Mo Egger is one of my favorite local sports writers. He gives an honest look at the events he covers. Occasionally, I’ll notice that he mentions “staring at a blank computer screen.” He uses that phrase to paint a picture of just how hard it can be to describe a team’s loss. From the Reds’ postseason woes, to UC’s basketball struggles, to the Bengals playoff game this past January. I was there for that particular Bengals defeat and it was toxic. Not just the game, but the environment. As we walked out of a stadium that was drenched in rain and beer, fights broke out, people tore down Bengals signs, and all around there was this dismal feeling. It had been building for a while, Cincinnati is a city that deeply cares about its teams and unfortunately has seen a lot of heartbreak in recent years. However, Saturday night was a totally different feeling and environment.

I found myself similarly staring at a blank computer screen on Sunday morning, trying to find my own words. Yet, I wasn’t looking for them in the wake of another sports letdown. I was still excited, still hearing the chants in my head, still sore from the march up all of those steps. Saturday night, the inaugural home opener, was beyond my expectations. So here it is, as experienced by Die Innenstadt: