Great actors don’t always receive gold statuettes. On Dec. 4, the Bengals beat eventual Super Bowl champs the Kansas City Chiefs 27-24 at Paycor Stadium. Quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase both were outstanding, but safety Jessie Bates may have had the most memorable, suspiciously timed play of the game. As Kansas City closed in on the line in the second quarter, Cincinnati’s defensive subs hit the field late, which could have resulted in a penalty. Ever alert, Bates — previously standing casually — suddenly collapsed while clutching his leg, seemingly in pain, to pull a few extra seconds for the team. During the broadcast, CBS color analyst and former Dallas Cowboys star Tony Romo narrated sarcastically, “That wasn't fake at all." [Bates signed with the Atlanta Falcons on March 13.] bengals.com.
Sports & Recreation
Here are the 2023 Best Of Cincinnati® Reader and Staff Pick winners for Sports & Recreation.
1. Soccer City
2. Town and Country Sports Health Club
3. Wall2Wall
2. Town and Country Sports Health Club
3. Wall2Wall
1. Schmidt Boat Ramp and Ballfields
2. Riverside Park
3. Westside Sports Park
2. Riverside Park
3. Westside Sports Park
1. 700 WLW-AM
2. FOX Sports Ohio
3. WCPO-TV
2. FOX Sports Ohio
3. WCPO-TV
1. Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden
2. YMCA Camp Ernst
3. Clifton Cultural Arts Center
2. YMCA Camp Ernst
3. Clifton Cultural Arts Center
1. Cincinnati Rollergirls
2. Florence Y’alls
3. Dayton Dragons
2. Florence Y’alls
3. Dayton Dragons
1. Barstool Sportsbook at Hollywood Casino
2. FanDuel Sportsbook
3. Betfred
2. FanDuel Sportsbook
3. Betfred
1. University of Cincinnati football
2. Xavier University men’s basketball
3. Ohio State University football
2. Xavier University men’s basketball
3. Ohio State University football
1. Cincinnati Bengals
2. FC Cincinnati
3. Cincinnati Cyclones
2. FC Cincinnati
3. Cincinnati Cyclones
1. Sawyer Point Park
2. Camargo Racquet Club
3. The Club at Harper’s Point
2. Camargo Racquet Club
3. The Club at Harper’s Point
1. Fifty West Production Works
2. Knotty Pine Rock Club and Tiki Bar
3. Cabana on the River
2. Knotty Pine Rock Club and Tiki Bar
3. Cabana on the River
1. Body Alive
2. Shellates Studio
3. Pilates Center of Cincinnati
2. Shellates Studio
3. Pilates Center of Cincinnati
1. Red River Gorge
2. Hocking Hills State Park
3. Winton Woods
2. Hocking Hills State Park
3. Winton Woods
1. Sunlite Pool (Coney Island)
2. Ziegler Park
3. Kings Island
2. Ziegler Park
3. Kings Island
1. Flying Pig Marathon
2. Queen Bee Half Marathon
3. Thanksgiving Day Race
2. Queen Bee Half Marathon
3. Thanksgiving Day Race
1. Sawyer Point Park
2. Fifty West Brewing Company
3. Dulle Park
2. Fifty West Brewing Company
3. Dulle Park
1. Joey Votto
2. Jonathan India
3. Tyler Stephenson
2. Jonathan India
3. Tyler Stephenson
1. Oakley Park
2. Blue Ash Recreation Center
3. Mt. Echo Park
2. Blue Ash Recreation Center
3. Mt. Echo Park
1. ProForce Sports Performance
2. Strength Beyond the Weights
3. Trilogy Fitness Systems
2. Strength Beyond the Weights
3. Trilogy Fitness Systems
1. Joe Burrow
2. Sam Hubbard
3. Tee Higgins
2. Sam Hubbard
3. Tee Higgins