Honoring the Legends

With the Cincinnati Bengals celebrating their 50^th anniversary, the team will be honoring some of the legends that helped make the franchise what it is today. There will be halftime ceremonies during the first two games of the year, and the list of former Bengals being honored is quite impressive.

Players being honored at the home opener against the Baltimore Ravens on September 10 include Ken Anderson, Isaac Curtis, Ken Riley, Lemar Parrish, Louis Breeden, Mike Reid, Ross Browner, Ken Avery, Al Beauchamp, Solomon Brannan, Gary Burley, Turk Schonert, and John Stofa. The next ceremony will take place four days later during the Septpember 14 Thursday night game against the Houston Texans. Players being honored include Chad Johnson, Cris Collinsworth, Max Montoya, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Bill Bergey, Rich Braham, Ken Blackman, Neal Craig, Jonathan Fanene, Corey Mays, and Shaun Smith.

This is the first time that the Bengals are really acknowledging the past and thanking the players of yesteryear. I grew up watching guys like Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and it is awesome that they will be honored by the Bengals. Hopefully the team takes the next step by creating a team hall of fame or a ring of honor so that the contributions these players made to the franchise will never be forgotten.

Who Dey!

Bobblehead Page Update

#Bobblehead Page Update @ https://t.co/f6kg2Fon2e with a new Bobblehead#FrostyFrog #bobblehof #BobbleheAddicts pic.twitter.com/8bIqiWdiVI

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) September 4, 2017

Cincinnati Bengals 2017 Season Outlook

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone previews the 2017 season of the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Grand Slam Champ

SummerSlam 2017 saw numerous titles change hands. One of those titles was the Raw Tag Team Championship. The team of Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins defeated Cesaro and Sheamus and were crowned as the new kings of the tag team division. For Seth Rollins, the win marked the second time he was part of a tag team championship team as he previously held the belts with Roman Reigns. For Ambrose, this is the first time he has held tag team championship gold, and it also granted him access to a very exclusive club in WWE: the grand slam champion’s club.

In WWE, a grand slam champion is a wrestler who has won the tag team championships, two secondary titles, and the world title. It is a very short list that is filled with some of the most elite wrestlers in history. Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Jeff Hardy, Kurt Angle, Eddie Guerrero, Daniel Bryan, and Chris Jericho are some of the wrestlers who have accomplished the feat. While these wrestlers are current and future hall of famers, not every legend and big name wrestler can call themselves a grand slam champ. As of the writing of this post, there have only been 16 grand slam champions, and guys The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Hulk Hogan, Randy Orton, and John Cena are not on that list of grand slam champions.

As I said earlier, a grand slam champion must win two secondary titles, the tag team titles and the world title. Dean Ambrose has won the United States Championship, the Intercontinental Championship, the Raw Tag Team Championship, and the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. The last jewel in his grand slam crown was the Raw Tag Team championship which he won at SummerSlam. The win not only made him the 16^th grand slam champion, but it also made him the youngest grand slam champion in history. Congrats to Dean Amrbose on the accomplishment!

Bobblehead Page Update

#Bobblehead Page Update @ https://t.co/f6kg2Fon2e with a new #Reds Bobblehead#LetsGoReds #bobblehof #ATOBTTR #MLB #BobbleheAddicts #sports pic.twitter.com/dwVaBvb6Wy

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) August 22, 2017

Plight of the Cruiserweights

When WWE announced that they were bringing back the cruiserweight division, I was excited. The Cruiserweight Classic on the WWE Networks was producing unbelievable matches, and it was arguably the best cruiserweight action on television since the days of WCW Monday Nitro. The cruiserweight division that WCW had during the Monday Night Wars featured some of the finest wrestling on television at the time and helped propel guys like Eddie Guerrero, Rey Mysterio, Dean Malenko, and Chris Jericho into superstardom. The bouts were often fast paced and filled with high flying action. People were tuning into WCW for the big name wrestlers and New World Order storyline, but they were staying because of the action that the cruiserweights brought to the ring.

