Wrestlemania 31 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on Wrestlemania 31.

2015 Cincinnati Reds Bobbleheads Part 1

In my opinion, bobbleheads are the best giveaway items that a team can distribute to its fans. I love them and whenever one of the teams that I like decides to host a bobblehead game, I will usually try to go. The Cincinnati Reds, my favorite baseball team, are giving out nine different nodders this season. The Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum is giving out five different bobbleheads this year. Over the next two posts, I will discuss the bobbleheads and whether I think they are worth going to the game or museum for or not.

Let’s start with the nodders the Reds are giving out this year. The first bobblehead the team is giving out this year is of third baseman Todd Frazier. The picture of the nodder looks cool, but I am not going to the game to get it. I have the one the Reds gave out in 2013, so I will not be going to the game.

The next one is a triple bobblehead of Randy Myers, Rob Dibble, and Norm Charlton. These three guys are known collectively as the “Nasty Boys” and were a key element to the 1990 World Series champion Reds. This bobblehead looks great, and I will be attending the game to add the “Nasty Boys” to my nodder collection.

Third is a bobblehead of Johnny bench. This bobblehead is the first of a three bobblehead set called the “Stars of the Queen City” series. The bobblehead looks really nice, but the Reds have already given out a Johnny Bench bobblehead, the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum gave out five different Bench bobbleheads in 2011, and I already have a Johnny Bench bobblehead in my collection. Needless to say, I will be passing on this game.

The fourth nodder is of Billy Hamilton, the resident speedster of the Redlegs. He had a fantastic rookie season, so it makes sense that the Reds are capitalizing on it by giving out a bobblehead of him. However, the Reds gave out a Hamilton bobblehead last season as well as one during spring training this year. I have the one the team gave away last year, so I will not be adding the 2015 version to my collection.

Barry Larkin is the fifth nodder the team will be giving out to fans this season and the second nodder in the “Stars of the Queen City” series. Larkin is one of my all-time favorite Redlegs, but I already have the 2006 Larkin bobblehead that the Reds gave out to the fans. There was also a Larkin bobblehead giveaway in 2001, and the Hall of Fame and Museum gave out one last year. Since I already have a Larkin bobblehead, I will not be heading to the ballpark for this nodder.

The sixth bobblehead of the year is of Brandon Phillips, my favorite current Reds player. The Reds gave out Phillips bobbleheads in 2007, 2009, and in 2013. I have the 2013 version in my collection so I will not be getting the 2015 version.

Following Phillips is a bobblehead giveaway of Devin Mesoraco. He is the starting catcher for the team and had a phenomenal season last year. He made the all-star team and was the biggest bat for the team as he was the main force of the offense for the Redlegs. I plan on adding this bobblehead to my collection.

Next up is the third “Stars of the Queen City” bobblehead. At the time that this post was written, the team has not announced who the bobblehead will be. Since 2015 is the anniversaries of the 1940, 1975, and 1990 World Series championship seasons, hopefully the team will make a bobblehad of one of the 1940 Redlegs. I think Ernie Lombardi, Johnny Vander Meer, Bucky Walters, or the manager Bill McKechnie would be great choices.

Last is a bobblehead of one of the Reds who will make the All-Star team this year in what I assume to be the All-Star uniform. This sounds like a great idea, and the bobblehead should look cool since it will be in the All-Star uniform. I will try to go to this game to get the nodder and hopefully it is of a player who has not had a bobblehead yet.

While I like the idea of the team giving out nine nodders this year, I just wish they were all of players who have not had bobbleheads yet. As of now, I plan on going to three games. If the third “Stars of the Queen City” bobblehead is of player I do not yet have, I will also go to that game. Stay tuned for the next bobblehead post when I talk about the bobbleheads the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum will be giving out to the fans.

Go Redlegs!

Cincinnati Reds Fan Pack Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds Fan Pack.

Show Me The Money!

