VIDEO: Celebrate Bengals Coaching Legend Sam Wyche by Remembering the Time He Insulted Cleveland
By Scott Rogust
Today, the football world mourns the death of former Cincinnati Bengals coach Sam Wyche, who passed away at the age of 74 from melanoma. As is the case when any prominent sports figure passes away, fans take the opportunity to look back at their greatest moments, and when it comes to Wyche, who could forget the time he eviscerated the city of Cleveland? In a game back in 1989, Bengals fans threw snowballs in the direction of the Seattle Seahawks sideline. Wyche then took a microphone and delivered a poignant message: "you don't live in Cleveland, you live in Cincinnati."
Sam Wyche, legend! RIP, Coach pic.twitter.com/NWiEk3auYY
— Dinn Mann (@mooseoutfront) January 2, 2020
That is the very reason why the Battle of Ohio is such a sticking point for Bengals and Browns fans. But man, what a way to frame your argument. It was a stroke of genius purpose-built for the old AFC Central.
Wyche is a Bengals legend, as he led the team to Super Bowl XXIII and saw them put up a spirited fight against the powerful San Francisco 49ers that fell just short in the fourth quarter.
Sam Wyche, the former Bengals and Bucs HC, died today from melanoma. He was 74. “Sam was a wonderful guy,” said Bengals’ president Mike Brown. “We not only liked him, we admired him as a man. He had a great generosity of spirit and lived his life trying to help others.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 2, 2020
When looking back at the life and tenure of Sam Wyche, what Bengals fans will remember fondly is his "Cincinnati vs. the World" mentality.
Rest in power, coach.