I thought a similar style would be replicated on WWE television. I was wrong. The cruiserweight division is struggling. Instead of being presented as an athletic showcase for wrestlers who meet the 205 pound weight limit, the division barely gets any television time on Monday Night Raw, and the 205 Live show on the WWE network generally features two matches with an in ring segment in between. The action is not as quick or as dazzling despite the fact that many of the cruiserweights are some of the most athletically gifted on the roster. Cedric Alexander is a perfect example of this. He is arguably the most athletic wrestler in the division but was involved in a horrendous storyline with Noam Dar and Alicia Fox and really has no direction that enables him to show off his wrestling skill.

If WWE stripped the division down, gave the wrestlers more television time, and focused more on the actual wrestling, I think it would improve. The Cruiserweight Classic proved that fans were invested in matches because of the action in the ring. Short video packages highlighted each wrestler before the match, but the wrestlers did not cut promos or have an in ring segment to get over with the fans. They let their abilities do the talking, and it spoke volumes. If WWE can make the cruiserweight division more like the cruiserweight classic, I think the plight of the cruiserweights will finally come to an end.

SummerSlam 2017 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on WWE SummerSlam 2017.

Cincinnati Reds Replica Pete Rose Statue Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds replica statue of Pete Rose.

Who Will Walk Out as Champ?

SummerSlam 2017 will boast a huge main event as Brock Lesnar will defend his WWE Universal Championship in a Fatal 4 Way match against Braun Strowman, Samoa Joe, and Roman Reigns. The match should be a war as four of WWE’s most over wrestlers battle it out to determine who is the top guy on Monday Night Raw. So will a new champ be crowned?

Nope. Not at SummerSlam 2017 at least. I predict Brock Lesnar will walk into SummerSlam as champion and walk out as champion. That is not to say he won’t have a tough match ahead of him. Strowman has become the resident monster for the red brand, Samoa Joe was seconds away from choking out the landlord of Suplex City at Great Balls of Fire, and Reigns is the only other guy aside from Lesnar to defeat the Undertaker at Wrestlemania.

Despite the threat that each of the challengers pose to the champ, they will not take the Universal Championship for themselves. I think that Lesnar will win and hold onto the title until Wrestlemania 34 before dropping the belt to Reigns. The seeds for that match will be planted at SummerSlam as Lesnar successfully retains his title.

Ron Oester Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum Ron Oester bobblehead.

The Run Continues

FC Cincinnati’s legendary run in the 2017 U.S. Lamar Hunt Open Cup will continue after they defeated Miami FC of the NASL in the quarterfinals last Wednesday. After the first half ended with both teams scoreless, FCC took a 1-0 lead when Djiby Fall scored off a pass from Justin Hoyte. It was the only goal of the game and the only goal the team needed as FCC managed to hold off Miami FC’s offensive onslaught late in the game to move onto a semifinal matchup with the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer on August 15.

For FCC, the Red Bulls will be the third MLS team they have face in their last four Open Cup matches. They previously defeated Columbus Crew SC 1-0 and the Chicago Fire 3-1 on penalty kicks. Both games were in front of raucous crowds of over 30,000 at Nippert Stadium. Their win against Miami has given them the chance for another monumental victory in front of the hometown crowd. Not only is a trip to the Open Cup Finals on the line, but a third straight win over an MLS team would amplify the already thunderous buzz FCC has created for themselves in American soccer and further strengthen their case to be selected as an MLS expansion team.

I love this team and have been following them since they were established in the summer of 2015. Aside from seeing the Reds win the World Series and the Bengals win the Super Bowl, there is nothing I want more when it comes to sports than for FCC to join MLS. They have been hitting all the right buttons as a franchise, and the Open Cup has given them a national stage to prove that they are MLS ready. Hopefully they can muster up some more Open Cup magic on the 15^th and continue this incredible ride.

Bobblehead Page Update

#Bobblehead Page Update @ https://t.co/f6kg2Fon2e with a new #Reds Bobblehead#LetsGoReds #bobblehof #ATOBTTR #MLB #BobbleheAddicts #sports pic.twitter.com/UPnWY9AzwZ

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) August 8, 2017

Hey U Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a bobblehead of the former mascot of the Northern Kentucky University Norse, Hey U.

Double Bobble Weekend

What’s better than getting a bobblehead at a baseball game? Getting two bobbleheads at a baseball game! This Saturday, August 5, fans of the Cincinnati Reds will have the opportunity to attain two bobbleheads when they head to Great American Ball Park.

The Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum will be giving away a bobblehead of Dave Parker. The bobblehead of  “the Cobra” will be given away to fans who purchased a general admission ticket to the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum on Friday, Saturdays, and Sundays in August. There are only 6,000 bobbleheads available and with Parker being a fan favorite, this bobble could sell out pretty fast.

The Cincinnati Reds are giving away a bobblehead of star relief pitcher Raisel Iglesias to the first 20,000 fans on August 5. Iglesias has been the best pitcher of the Reds bullpen this year, and his excellent pitching has allowed him to secure the spot of team closer. Based on his popularity among Reds fans, I would expect a big turnout for this game despite the lackluster record the Reds have.

If you plan your day correctly on August 5, you will be able to add bobbleheads of Dave Parker and Raisel Iglesias to your collection. Parker is a Reds legend and Iglesias is becoming a bigger star every time he takes to the mound. I have tickets to the game and plan stopping by the Reds Hall of Fame to get the Parker bobble before heading into the stadium to get the Iglesias bobble. The only thing that would the weekend better is a win for the Reds!

Go Redlegs!

No Shield Reunion...Yet

For those of you who do not follow professional wrestling, a faction is a group of wrestlers that stick together like a team. The New World Order, the Four Horsemen, and D-Generation X are perhaps the most well factions in wrestling history, but a group that was composed of Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns made their case a few years ago to be mentioned in the same breath as the factions previously mentioned. They were known as the Shield and dominated the wrestling landscape from the end of 2012 to the summer of 2014. The pop they got when they entered arenas was deafening and their attitude and in ring work was a perfect recipe for success. They acted as the best and were perceived by fans as the best. However, as quick as they skyrocketed in popularity, they were disbanded and set their sights on solo careers after Rollins ended the Shield with a couple of chair shots to his former “brothers.”

They all captured the WWE World Heavyweight Championship and competed in a triple threat match at Battleground 2016. Since then, Rollins has turned face while Ambrose and Reigns have been faces ever since the group disbanded. Ambrose and Reigns have teamed up in the past as have Rollins and Reigns, but Ambrose and Rollins have not teamed together and are scheduled to join forces for the first time since 2014 on the July 24, 2017, episode of Raw. The seeds have been planted for a Shield reunion and reactions for each hint WWE drops have been great, but will it happen? Not yet.

Reason number one the Shield will not regroup anytime soon is Roman Reigns. WWE is still trying to position him as the next big superstar of the company. Despite the negative fan reaction he receives, Reigns is still considered a face, and WWE will not put their attempt to launch him into the stratosphere as a solo start on the backburner in order to reunite the Shield.

Reason number two, and the reason I am most interest in, is that Ambrose and Rollins appear to have a rivalry brewing. The storyline of Ambrose having a hard time trusting Rollins has been simmering with tension and has the potential to be one of the best rivalries of the year. As good as Ambrose and Rollins were as a team, they were even better as enemies and brought the best out of each other during their feuds in 2014 and in 2016. Their promos and matches are always some of the best on the show and the fact that Ambrose could turn heel during this storyline adds a dynamic layer to the Ambrose versus Rollins saga.

In conclusion, that is why the Shield will not reunite yet. Roman Reigns is in the midst of a meteoric push and Rollins and Ambrose appear to be coming close to igniting their rivalry once again. I am not saying the Shield will never reunite. I’m just saying it wont happen now. Believe that.

WWE Battleground 207 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on WWE Battleground 2017.

2017 Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum Pete Rose Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a 2017 Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum Pete Rose bobblehead.

The Newport Debate

When FC Cincinnati announced potential sites for it soccer specific stadium should it be added to Major League Soccer as an expansion team, the franchise revealed that it narrowed potential locations to three locations. Oakley, Over-the-Rhine, and Newport were revealed as the three candidates to become the host city for FC Cincinnati’s stadium. This sparked a debate as some fans do not want the stadium built in Newport. Why? Newport is across the Ohio River in Kentucky.

Personally I do not care that Newport is in Kentucky. The city has undergone a revitalization with “Newport on the Levee” being a hot spot for entertainment and fun. Downtown Cincinnati is easily seen as Newport rests on the shores of the river, and the Cincinnati skyline would make for a fantastic backdrop for FC Cincinnati’s stadium. So why all the hate?