Here is my bracket that I am using for the various pools I am in for March Madness. I love the tournament and will be watching all the games that are on simultaneously! Who is your pick to go all the way?

Are We There Yet?

The road to Wrestlemania is usually when WWE presents its best storylines to its fans. Who could forget the epic buildup between John Cena and the Rock as their one-year storyline culminated at Wrestlemania 28? Who could forget the memorable promos and confrontations between Stone Cold Steve Austin and the Rock before their unbelievable Wrestlemania bouts? While the ultimate destination of this journey is the actual Wrestlemania event, the trip to the showcase of the immortals is half the fun as these usually fantastic storylines payoff with memorable matches that have wrestling fans around the world gasping in awe.

This year, however, the road to Wrestlemania seems pretty bland. Instead of speeding up the coast with breathtaking views of the ocean, it seems that WWE is driving along a country highway where all you can see is endless fields of corn. Talk about dull. The buildup to Wrestlemania 31 has been subpar at best in my opinion. Why is this? How can what should be WWE’s most exciting time of the year seem so boring? There is one big reason why this year’s Wrestlemania buildup has been so bland and why the road to the event has not been that exciting.

The lack of confrontations is really filling the road to Wrestlemania with potholes and slowing down the trip. Royal Rumble winner Roman Reigns and current WWE World Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar have only faced off once, and it was in a studio the night after the Royal Rumble pay-per-view. Since then, I do not believe they have been in the ring at the same time or in the same backstage segment. Paul Heyman, the manager of Lesnar, has been carrying this storyline on his back as he cuts fantastic promos every week to try and build the match. All he can do is talk though, and what wrestling fans really want to see is Reigns and Lesnar get into some sort of altercation. As I write this, there are only two weeks left until Wrestlemania. If WWE really wants its fans to get excited about this match, then these two wrestlers better start trash talking face-to-face and brawling before Wrestlemania at some point.

Also, there really has been no confrontation between Bray Wyatt and the Undertaker. For weeks, Wyatt taunted and called out to the Undertaker and on the March 9, 2015, edition of Monday Night Raw, the phenom finally answered in the form of a pretty entertaining segment. However, that is the only sign of the Undertaker we have seen thus far. Now even though WWE has managed to buildup an Undertaker match at Wrestlemania without the dead man appearing on television until Wrestlemania in the past like they did in 2004, I do not believe it is working this year. The Undertaker’s opponent that year was Kane and aside from the history between these two men to help drive their story, the Undertaker also tormented Kane with various mind games. It was entertaining, and it helped fuel the storyline and build anticipation for the return of the Undertaker. WWE has not been able to do that this year.

I am not saying that there have not been some highlights to help build up Wrestlemania. Sting in Triple H have been developing a fun storyline since Survivor Series, the feud between John Cena and the WWE United States Champion Rusev has been pretty entertaining, and the Randy Orton/Seth Rollins rivalry really got hot last week. However, the biggest matches have had the poorest buildup in my opinion. Reigns and Lesnar need to engage the audience more without the help of Heyman by confronting each other, and the Undertaker needs to get inside Wyatt’s head. If WWE can make this happen in two weeks, then the road to Wrestlemania 31 might be somewhat memorable.

Twister the Cincinnati Cyclone Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Cyclones SGA bobblehead of Twister.

Return to Glory

In sports, the goal of every individual is to win a championship. Whether it be the Super Bowl, the World Series, or the Masters, the pursuit of greatness is what validates one's entire life's work as a championship symbolizes excellence and serves as a physical statement that displays to the rest of the world that you are the best.

In professional wrestling, the same can be said about its various championship belts. From the Tag Team Championship to the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, everybody who laces their boots and steps into the squared circle dreams of one day being able to hoist up a championship belt.

