crunched those numbers, you would see how winning would bring MORE money to your pocket. Don’t you want a town that fights to be in those seats on Sundays? Don’t you want to see the city flourish? Our city is actually going deeper into debt because of you and your choices. You have one of the sweetest deals in the NFL, getting the actual county to PAY for your stadium and upgrades. We pay for those tickets every Sunday and THEN end up paying taxes for the stadium as well. Guess you’re laughing all the way to the bank.

I just hope you realize what you’ve done to this city. How you’ve sucked the life out of it and made us bitter fans. I truly think your father would be ashamed of you and rolling over in his grave to see where you are today. Please – do what’s best for the city, team, fans, and your father… and give it up.

Sincerely,

Allison Trimbell

Figuring out my life...

So last night I went out for drinks with some friends... I had texted Katie a couple days before and she asked where I was going and what I was doing for work. I told her that "I had 5 different things up in the air and it was too hard to explain." She brought this up at drinks and was like "honestly I never know where you are or what you're doing these days... you're so hard to keep track of!"

Some days I love my lifestyle... I get to do things most people from West Chester have never even dreamed of doing. Other days it gets exhausting and I get tired of trying to explain where I am and what I'm doing. The hardest part is when I have to sign confidentiality agreements and can't even talk about the shows I'm working on half of the time.

I just got done working on a home improvement show for A&E in Cleveland, TN. That's about all I can say until it airs. It was one of the most physically and mentally trying experiences but so rewarding at the same time. I felt like I accomplished something walking away from that job. I love taking on challenges and seeing how hard I can push myself. Some people wonder why I do what I do. When that show airs... you'll see why.

My lease in Atlanta is up Labor day weekend. I have no idea what my next move is. I think I may just pack up my unnecessary possessions and send them back home to Ohio. Then I'll be packing two suitcases and living life day to day. Who knows though, I'm applying for a million jobs while finishing up my job at Cartoon Network (who has been amazing and supportive of my career moves.) Applying for jobs has been a job in itself. I am confident that something will come up and whatever it is... I'm ready.

And with that I'll leave you with a song I'm listening to on repeat at work today:

NCAA - pay to play?

So I have yet to talk football on here, and with the lockout firmly in place (let's not go there for the moment) most attention has turned to the violations and turmoil in the NCAA.

Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio... I love all things southern Ohio football. I root for the Bearcats and Buckeyes equally... though until recent years, the Buckeyes have dominated and been easy to cheer for. This past year they made it to the Sugar Bowl defeating a team from the big bad SEC - Arkansas... but of course not without drama.

If you've been watching any form of sports news, or even news in general, then I don't need to rehash what happened... but for those of you that haven't: here's a quick overview. At least 5 players on this years team got tattoos for free by signing and trading memorabilia, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Many say players have gotten free cars, breaks on apartments, rent, all sorts of things. What's the problem?... some may ask. Well according to the NCAA in lam ens terms, players can't get any sort of benefit a regular citizen or college student wouldn't get. I wouldn't get a free car, for just being me.

No many people (myself included) don't see why these benefits would be an issue. Especially with the violation in question is $1,000 of tattoos, tops. In Ohio, we all knew that this was going on, but no one really thought anything of it. Athletes, no matter at what level, are always treated differently... especially football players. I even saw it in high school.(I won't go into details for the sake of embarrassing myself and the players I knew... because it this point it's irrelevant.)

I also do in fact know one of those 5 Ohio State players that were suspended for the first 5 games of next season. (I also won't go into the details... but I will say I went to Lakota West High School... and if you google and look at the roster and names of those suspended you can find out pretty easily.)

Now my thought process comes from this point of view. I was a lacrosse player for my college Savannah College of Art and Design. We weren't D1 NCAA - but sometimes it felt like we were the way my coach treated us. Practices at 7am on Fridays and Saturdays, so you can't go out the night before, dedicating a lot of time and effort to a team in which I didn't even get a scholarship for. Now yes, a lot of these football players are getting a full ride, but they're dedicating the same time, if not more than what I was.

I had a taste of what life was like trying to be an athlete and balance homework... which was hard enough, let alone trying to pick up a job was damn near impossible to supplement spending money. So when you're dedicating all this time and effort into something, and you want to go blow off some steam like, I dunno... getting a tattoo, if that's your thing... and you don't have any money, what do you do? Take hand outs. Now I, playing SCAD lacrosse never really got those hand outs, but who's to say I wouldn't take it? You never know until you're put in that position, you can't judge.

What bothers me about this whole situation is the NCAA and BCS are making MILLIONS of dollars off these players... who play for maybe... $150,000 if it's an extremely expensive out of state school for them. $150,000 in the scheme of the millions they're making at the NCAA is chump change. Then on top of it, add $1,000 in tattoos, it's really nothing.

