Jim O'Toole Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes the Jim O'Toole Bobblehead, a Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum giveaway for June 2014.

Americans Get Win and Revenge

Both victory and revenge can be sweet, and on Monday, the U.S. Men’s National Team got double the sweetness in their World Cup opener. The Americans beat Ghana 2 – 1, avenging their World Cup losses from 2006 and 2010, both of which were at the hands of Ghana.

The action was fast and furious from the start of the match as Clint Dempsey of the U.S. scored 32 seconds into the game. After some nifty moves off a throw in, Dempsey scored by banking the ball in off of the right goal post, becoming the first American soccer player to score in three different World Cups.

Ghana would then go on what seemed to be an all out offensive onslaught that had the Americans playing defense for most of the match. The Americans’ defensive play was able to preserve the lead until a little under 82 minutes into the match when Ghana’s Andre Ayew scored, tying the game at 1 - 1.

Four minutes later, however, American soccer fans all over the world erupted with joy as John Brooks became the first American sub to score a goal in World Cup history, bouncing in a header off a Graham Zusi corner kick to give the Americans a 2 -1 lead. That goal would prove to be enough, as the Americans would hold on for the win.

The game was incredible to watch and had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. If you were not able to watch it, you definitely should check out the highlights, as this was a game that American soccer fans will be talking about for years to come. The Americans next take on Portugal this Sunday.

Bring Back the NBA

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone discusses why he thinks the NBA should bring professional basketball back to Cincinnati.

Bittersweet Return for Latos

The long road to recovery finally ended for Mat Latos as he started for the Reds this past Saturday as they took on the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers.

Latos looked like the dominant pitcher he was last year, pitching six innings of shutout baseball. He gave up only two hits and left the game with the Reds leading the Brewers 1 – 0. It looked like Latos would be able to cap off his triumphant return from injuries with a win, but the bullpen’s struggles would cost the Reds another victory.

After the Brewers took the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning, Billy Hamilton’s homerun in the top of the eighth tied the game at two runs apiece. However things took a turn for the worse in the bottom half of the inning as JJ Hoover gave up a two-run homer to Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun to give the Brewers the lead and the win. Hoover’s record dropped to one win and five losses while Latos got a no decision.

Hopefully, Latos will continue to pitch this well throughout the rest of the season. For a guy coming off knee and elbow injuries that required him to miss two months of baseball, a six inning, zero run debut in which he struck out four batters is simply terrific. Latos is scheduled to next pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays when they pay a visit to Great American Ballpark this weekend.

Sparky Anderson Bobblehead Review

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone reviews the 2004 Columbus Clippers SGA bobblehead of Sparky Anderson.

Home Sweet Home

Even though the Reds have not won a World Series Championship since 1990, and the Bengals have yet to win a Super Bowl, there is one sports team in Cincinnati that has won two championships since 2008. That team is the Cincinnati Cyclones of the East Coast Hockey League, and they are currently battling for a third Kelly Cup Championship, the Stanley Cup equivalent of the ECHL.

Standing in their way with a 2-1 series lead is the Alaska Aces. The Aces came away with a 5-3 win in Game 1, but the Cyclones evened the series in Game 2, winning by a score of 2-1. The Aces responded with a 2-0 victory in Game 3 after scoring twice late in the third period. The Cyclones, however, might be able to turn the tide when they return home this weekend.

The confines of U.S. Bank Arena could help the Cyclones capture another title, as the next three games in the best of seven series will be played on home ice. When the Cyclones won the Kelly Cup in 2008 and again in 2010, they did it in front of a home crowd in the Queen City. Hopefully the familiar home ice and the raucous home crowd can propel the Cyclones to another championship.

Games 4 and 5 will be this Friday and Saturday respectively, and both begin at 7:35 p.m. Game 6, if necessary, will be on Monday, June 9 with a 7:35 p.m. start time.

Go Cyclones!

Smackdown in Cincinnati Tonight

World Wrestling Entertainment will be presenting Smackdown tonight at 7 p.m. from U.S. Bank Arena and judging by what happened at Payback on Sunday and on Raw last night, it could make for a very interesting show, especially for Cincinnati’s favorite wrestling son, Dean Ambrose.

For those who are unfamiliar with wrestling, Dean Ambrose is a Cincinnati born wrestler who currently works for World Wrestling Entertainment. He is a member of the faction known as the Shield and was a former WWE United States Champion.

At Payback, Ambrose and his Shield brethren, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns, defeated the powerhouse faction known as Evolution, which is made up of Triple H, Randy Orton, and Batista, three of the most accomplished wrestlers in WWE. The following night on Raw, Rollins turned his back on the Shield by siding with Evolution before attacking Reigns and Ambrose with a steel chair.

The night should be both fun and wild as Cincinnati is treated to the fallout from last night’s shocking episode of Raw. Also, Bray Wyatt is expected to make an appearance following his loss at Payback to John Cena. Other wrestlers scheduled to appear include Randy Orton, Kane, and the rest of the Wyatt Family.

I have been a big wrestling fan ever since I was a kid and usually try to go every time WWE or TNA is in town, however, the Bowtie Tuesday Reds game tonight was too good of a deal to pass up, so it looks like I will be waiting for Smackdown to be aired on Friday to see what happens. Hopefully, Ambrose will get some revenge and hit Rollins with his signature move, Dirty Deeds.

The Dalton Dilemma

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on the contract dilemma between the Cincinnati Bengals and Andy Dalton.