There is no question that the WWE World Heavyweight Championship is the top prize in World Wrestling Entertainment. Second tier titles such as the Tag Team Championship, the United States Championship, and the Intercontinental Championship are comparable to conference or division championships in that they are stepping-stones to the big title that everybody strives to attain.

While these second tier championships have seemed to have lost their significance in the WWE thanks to poor booking and having the titles defended on preshow matches or not at all, their prestige is slowly but surely returning. The current United States Champion, Rusev, is in the middle of a long and impressive run. The tag team division is being revived as quality matches for the tag straps are being produced on a consistent basis.

The only belt that seems lost in the shuffle still is the Intercontinental Championship. It has been passed around pretty often over the last few months between Dolph Ziggler, Luke Harper, and Wade Barrett. However, Dean Ambrose and Barrett, the current Intercontinental Champion, are currently involved in a very entertaining rivalry for the Intercontinental Title.

Ambrose's pursuit of the belt is something that has not been seen in the WWE for quite some time. This championship chase is usually reserved for the big title in today's WWE, and the fact that Ambrose is desperate enough to tie Barrett to a ring post and force him to sign an Intercontinental Championship match contract for WWE Fastlane is exactly what the title needs. Not so much the forceful signing of a contract but rather the ruthless hunt for the Intercontinental Championship. It adds value to the title and makes it seem like something worth fighting for in the wrestling world. It should also not be bounced around from wrestler to wrestler. It needs to stay with one man for a while so it does no longer look like a glorified gold and leather piece in a game of hot potato.

It is refreshing to see the belt as the focus of this feud between Ambrose and Barrett. Hopefully Ambrose wins the title at Wrestlemania 31 and has a lengthy run with the belt in which he defends it quite often in meaningful rivalries with the championship being the centerpiece. That will elevate the title to the level of prestige that it was once synonymous with as well as be a launch pad for future world champions.

Bobblehead Page Update

#BOBBLEHEAD PAGE UPDATE @ http://t.co/7szAEAxyiu #CincyCyclones #Reds #Bengals #Cyclones #MLB #NBA #NHL #NFL #NCAA pic.twitter.com/2CqGKQFshd
— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) March 14, 2015

Photo Page Update

PHOTO PAGE UPDATE WITH PICS FROM #CINCYCYLONES GAME @ http://t.co/yzF6TzF8pk #Cyclones #SolarBears #Reds #Bengals pic.twitter.com/9ulmXa1hGd
— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) March 14, 2015

On the App Again!

My tweet was featured on the WWE App again! If WWE likes my tweets, you will too! Follow me @CincyFanZone!

Dave Concepcion Bobblehead Review

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone reviews the 2006 Cincinnati Reds SGA Dave Concepcion bobblehead.

Another Pro Follows Me

Travaris Cadet of the New Orleans Saints follows me on Twitter. Why aren't you? Check me out at @CincyFanZone.

Help Needed

A few weeks ago, terrible news of a relapse by one of the sporting world’s greatest stories of redemption rocked Major League Baseball fans everywhere. Josh Hamilton, an outfielder on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the center of what once thought of as one the greatest career and life turnarounds in sports, turned himself in to MLB officials after he suffered a relapse involving both cocaine and alcohol.

Hamilton was the number one overall pick by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 1999 MLB draft and was assigned to their farm system. He first became addicted to drugs and alcohol in 2001, and by 2004, he was out of baseball.

After cleaning up his act and seemingly beating his addictions, Hamilton returned to baseball in 2007 with my favorite baseball team, the Cincinnati Reds. After a pretty good rookie campaign with the Redlegs, he was traded to the Texas Rangers in December of 2007.

Hamilton was a key player to the American League Championship runs and World Series appearances of the Rangers in both 2010 and 2011, winning the American League MVP award in 2010. He then signed with the Angels following the 2012 season.

