My wife and another couple (Mark and Diana) and I went to the game tonight (or by now last night). My friend Mark got us 10th row seats right at the crease of the screen at field level: $30 X 4 = $120.Parking was only $15.00. We went after I got off from work at my store (where RR's get an extra 15% off) so we decided to grab some chow at the game. 4 burgers, 4 beers, 2 hot dogs and some nachos: $78.00. Later I had 3 more beers @ $6.50 ea. so did Mark; our wives only had one more each: $51.50 and $5.50 worth of tips. Later my wife bought a cotton candy to take home to our grandson $5.00 and Diana  bought a popcorn and diet for $8.00. While my wife opted for just a diet: $3.50 We spent at least $290.00+ to go to a Reds game. Of course we could have chosen not not have eaten dinner there or parked a ways away and saved $5.00 . However, for the 4 of us a night at the park was not cheap. There were 21,500 people at this game and I'm sure most of them didn't spend as much as we did, BUT they spent a lot more than going to a movie or a pub (unless you drink like a fish). The 'event' of going to the game - the scoreboard, the stupid games, the promos, the music, etc was pretty fun, very well done. The ushers were good, the beer men and women were entertaining...the only thing lacking was a winning team. I won't spend my hard earned money going to a game where Jeff Conine is batting cleanup. Where Mark Belhorn is brought up to pinch hit in a crucial situation. Where Jason Ellison is brought in to pinch hit in a crucial situation. Where Gary Effing Majeski is even in the same stadium. Pete Mackinthebox managed like he was on soapers and despite a good effort by the starting 7 (excluding Conine)we lost another game that really could and should have been won.When the announcement was made that Marty Brennaman had received a 62 year extension the place went freakin' wild - standing o's all around. It was then that it hit me - the only people who have much of a handle of what is really going on with the Reds are Red Reporters. I mean it, I think that ownership and management are lost at sea. I came home bummed (that's a '60s phrase meaning 'depressed') by the whole scene. IS THIS FRANCHISE GOING TO WAKE UP and get rid of the dregs and hire a strong GM and a young and driven field manager? I really wonder. If not maybe it is time to stop going to games and start a Bengals Reporter Blog.