The reason I have been hearing the most is, “it’s FC Cincinnati, not FC Newport.” To me, that is a very stupid reason to complain about Newport as a potential stadium site. For one, teams have been building stadiums in cities that aren’t in their name for a long time. Look at the New York Jets and the New York Giants. Their stadium is in New Jersey. Does that mean fans in New York do not root for the Jets or the Giants? Nope.

Now let’s look at it from the other side. The Cincinnati Reds and the Cincinnati Bengals are located in downtown Cincinnati. Does that mean people from Kentucky cannot root for the Reds or the Bengals? Nope. There are people who live in northern Kentucky who are diehard fans of the Reds, the Bengals, and FC Cincinnati. How do I know this? I’m one of those fans. I live across the river in northern Kentucky about ten minutes outside of downtown Cincinnati. I love the Reds, the Bengals, and FC Cincinnati and have crossed the Ohio River multiple times to attend their games. The fact that people in Ohio cannot do the same thing should FC Cincinnati build a stadium in Newport baffles me.

Being a resident of northern Kentucky, I would love to see the stadium built in Newport. It would mean the trip to the stadium would be about the same amount of time as if it were built downtown. Over-the-Rhine and Oakley are both north of the downtown banks area where both the Reds’ and Bengals’ stadiums reside. Why not have the stadium close to the heart of Cincinnati and in the same vicinity of Paul Brown Stadium and Great American Ball Park? To me, Newport would be an excellent choice for FC Cincinnati’s stadium. However, should FC Cincinnati decide to build the stadium in Over-the-Rhine or Oakley, I will still go to their games and continue to be a diehard fan of the team.

Bobblehead Page Update

#Bobblehead Page Update @ https://t.co/f6kg2Fon2e with a new #Reds Bobblehead#LetsGoReds #bobblehof #ASG2017 #MLB #ATOBTTR #AllStarGame pic.twitter.com/sR7nGgc0C9

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) July 11, 2017

Training Camp 2017

With the Cincinnati Reds and FC Cincinnati dominating the Cincinnati summer sports scene, it is easy to become mesmerized by the action that unfolds on the diamond and on the pitch. Soon though, Cincinnati sports fans will be able to take in the action of the gridiron as the Bengals officially start their 2017 training camp.

Training camp starts on Friday July 28 and goes until Thursday August 10. Gates will open 30 minutes before practice starts with most practices starting at 3 p.m. The only exceptions are when practice starts at 6 p.m. on Friday August 4, 1 p.m. on Saturday August 5, 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday August 9, and 10:30 a.m. on Thursday August 11.

Practices are also held on the practice field right next to Paul Brown Stadium. The only practice not held on the practice field will be the Family Day event on August 5. The Family Day practice will be held inside Paul Brown Stadium and will feature a lot of activities and a giveaway for kids. If you are an autograph hunter like me, the family day practice is the best training camp session to attend as every player is available for autographs once practice concludes.

The Cincinnati Bengals training camp is a great way to check out the team up close and personal. It is really cool to witness the current players mix it up the rookie draft picks and see how well they mesh together. It is also a great opportunity to get some autographs from your favorite Bengals players! Attending training camp is something that I highly recommend as every true Bengals fan needs to experience it before the season starts.

Who Dey!

WWE GBOF 2017 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on WWE GBOF 2017.

Anthony DeSclafani Bobblehad Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds Anthony DeSclafani bobblehead.

Another Legendary Night

Last week, FC Cincinnati further bolstered its case to become a Major League Soccer expansion team with a dramatic win over the MLS powerhouse Chicago Fire in the round of 16 of the 2017 Open Cup. After regulation ended with both teams scoreless, 30 minutes of extra time was added to determine who would move on in the Open Cup, but that proved to not be enough as the score was still locked at a 0-0 draw. The game came down to penalty kicks.

FC Cincinnati missed their first kick and an immediate gasp could be heard by the record setting crowd of over 32,000 that packed Nippert Stadium. After going toe to toe with the mighty Fire of Chicago, would the lads in orange and blue fall in a penalty kick shootout? Mitch said no.

Having put on a performance nothing short of brilliant in both regulation and extra time, FC Cincinnati goalie Mitch Hildebrandt saved his best defensive efforts for last as he blocked three of the four penalty kicks that Fire players sent his way while FC Cincinnati netted three of their four attempted penalty kicks. Nippert Stadium exploded into complete pandemonium. For the second time in two weeks, the young USL team upset a club in the top professional soccer league in the country.

