Whites Banned From Share In Ken Blackwell's Cincinnati Bengals Luxury Suite? Lawsuit Claims Wealthy Blacks Set Racial Barrier

Racial Preferences Alleged

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- The allegation that whites can't buy a share in the Cincinnati Bengals luxury suite that comes with 16 season tickets appears in a Hamilton County Common Pleas Court lawsuit.  It's a dispute filed by Ken Blackwell -- the GOP candidate for Ohio governor in 2006 -- and several African American partners who claim they have been stiffed out of more than $60,000 in fees owed on the box at Paul Brown Stadium.  The couple who allegedly owe the money, James and Deborah Davis, contend the Blackwell group instructed them not to try to sell their interest in the luxury box to whites.  Here's what the Davis's lawyer, Ashley Meier Barlow, wrote in a recent court filing:

"In this case, Plaintiffs [the Blackwell group] failed to take any action to mitigate the damages from the alleged breach of contract by Defendants.  In fact, when Defendants informed Plaintiffs that they were not going to adhere to the obligations of the Suiteholder Agreement, Plaintiffs suggested that Defendants should attempt to find individuals to assume Defendants' obligations.  Worse, Plaintiffs instructed Defendants that they should try to find substitute African American individuals of influence interested in assuming Defendants alleged contractual obligations.

"Clearly, Plaintiffs should have made a reasonable effort to avoid the damages that resulted from the alleged breach of the Suiteholder Agreement.  Instead, Plaintiffs made no effort whatsoever to mitigate their damages and in fact made it more difficult for Defendants to assign their tickets as Plaintiffs placed limitations on what individuals would be acceptable."

The language in the filing uses the word plaintiffs -- plural -- and does not get specific about who actually suggested the suite share should be sold to some other African Americans.  Still, it clearly does allege some racial preference was at work.  Blackwell is a political conservative and is a senior fellow at the Family Research Council. He's also been involved with the Club for Growth and the National Taxpayers Union. He was the first African American elected to statewide office in Ohio when he won the state treasurer's job in 1994. He ran for chairman of the Republican National Committee last year but lost to Michael Steele.  Blackwell does not have a reputation as a black racist or black nationalist, and the allegations in the lawsuit seems at odds with the way he has publicly conducted his life.

The lawsuit is Case No. A 0910309, d.e. Foxx & Associates Inc et al v. James Davis et al.  It is assigned to Judge Bob Winkler, who has sent the dispute to mediation.  A mediation session is set for Dec. 8.  Besides Ken Blackwell and d.e. Foxx Inc., the five other plaintiffs include Blue Chip Enterprises, Dr. Joseph Hackworth, Dr. Charles Johnson and Progressive Marketing & Management, which is based in Columbus.  That group contends the Davis's purchased two shares in the suite package in September 2007.  It says they have failed and refused to pay their pro-rata share due in March 2009.  The group has not filed an answer to the motion to dismiss that raised the allegation that the luxury suite and season tickets should preferably be in the hands of African American shareholders.  Judge Winkler has stayed the date for the answer pending mediation.

Adult Sex-Toy Retailer Teams Up With Cincinnati Bengals: Football 101 Seminar Sure To Create Buzz For Lady Fans

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Pure Romance has hooked up with Bengals' Coach Marvin Lewis to "explain the rules and nuances of football" to 400 women next month at Paul Brown Stadium. NFL players will be on hand to help the coach. I wonder if the seminar will get into a formation called the flexbone -- in football it means a play involving three running backs. Or a muff, as in mishandled punt. Will he discuss ballhandling skills? Coach Lewis says he's looking forward to a fun group of pupils. Here's some background about the event:

"The Cincinnati Bengals and the Marvin Lewis Community Fund (MLCF) will once again team up to host Football 101 presented by Pure Romance on Thursday, of the Bengals bye week at Paul Brown Stadium from 4:30 - 9:30 p.m. The event starts with a silent auction, Chinese raffle, dinner, drinks, door prizes and a live auction. Head Coach Marvin Lewis is joined by members of the Bengals’ coaching staff and players to explain the rules and nuances of football to the 400 attendees. Individuals learn the game in a relaxed and entertaining atmosphere. The event included hands-on demonstrations, video presentations, and VIP tours of the locker room, weight room, and playing field. The night ends with coffee, desserts and a the announcement of the Chinese raffle winners.

"I love teaching this game and I do not think I’ve met a more enthusiastic and fun group of pupils than the participants that attend Football 101,” said Coach Lewis. "I look forward to recognizing our Pink Football Award winner every year as it is an inspiration to myself and all the attendees.”

The link between an NFL team and an adult sex toy company brings up all kinds of possibilities, when it comes to common phrases that are tossed around on a football field. Think about being wide open, or a wide receiver. How about ball security? Or ball carrier? You could talk about crackbacks and hard counts. There is man coverage, long snappers, loose balls and live balls. We all know what a monster is. How about pump fakes? Run and shoot? Sacks, slots, snaps and touchbacks?