When thinking about the great strides that Hamilton made since his addiction problems started back in 2001 only to relapse 14 years later, you cannot help but feel a sense of heartbreak. Most addiction stories do not have paths to redemption. Hamilton’s story was one of the few that proved that addiction to drugs and alcohol can be beat, and that there really is a light at the end of the tunnel. He managed to piece his life back together and become an MVP in Major League Baseball.

I do not want to see Hamilton become the next Stanley Wilson. For those who are unfamiliar with Wilson, he was a former Cincinnati Bengals running back who suffered from an addiction to cocaine. After serving season-long bans in both 1985 and in 1987, Wilson appeared to redeem himself and clean up his act in 1988 as he, James Brooks, and Ickey Woods became a fantastic trio at the running back position for the Bengals. In fact, Wilson scored two touchdowns in the Bengals playoff victory over the Seattle Seahawks in route to their second Super Bowl appearance. Unfortunately, Wilson relapsed the night before the Super Bowl and was subsequently left off the roster of the Bengals for the Super Bowl and banned from the National Football League for life. In 1999, which is ironically the year Hamilton was drafted by the Devil Rays, Wilson was sentenced to 22 years in prison for stealing $130,000.00 in order to support his cocaine addiction.

Hamilton as well as other people battling addiction should use Stanley Wilson’s story as a tale of caution. Addiction is a disease, and the people battling this disease need to be helped instead of punished. Hamilton is an example of this. By turning himself in, he is asking for help to beat his addictions once and for all. Hopefully he can recover from this recent relapse and rebuild himself into the MVP caliber player he once was.

Ickey Woods Cold Cuts Shirt Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes the Ickey Woods Cold Cuts shirt he won at Beyond the Stripes.

Lacking Leadership?

Leadership is important in sports. It is a necessary element for any team to succeed. According to Mat Latos, the Reds are without leaders.

In an interview with Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, the former pitcher of the Reds claimed that the Reds had no leaders on the team after Scott Rolen and Bronson Arroyo left. Apparently Latos said that the team was a “circus.” He said that the Reds “had guys with two years in the big leagues, in the clubhouse, on their phones, laying down in the video room, just hanging out during games, not in the dugout, not cheering their teammates on. Our dugout looked like a ghost town.”

Aside from claiming there was a lack of leadership in the locker room, Latos also said that he felt the medical staff of the Reds rushed him back from his injury. It is important to keep in mind that these are the words of only one man, not half the team, and former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo, one of the men Latos said to be a veteran leader on the Reds in 2012 and in 2013, attempted to offer some insight on why Latos sounded off on the Reds.

In an interview with Nick Piecoro of the “Arizona Republic,” Arroyo said, “Mat speaks his mind. Mat's also a guy who, depending on the day you catch him, you can get completely different answers, because if he's agitated by something, he's going to let you know how he feels at the time and it doesn't always encompass how he feels every single day. Sometimes we say things — he can be a very impulsive guy and that's part of what makes him who he is.”

Current Reds players Homer Bailey and Devin Mesoraco commented on the Latos siuation to Reds beat writer Mark Sheldon. Both Bailey and Mesoraco said that they believe the medical staff did an outstanding job. In regards to why Latos made those claims against the Reds, Bailey said, “Those were his comments. I don’t know any other players that would go that route. It was the way he chose to go. I think you’ll find the majority of the people here have a sense of professionalism and are probably not going to comment on it. However, you all holding your pads and microphones have gotten to be around Mathew enough and can form your own opinion.”

The only people who know if what Latos said is true or not are the players and other people involved with the team. Regardless, the Reds should take what Latos said and try to use it as rallying point for the season. Hopefully these comments light a fire under the team and serve as a launch pad to help the Reds get back to their winning ways.

It apparently fired up new Reds outfielder Marlon Byrd. In an interview with C. Trent Rosecrans about the comments of Latos, Byrd said, “He should worry about his own damn business. He's with the Marlins now.”

I believe a new leader has emerged. Hopefully his fired up attitude spreads to the rest of the team.

Go Redlegs!