Like the victory over Columbus Crew SC, the heart-stopping win over the Fire will go down as another legendary moment in FCC lore. Not only did the team get yet another improbable victory, it was seen by a national audience as the game was broadcasted on ESPN. FC Cincinnati could have not asked for a better stage to make their case for MLS expansion. All eyes in the soccer world were on the Queen City, and FC Cincinnati gave them something to remember.

Bobblehead Page Update

#Bobblehead Page Update @ https://t.co/f6kg2Fon2e with a new #Norse Bobblehead#bobbleheadaddicts #bobblehof #NKU #NorseUp #ontherise #ncaa pic.twitter.com/UvHFs5I4uy

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) July 3, 2017

Cincinnati Reds Iron Man Bobblehad Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds bobblehead of Iron Man.

Lost in Translation

Why can’t WWE translate success in NXT to success on the main roster? It seems that most of the gimmicks that are considered over in NXT either lose a lot of momentum when called up to the main roster or they simply bomb and fizzle into obscurity. As a wrestling fan, it is frustrating to see wrestlers get over in NXT with a unique gimmick only to see them essentially wasted once they are called up to Raw and Smackdown.

The Ascension is a prime example of this. In NXT, they were a dominant tag team that owned the division. Once they were called up to the main roster, they were squashed and have since been demoted to jobbers. Another example of this would be Bo Dallas. The guy was a former NXT champion and looked poise to make a splash on Raw and SmackDown. Unfortunately, he was presented as a joke and is rarely seen on television now.

Not all wrestlers are demoted to jobbers or vanish from television. Some just seemingly lose momentum. Bayley was the most popular woman in NXT. Fans loved her and routinely cheered for her with the “Hey Bayley” chant. Since coming up to the main roster, her momentum has come to a halt, and the pops from the crowd are now being filled with a few boos from time to time. Enzo and Cass are also a victim of lost momentum. When they debuted on the main roster, crowds would blow the roof off the arena. They would cut great promos, get the crowd involved, and were easily one of the most over acts in the company. Since then, the promos have gotten weaker, Enzo constantly eats pins, and their credibility as a tag team has been dented as they have never won the tag team titles since being called up the main roster.

While this does not happen to every former NXT star, it does happen quite a bit. It is understandable that not all NXT success will translate to WWE success, but it is odd how often former NXT wrestlers have a hard time adjusting to the main roster. It doesn’t matter if you blame it on the creative team, the booking, or the wrestlers themselves, the fact of the matter is that something is being lost in translation during the transition from NXT to WWE.

Bobblehead Page Update

#Bobblehead Page Update @ https://t.co/f6kg2Fon2e with a new #Reds Bobblehead#bobbleheadaddicts #bobblehof #letsgoreds #ATOBTTR #14forever pic.twitter.com/AoapW8TJdm

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) June 27, 2017

Oh What A Night!

Wednesday, June 15, 2017, is a date that will go down as nothing short of legendary in the history of FC Cincinnati. The young upstart franchise that started play a little more than a year ago faced instate rival and Major League Soccer member Columbus Crew SC in the fourth round of the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. It was a David vs. Goliath matchup as the United Soccer League's FCC attempted to pull off the improbable upset over the 2002 Open Cup champs in front of a record setting crowd of over 30,000 people at Nippert Stadium. To date, this was single biggest game in the history of the franchise as they were playing one of the founding members of MLS, the very league FCC is trying to join. Add to that the 30,000 plus fans in attendance and the fact that this was the first time the two Ohio soccer teams ever played each other, and you had the makings of an electric atmosphere perfect for a soccer match.

After a scoreless first half, FCC finally broke through as Djiby Fall's header floated into the goal to send the crowd into complete pandemonium. The roar was deafening as an explosion of cheers pierced the warm humid air of Nippert Stadium. Chants of "FCC" broke out as the MLS expansion hopeful was on the verge of upsetting the Crew, a team that was established twenty years earlier than FCC. After an offensive onslaught from the Crew and six minutes of stoppage time that seemed like an eternity, the final whistle blew. FC Cincinnati had defeated Columbus Crew SC 1-0.

