#Autograph Page Update @ https://t.co/ULDHSOUCJg With New #Bengals, #reds, & #fccincy Autographs#WhoDey #LetsRoar #NFL #MIAvsCIN #TNF #MNF pic.twitter.com/rH4DrqjlJT— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) September 28, 2016
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Autograph Page Update
Photo Page Update
Photo Page Update @ https://t.co/JzwEdxiFEu With New #Bengals Pics#WhoDey #MNF #LetsRoar #MIAvsCIN #BeyondTheStripes #TNF #NFL #football pic.twitter.com/P0sC4Sz2sg— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) September 28, 2016
The Better Show
When WWE announced that they would be bringing back the
brand split a few months ago, I was not excited about it. I am still not
thrilled that Raw and SmackDown are being treated as separate brands, but I
still tune in each and every week to see what happens on both shows. So which
one do I think has been better? Allow me to explain.
Based on the rules and results of the WWE draft, it appeared
that Raw had the better of the two rosters. They have talented guys like Seth
Rollins, Roman Reigns, and Kevin Owens, and they have arguably the two best
women wrestlers in the company in Charlotte and Sasha Banks. SmackDown has
stars like Dean Ambrose, A.J. Styles, John Cena, and Becky Lynch, but the crop
of talent on the blue brand is not as deep as it is on Raw as the red brand
also features guys like Sheamus, Sami Zayn, Cesaro, the New Day, the Club, and
the entire cruiserweight division. With a talent pool so deep, you would think
that Raw would be able to put on a quality three-hour television program.
Unfortunately that has not always been the case.
Despite getting off to a hot start by immediately
establishing Finn Balor as a star on the main roster, there have been many
times where Raw has fallen flat. The “Old Day” segment was extremely hard to
watch and the rivalry between Titus O’Neil and Darren Young has been bland
since the very start. That is not to say it has all been bad as Kevin Owens
winning the Universal Championship was one of the best endings to an episode of
Raw I have ever watched. Unfortunately the great moments and matches aren’t
enough to overcome the laughably bad segments that Raw sometimes has which
results in the show being just good.
SmackDown on the other hand has looked like the premier show
that many people thought Raw would be. Despite having less airtime and talent,
the blue brand is thriving. Segments on the show have a purpose and are usually
very entertaining, matches are almost always good, and the creative team seems
to know how to craft storylines that get the most out of the wrestlers on the
roster. For example, the segment involving John Cena, A.J. Styles, and Dean
Ambrose was gold, and the story of Heath Slater has been a major highlight of
the blue brand. It might be the two-hour constraint compared to Raw’s three
hours, but SmackDown makes the most of its time and wastes very little
television with filler.
In conclusion, I believe that SmackDown has been the better
show. While I feel that Raw programming has dragged at certain points, the
programming on SmackDown seems concise and is usually always entertaining.
Maybe Raw will get better once the cruiserweight division takes shape and
steals some airtime away from the filler that really does not serve a purpose.
I really do not want to see any more “Old Day” segments on Raw anymore. That
was just painful to watch…
Monday, September 26, 2016
WWE Clash of Champions 2016 Thoughts
Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on WWE Clash of Champions 2016.
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Cincinnati Reds Get Your 'Stache On Garden Gnome Unboxing
My All-Time Favorite Cincinnati Bengals Game
With the 2016 NFL season officially underway, my Cincinnati
Bengals are once again looking to end the playoff win draught that has plagued
the Queen City for over 25 years. Being a lifelong Bengals fan, I have seen it
all. I was a kid during the Dark Ages of the 1990s, and I have experienced the
renaissance of this franchise during the Marvin Lewis era. I have seen dramatic
comebacks and primetime meltdowns. I experienced the lowest of lows during the
2015 playoff implosion, but I have also experienced the highest of highs such
as the 17 point comeback against the Seattle Seahawks. In fact, that is my
all-time favorite Bengals game, and in this post, I will explain why.
The game between the Seahawks and my beloved Bengals
happened during week 5 of the 2015 NFL season. The Bengals were riding a huge
wave of momentum after sprinting out of the gates to a 4-0 start. The Seahawks
were the Super Bowl champs in 2013 as well as the reigning 2014 NFC champions.
This game had a big fight feel to it and was hyped in Cincinnati in the week
leading up to the battle on the gridiron. Needless to say, it delivered.
The Bengals got off to a hot start by scoring on their
opening drive and taking a 7-0 lead. The Seahawks responded later in the
quarter and dominated the Bengals throughout the rest of the half and the
entire third quarter. By the time the fourth and final quarter of play started,
the Bengals were on the wrong end of a 24-7 score with the Seahawks’ “Legion of
Boom” standing in their way. It was not looking good for Who Dey Nation.
Despite being down, the team was not out and still fought
with determination and the will to win. Quarterback Andy Dalton connected with
Tyler Eifert for a touchdown, Eifert’s second receiving touchdown of the game,
to cut the lead to 10. Then with a little over three and half minutes left in
the game, Dalton called an audible at the line of scrimmage and ran the ball
into the end zone from five yards out to bring the Bengals within three points.
Time was not on the home team’s side but the defense was able to force the
Seahawks to punt the ball. After Adam Jones’ punt return was called back after
a controversial fair catch call, the Bengals had one last shot to put points on
the board.
They moved the ball down the field on a methodical drive
that was highlighted by a tremendous diving catch by Tyler Eifert while the
clock continued to tick. After a scramble by Dalton fell short of the first
down marker, the offense rushed off the field as the special teams unit
sprinted on with no timeouts left to use. Kicker Mike Nugent kicked the ball as
time ran out, and the ball sailed through the uprights! The Bengals had tied
the game at 24-24 and forced overtime!