My solution would be to give the players some sort of stipend to play... mainly dependant on grades. The better you do in school, the more money you get, and it can't go to drugs or alcohol... you have to procure receipts for your purchases, which teaches them how to spend and manage their money (which I believe is one of the biggest issues of guys coming from nothing and going into the NFL making millions.)

I know this all sounds great on paper... and it would be extremely hard to implement... if anyone has a better suggestion, or a way to do things, let me know. Because obviously SOMETHING has to change, because the direction the NCAA is going in with USC, Ohio State, Cam Newton's father, etc. something has GOT to change.

Early bird gets the worm...

Let's just start with the fact that I am NEVER up this early. I have no idea why my body woke me up 2 hours early... but it is what it is. I am also craving grape soda, weird. I could've gone to kickboxing this morning, but after last night's workout.... I'm more than a little sore.

Since I'm up I thought I'd write a little something for you all.

I realized my previous posts were pretty much all The Bachelor related. Well, this season I wasn't into their choice of a bachelorette (Ashley) and so I'm not watching. Nor do I have time to watch that show.

Since I'm now graduated from college and a mature young adult I'm going to be posting on some more technical, serious, commentary on media than just reality shows (though I do know a lot about reality TV.)

Guess who's back... back again... guess who's back... tell a a friend...

So, yet again. I keep forgetting about my blog! I hear that's the hardest thing to do, is constantly update this thing.

I have officially graduated from SCAD (yay!) with my Bachelor's of Arts in Television Producing. Whoopi Goldberg was the commencement speaker, and she was really cool. She even spoke about us on the view the next day:

I'm bacckkk!

Ok so I didn't even blog about the end of the last bachelorette season, and the majority of this season.... actually almost all, because it's down to final 3.

I've been super busy. I was interning at CNN last quarter on the show InSession which is formerly court tv run by HLN and airs on TruTV. Confused yet? Haha, anyways that was a great internship at a very well known company (even if it is a little confusing.)

Now I'm at Cartoon Network/Adult Swim. I generally like more live action stuff, but it's a really great place to work and I'm learning a lot.

I am also almost ready to graduate... 1/3 of this quarter and one more quarter and I graduate June 4th!!!! I'm super super super excited and am hoping to move to NYC.

So I guess that's an update on my life... I'll update the TV Guide later.

Istanbul? Where even is Istanbul?

I must say, they're picking the oddest locations this season, Iceland, and Istanbul aren't exactly first on my list of places to go see... but whatever floats your boat Ali!

We all know by now, that unless you see Chris Harrison at Rose Ceremonies, then he's usually the bearer of bad news.

Question of the day is "how does former Bachelor contestant Jessie know the wrestler's girlfriend Jessica?" I mean just because they're both from Canada doesn't really mean anything... Canada is a pretty big freaking country.

I did like how they kept Ali in the dark, it caused for some great tension. I do think it was very convenient that the Bachelor crew was there to tape her crying her eyes out to Ali over the phone.

I must say "YOU GO GIRL!" To Ali. Hell hath no fury like a scorned woman... is that the saying? And The Wrestler obviously showed his true colors by running out the door saying "f-you!" You looked so cute in your Ed Hardy hat and sweat pants, getting turned away from the locked glass restaurant doors.

I must say, great great editing technique getting the voice mails from the Wrestler's girlfriend and putting them in. They went one step past the Wes debacle and got evidence. Smooth move producers!

Watching Ali in the Turkish bath with Ty proves why women aren't allowed in there... that would just be like a super awkward Turkish bath house orgy. I bet the Turkish people weren't happy to see this side of their "bath house."

ABC makes a lot of things obvious... like her reasoning to let Craig go was obvious in this one. With all the "I'm confident we had a connection..." interviews with him, or the excessive number of cutaway reaction shots of him.

Did anyone else notice that Kirk's tie wasn't straight? Hahaha.

Honestly, I don't really see her with Frank or Ty. So therefore the decision I want in the final 3 is Chris, Kirk, and Roberto, but I don't think that it goes that way. I really like Chris I've decided.

Did anyone notice how much they gave away in the end teaser for next week's episode? Final four is obviously Frank, Roberto, Ty and probably Kirk (though they didn't show the 4th.)

Then obviously the final 3 is Roberto, Ty, and Frank. Frank breaks her heart probably by telling her he's still in love with his ex. So then it's down to Ty and Roberto and there's a v.o. of Ty saying she made a mistake, so it's obviously Roberto who is picked. Damn ABC, way to give it ALL away.