A second round of thunderous cheers erupted from the crowd as the lads in blue and orange celebrated the biggest victory in franchise history. The team walked around the pitch, thanking fans for attending, and the fans in turn gave them a raucous standing ovation. The victory even garnered national exposure from ESPN as Djiby's goal and head coach Alan Koch's interview were featured on Sports Center. For a team looking to join MLS, the top professional soccer league in the country, the night could not have been any better.

I am one of the 30,000 plus fans that packed Nippert Stadium to watch the first ever Ohio Derby, which is known to fans as "Hell is Real." That match is easily in my top five of greatest sporting events that I have ever attended. There was a buzz and electricity in the air the entire night that was unlike anything else I had ever experienced at a sporting event. The victory over instate rival Columbus Crew SC, the eruption of the crowd, and the fantastic atmosphere resulted in the perfect storm that clearly displayed Cincinnati as a city where professional soccer is more than welcome. I hope MLS was paying attention.

Bobblehead Page Update

#Bobblehead Page Update @ https://t.co/f6kg2Fon2e with a new #Reds Bobblehead#bobbleheadaddicts #bobblehof #letsgoreds #ATOBTTR #CINvsTB pic.twitter.com/Cq8JGasg8v

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) June 20, 2017

Photo Page Update

Photo page update @ https://t.co/BpNFc1Sowh with #reds and #FCCincy pics#MLS2Cincy #14forever #letsgoreds #ATOBTTR #MLS #MLB #USL pic.twitter.com/kIHSfjbgZc

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) June 20, 2017

WWE Money in the Bank 2017 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on WWE Money in the Bank 2017. 

Adam Duvall Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds Adam Duvall bobblehead.

Who Dey Draft 2017

The NFL Draft has come and gone and for the most part, the Cincinnati Bengals did a pretty good job with who they selected from the college game to join their team. In this post, I will list who the Bengals drafted and share my thoughts on the role each pick will have with the team.

The first pick was Washington wide receiver John Ross. The guy has electrifying speed and along side A.J. Green, the Bengals passing attack should be a force to be reckoned with in the NFL.

Second was running back Joe Mixon out of the University of Oklahoma. On the field, Mixon could be one of the best running backs in the league and should help the ground game immensely. Off the field is another story. His incident in which he punched a woman in the face has followed him from college to the NFL, and it will be up to him to change how people perceive him.

Third was defensive end Jordan Willis. He played college football for Kansas State. Hopefully Willis can complement Carlos Dunlap and boost the pass rich for the defense.

The fourth pick was Carl Lawson out of Auburn. Like Willis, Lawson is a defensive end. I could see Lawson and Willis being used in a platoon like system on the defensive line to give them both some playing time and experience.

Fifth was wide receiver Josh Malone. The former Tennessee Volunteer should help bolster the offense as he has a combination of both size and speed. With Green now entering his seventh season in the league, Malone and Ross along with Tyler Boyd could be considered the next generation of bengals receivers.

Sixth was Ryan Glasgow, a defensive tackle out of Michigan. Glasgow is a key building block for the defensive line as he can both rush the passer and stop the run. Like Lawson and Willis, I can see Glasgow being rotated in and out of the defensive line.

Seventh was Memphis kicker Jake Elliott. Last year the Bengals had Mike Nugent. Need I say more?

The eighth pick of the draft was J.J. Dielman. He is a center out of Utah. The offensive line sucked last year and with both Andrew Whitworth and Kevin Zeitler departing the team via free agency, Dielman could see a lot of playing time on the line outside of the center position.

Ninth was Jordan Evans. He was a linebacker for the Oklahoma Sooners. With Rey Maulauga being released by Bengals in the offseason, Evans could be groomed to take his spot.

Brandon Wilson was selected tenth by the Bengals. He played cornerback at Houston. With Adam Jones in legal trouble and William Jackson III and Darqueze Dennard having a history of injuries, Wilson might get to showcase his coverage abilities this season.

The last pick for the Bengals was tight end Mason Schreck out of Buffalo. Tyler Eifert is notorious for his battles with the injury bug so Schreck might be able to compete for a backup tight end spot should Eifert get hurt again.

Those are the 2017 Cincinnati Bengals draft picks. Hopefully they can help the Bengals have a bounce back year in 2017 after the disappointing 2016 campaign. Maybe some of these players are the key pieces needed to finally give the Be gals a playoff win.

Who Dey!

