Bengals Fan Literally Living on the Roof of His Restaurant Until Team Wins Game
By Scott Rogust
The 2019 edition of NFL football has not gone the way that Cincinnati Bengals fans have envisioned. The team wasn't expected to win much of anything this season, but no one thought they'd be winless through 13 weeks.
One fan is going to extreme lengths to reverse the voodoo placed upon them.
Jeff Lanham is literally living on the roof of his restaurant, Hog Rock Cafe, until the Bengals get a victory.
Meet Jeff Lanham. He’s living in this tent on the roof of his restaurant until the #Bengals win a game. He’s been up here 49 days!! Tent equipped w/food, heat, DirecTV and a nearby bathroom. Told me he can’t wait to come down! pic.twitter.com/rZcHumpKpm
— John Schriffen (@JohnSchriffen) November 24, 2019
Lanham originally made the proclamation as a joke, but his wife took things to the next level by sharing it live on television to local news station WKRC. Seeing that he's reached the point of no return, Lanham moved onto the roof following Cincinnati's Week 5 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
The Bengals fan has spent over 50 days living in a tent above his restaurant, loaded up with food, heat, and a television. The only exclusions to leaving the roof are to use the bathroom and shower. On Thursday, his family brought him Thanksgiving dinner to said tent.
Update: Bengals fan Jeff Lanham living on the roof of his restaurant until the team wins a game, spent Thanksgiving with his family...ON THE ROOF. Told me if Bengals don’t win a game he’ll come down when season is over, and go back up week 1 next year. He’s been up there 54 days pic.twitter.com/1KkiAB7yr7
— John Schriffen (@JohnSchriffen) November 29, 2019
So what happens if the Bengals go winless for the rest of the season? Well, Lanham will exit the roof and return for the team's 2020 regular season opener.
Lanham's chances of getting new (and better) digs is bound to be greater next season, especially if the team selects LSU quarterback Joe Burrow or Ohio State defensive end Chase Young in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Until then, it's rooftop living for the remainder of the calendar year.