Chris Monzel Wants To Sell Both Pro Sports Stadiums In Cincinnati: Oops! They're Already For Sale

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- The Hamilton County commissioners told The Daily Bellwether last winter they would sell Great American Ball Park, home of the Cincinnati Reds, and Paul Brown Stadium, home of the Cincinnati Bengals, if anybody wanted to buy. No one was interested, then or now. Today, Chris Monzel, a Republican Cincinnati City Council member running for a seat on the Hamilton County Commission, has raised the issue again. Monzel met with Cincinnati Enquirer reporters and editors and announced he "wants to sell the stadiums." The Enquirer treated this as a major campaign development that would fire up the debate. In truth, it's neither a new nor an out of the box development. Democratic Commissioner Todd Portune said the stadiums were for sale last February. It was in the Bellwether, where Portune noted anybody was welcome to make a bid, even the Chinese or Saudis. Monzel's Democratic opponent Jim Tarbell didn't have much to say. He probably knows there doesn't seem to be any buyers out there.

UPDATE: 9/17 2:42 PM -- Cincinnati Blog is accusing Monzel of pandering to his conservative base in the commission race. The piece has a link to Bellwether item about
Monzel.

Two Pro Sports Stadiums For Sale In Cincinnati: If There's A Buyer, County Will Sell

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- A move to temporarily raise Hamilton County's sales tax died at today's commissioners' meeting. Officials then acknowledged they were open to selling Paul Brown Stadium, where the Bengals play, and Great American Ball Park, home of Cincinnati Reds. The county is facing a $27 million dollar deficit next year in the fund that is dedicated to paying off stadium construction costs. The deficit is estimated at $93 million by 2014. Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune, who proposed the sales tax hike, told The Daily Bellwether both sites on the Ohio River could be sold. The problem is finding a buyer.

"We'd consider it. We don't have a sign up. The problem is the same one we have. Anybody that looks at this steps into a sea of red ink," Portune said. He said outside investment groups were welcome to talk about a deal. He said they could come from China, Saudi Arabia or anywhere if they are interested in trying to make a deal. "If they bought them, they would basically inherit the same problems we have."

Portune said the slow economy and stadium funding issues are draining the county and deepening a serious financial crisis. He said Hamilton County has already cut 1,500 employees and $62 million in spending. "It is bad. The problems are real. The crisis is present," he said during a public hearing on the proposed sales tax hike. After the hearing, he said the county approached the Bengals and offered Paul Brown Stadium to the NFL team. The county's lease terms -- negotiated in the 1990s -- are so favorable to the pro football franchise that it wouldn't even negotiate. He said the Reds might be approachable, but didn't hold out much hope: "That all sounds good. It makes a nice soundbite. We know the teams aren't going to buy the stadiums. We've gone down that path. It takes a willing buyer."

The county does plan to seek another $7.55 million from the State of Ohio for stadium expenses. It contends Hamilton County was promised $81 million, or 15% of total construction costs for the pro sports facilities on the Ohio River. So far, lawmakers have delivered $73.45 million. A county memo to state officials points out the promise remains unfulfilled: "While we fully understand that the General Assembly that made the $81 million commitment was composed of legislators who are no longer in office, at the same time Hamilton County constructed a financing play on the basis of that commitment with a reasonable expectation that it would be fulfilled. We understand the state has financial problems of its own, and would appreciate any assistance the state may offer at this point."

Architects' Poll: Zeros For Cleveland, Columbus

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- The NFL stadium on the Ohio River in Cincinnati named for Paul Brown, the coach who founded the Cleveland Browns and moved on to start the Cincinnati Bengals, has made the list of America's "favorite" architectural sites. And so did an old art-deco railroad station in Cincinnati. But there is nothing on the list from anywhere else in Ohio. Nada.

The American Institute of Architects released its 150 favorite works Wednesday, and the Empire State Building in midtown Manhattan towered over all others. It was built in 1931, long after the White House, which came in No. 2. The news release from the AIA is HERE. The top 10 is chock full of standards -- Golden Gate, Vietnam Vets Memorial, U.S. Capitol. All deserving.

But the surprise is that there is nothing considered of importance in Ohio outside Cincinnati. That means Cleveland's signature structure, the Terminal Tower, does not match a professional football stadium built in the 1990s.

Take a look at the TOWER. Check out the STADIUM. (As a Cincinnatian, the only thing I can see that it has over Cleveland is that the team playing inside Paul Brown is better. But that's about it.)

And, what about I.M. Pei's ROCK HALL. Apparently, a sour note like K.Fed's career.

Perhaps most slighted was the
HOPE MEMORIAL BRIDGE , formerly the Lorain-Carnegie, which is magnificent. Also, the AIA has New York's Brooklyn Bridge on the list, but not the James A. Roebling, which spans the Ohio River and was the model for New York's version. Roebling started his bridge linking Cincinnati and Kentucky on the eve of the Civil War, then had to stop until the fighting ended.

What's the most architecturally interesting building in Ohio? I would vote for the ROEBLING suspension bridge or the Hope Memorial. But I'm not an architect. I would not vote for a football field. The entire AIA list of America's Favorite Architecture is HERE.