Bobblehead Page Update

#Bobblehead Page Update @ https://t.co/f6kg2Fon2e with a new #Reds Bobblehead#bobbleheadaddicts #bobblehof #letsgoreds #ATOBTTR #marvel pic.twitter.com/sJKX85UjS1

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) June 13, 2017

Bobblehead Page Update

#Bobblehead Page Update @ https://t.co/f6kg2Fon2e with a new #Reds Bobblehead#bobbleheadaddicts #bobblehof #letsgoreds #ATOBTTR #mlb pic.twitter.com/Ix3SJqVXyK

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) June 6, 2017

The Stadium Plan

A few weeks ago, FC Cincinnati made it known that they are indeed looking to build a soccer specific stadium for the franchise. FC Cincinnati has said multiple times that having a soccer specific stadium or a plan to build a soccer specific is necessary in order for the MLS bid to be successful. So where could the stadium be built?

FC Cincinnati has announced three potential sites. Over-the-Rhine, Oakley, and Newport are all the running to be the host area for a soccer specific stadium. All are viable options for the franchise as they are relatively close to the downtown area and the heart of Cincinnati.

How the stadium will be funded is another topic of discussion as the general consensus is that the city does not want to raise taxes or issue another tax that will go toward the stadium. According to FC Cincinnati, the franchise is investing 250 million dollars of its own money into the MLS process, which includes the stadium. 150 millions dollars would go to the MLS expansion fee and the other 100 million would go toward building the stadium. The stadium could cost more than the 100 million FC Cincinnati plans to set aside for it, but the team has been steadfast in saying they are not seeking to increase taxes to help build the stadium.

That is all we know of the FC Cincinnati Stadium plan. They have three sites in mind for the stadium and 100 million dollars set aside to build it. Personally, I am all for the stadium. Nippert Stadium on the campus of the University of Cincinnati is fine for now, but MLS requires a soccer specific stadium and I want to see FC Cincinnati elevated to MLS. While I would love to see Newport be selected, I would be fine with any of the three locations just as long as they are selected to join MLS.

WWE Extreme Rules 2017 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on WWE Extreme Rules 2017.

Tokyo Yakult Swallows Tsubakuro Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Tokyo Yakult Swallows Tsubakuro bobblehead.

Triple Bobble Weekend

 Do you like the Cincinnati Reds? Do you like Marvel super heroes? Do you like bobbleheads? Well then this Saturday is the day for you as you can attain not one, not two, but three bobbleheads for your sports memorabilia collection. Here’s how.

The Reds will be hosting the Atlanta Braves for a three game series on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It also happens to be the second and final Marvel super hero weekend of the year, meaning you can receive a bobblehead of Iron Man if you purchase a special ticket package. These ticket packages cost more than regular tickets, and it is only through these packages that you receive the Iron Man bobblehead.

The day you want to purchase your ticket package for is Saturday as it is also Anthony DeSclafani  bobblehead day. Should you get to the game early enough, you will get one of 20,000 Anthony DeSclafani  bobbleheads the Reds are giving to fans. It is a pretty sweet deal that can net you two new bobbleheads. But wait, there’s more!

The Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum will also be giving away a bobblehead that weekend. The bobblehead will be of the “Hit King” and Cincinnati native and Reds legend Pete Rose. Only 6,000 Reds Hall of Fame bobbleheads are made, and Rose will only be given away during the month of June.

So what are your plans for this Saturday? Hopefully after reading this post, you will be heading to Great American Ball Park for some Reds baseball and bobbleheads. I am planning on getting both Iron Man and DeSclafani, but I am still on the fence about the Rose bobble. I am a huge fan of Charlie Hustle, but I already have three Rose bobbles so this one will have to be significantly different in order for me to add it to my collection. If you do not have a Rose bobblehead however, this is your chance to add a bobblehead of not only him but of Iron Man and Anthony DeSclafani  to your collection as well.

Go Redlegs!

Too Formulaic?

Is WWE too formulaic? I think it is. Every week Raw and SmackDown follow a pattern that map out how the show will progress on television. Don’t believe me? When was the last time Raw or SmackDown started with a match? I honestly cannot remember as a promo is what usually kicks off the show. A wrestler will call out another wrestler, and they will have a war of words. Usually an authority figure appears and sets up a match between the two jawing wrestlers. It happens on a near weekly basis, and the formula is not restricted to just the opening segment.

Contract signings are very formulaic. A table will be set up in the middle of the ring with the contract and a pen on top. There are usually chairs as well, but the wrestlers rarely sit in them. Occasionally there is a moderator such as a WWE authority figure or a commentator to oversee the signing. One wrestler will cut a promo and sign the contract while the other wrestler will respond with a promo of their own before singing the contract themselves. The promos will escalate and before you know it, both wrestlers will be swinging fists at each other. Contract signings don’t always end in a fight, but nine times out of ten the wrestlers will end up going after each other.

Another formulaic approach WWE has is how it books wrestlers leading up to a pay-per-view bout. The wrestler who usually wins at the pay-per-view is usually beat down by their opponent on the show before the event. For example, the last Raw before Wrestlemania 29 featured the Rock and John Cena face to face in the ring. The segment ended with the Rock taking out Cena. What happened at Wrestlemania 29? Cena defeated the Rock. Before Wrestlemania 30, the Undertaker choke slammed Brock Lesnar on the final Raw of Wrestlemania season. At Wrestlemania 30, Lesnar defeated the Undertaker. This 50/50 style of booking is not a guarantee, but it happens a lot in WWE.

Those are just a few examples of WWE’s formulaic approach. While there are more examples of how WWE is set in a pattern of how it presents its shows, those are just a few I could think of off the top of my head. Can the formula result in some lackluster shows? Absolutely. Could WWE think outside the box and throw some more surprises at fans? Without a doubt. However, the formula has proven successful as they are still the undisputed champion in the professional wrestling industry.

Bobblehead Page Update

#Bobblehead Page Update @ https://t.co/f6kg2Fon2e with a new #Baseball Bobblehead#bobbleheadaddicts #bobblehof #tokyoswallows #mlb pic.twitter.com/yNRYpQrYgL

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) May 23, 2017

WWE Backlash 2017 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on WWE Backlash 2017.

Minnesota Twins T. C. Bear Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Minnesota Twins bobblehead of T.C. Bear.

MLS or NCAA?

Decisions, decisions. Will Cincinnati furnish an soccer specific stadium or pay to renovate U.S. Bank Arena? That is the question that the city could potentially face as FC Cincinnati seeks to move up to Major League Soccer and U.S. Bank Arena tries to uphold its end of the bargain with the NCAA to host the first two rounds of March Madness in 2022 in exchange for remodeling the arena. Odds are both of these projects will need to be funded by tax dollars, but which project will the city be willing to fund?

Let’s start with U.S. Bank Arena. It currently serves as the home to the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL and also hosts various events such as the circus, concerts and WWE events. While not a physically attractive building, it does manage to house a decent amount of people. The inside of the arena could definitely use an upgrade, as the jumbotron is quite dated and the seats could be swapped out for nicer ones.

Now let’s discuss FC Cincinnati. The soccer team currently plays at Nippert Stadium and manages to draw in impressive crowds of 10,000 or more for nearly every home match. They are currently in the running to move up from the USL to MLS and become the third major professional sports team in the Queen City. A major requirement that MLS has for its teams is a soccer specific stadium. With FC Cincinnati playing on UC’s campus, Nippert probably will not cut the mustard for MLS. Should they move up, a stadium will need to be built.

So which project should the city fund? In my opinion, I think the soccer specific stadium is more important. Don’t get me wrong. U.S. Bank Arena needs to be renovated, and I would love to see the NCAA Tournament come back to Cincinnati. However, the possibility of FC Cincinnati moving up to MLS is very real, and I would rather have new major professional team to root for than one weekend of college basketball. If the NHL or the NBA were knocking on the door and saying that they would establish a new franchise in Cincinnati in exchange for the renovations of U.S. Bank Arena, then I might consider switching my vote. That is not happening though, and I already have a deep love for FC Cincinnati. Hopefully the city can find a way to finance both projects should FC Cincinnati be promoted to MLS, and the Queen City can be the home to three professional sports team and the first round of the 2022 NCAA tournament.

Bobblehead Page Update

#Bobblehead Page Update @ https://t.co/f6kg2Fon2e with a new #Twins Bobblehead#mlb #sports #bobbleheadaddicts #bobblehof #baseball pic.twitter.com/E47iT8xsiH

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) May 16, 2017

Tommy Helms Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum Tommy Helms bobblehead.