Overtime was very competitive as both teams’ defensives were
able to force stops. Neither team seemed able to break through and end the game
with a scoring drive…until the Bengals were able to string together a couple of
offensive plays that put them in a position to win the game. With a little over
three and a half minutes left in overtime, Nugent ran onto the field to attempt
a 42-yard field goal. The snap was good, the hold was good, and the kick began
to sail to the left of the uprights in midflight. The ball hit the left post
but banked in for the win! The stadium erupted with cheers, and I was going
nuts on my couch! My beloved Cincinnati Bengals climbed out of a 17-point hole
and defeated the Seattle Seahawks 27-24 in overtime!
This was the most exciting Bengals game I have ever watched.
It was an emotional rollercoaster ride from start to finish, and by the time it
was over, I was exhausted. It was the peak of Bengals fever in 2015, and is one
of the first games I think about when discussing the 2015 Bengals teams. It is
my all-time favorite Bengals game as it had everything that makes the sport of
football so thrilling to watch. To see how incredible this game was, check out
the highlights here.
Who Dey!
Autograph Page Update
#Autograph Page Update @ https://t.co/ULDHSOUCJg With a New #Bengals Autograph#WhoDey #LetsRoar #NFL #DENvsCIN pic.twitter.com/s3zyhiiXgR— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) September 21, 2016
Photo Page Update
Photo Page Update @ https://t.co/JzwEdxiFEu With New #Bengals Pics#WhoDey #LetsRoar #DENvsCIN #BeyondTheStripes pic.twitter.com/PmxmfNxYjI— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) September 21, 2016
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Reds Bobbles vs. Reds Hall of Fame Bobbles 2016
For the past few weeks, I have been going over the
bobbleheads that the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum and the Cincinnati
Reds gave to fans in 2016. Since I got every bobblehead that both the team and
the hall of fame gave away to fans, I thought I would compare the lines of
nodders and determine who had the better series of bobbles. I will look at the
players featured, the appearance of the bobbles, and the overall quality of the
nodders in determining which bobblehead series reigns supreme for 2016.
For players featured, the Cincinnati Reds introduced the
bobblehead versions of two players who had not been immortalized as nodders in
Zack Cozart and Eugenio Suarez. There were also three repeat player bobbles
that had a unique twist to differentiate them from years past. They were nodders
of Vottomatic who is the superhero version of Joey Votto, a Cincinnati Reds /
Seattle Mariners Ken Griffey Jr. double bobblehead, and a Star Wars X-Wing
pilot Mr. Redlegs bobblehead. The Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum gave
out bobbleheads of Gary Nolan, Jack Billingham, Jim Maloney, Lee May, and Pete
Rose. For everybody but Rose, this was their bobblehead debut. The Rose bobble
was of him being inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame while the other bobbles
featured the Reds legends in their playing days. Since the Reds Hall of Fame
featured more new players as bobbles than the Reds, I’m giving this round to
the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum.
Next we will take a look at the overall appearance of the
nodders. The bobbleheads that the Reds gave away looked great. Suarez and
Cozart are in traditional Reds uniforms, Vottomatic is in a superhero outfit,
Ken Griffey Jr. is featured in both his Reds and Mariners uniform, and the Star
Wars Mr. Redlegs bobblehead features the mustached mascot of the Reds in an
X-Wing spaceship. The Reds Hall of Fame bobbles feature the players in
traditional Reds uniforms based on the era that the players were from with the
Rose bobblehead featuring Rose in his red hall of fame induction jacket. Based
on the uniqueness of the appearances of the Reds bobbleheads, I’m giving this
round to the Reds.
With both the Reds and the Reds Hall of Fame claiming a
point apiece, this round will determine which bobbleheads were of better
quality as well as who is the bobblehead champion of 2016. The overall quality
of the Reds bobbleheads was pretty good. The paintjobs on the players were
decent for the most part and the heads bobbled pretty well. However, the paintjobs
on the bases could have been better as the lettering for the names of the
players looked a little splotchy on some bobbles. Also, the bats that are held
in the hands of the Griffey Jr. bobble were pretty loose and would fall out
easily. The Reds Hall of Fame bobbles feature quality paintjobs on both the
players and the bases. The bat in Lee May’s hands fit snuggly, and Rose’s foot
screw into the base to keep the bobble in place. Therefore, the quality round
goes to the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum.
Based on a final score of 2-1, the Cincinnati Reds Hall of
Fame and Museum gave out the better line of bobbleheads in 2016. The players
were featured were mostly new, and the quality of the bobbles were topnotch.
The Reds bobbles had the better look, but the repeat players and shabby
paintjobs on the bases and the loose bats on the Girffey Jr. bobblehead were
the factors that gave the title of bobblehead champ to the Reds Hall of Fame.
That is not to say that the Reds bobbles are bad as they are in fact really
nice, but the Reds Hall of Fame bobbles were just better overall. If you are a
Reds fan, I suggest picking up both lines of bobbleheads for your collection.
Go Redlegs!
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Autograph Page Update
#Autograph Page Update @ https://t.co/ULDHSOUCJg With a New #Bengals Autograph#WhoDey #LetsRoar #NFL #CINvsPIT pic.twitter.com/YkhCwW5YPE— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) September 14, 2016
Photo Page Update
Photo Page Update @ https://t.co/JzwEdxiFEu With New #Bengals Pics#WhoDey #LetsRoar #CINvsPIT #BeyondTheStripes pic.twitter.com/qh1D6SDRqM— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) September 14, 2016
Monday, September 12, 2016
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Eugenio Suarez Bobblehead Unboxing
Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds SGA Eugenio Suarez bobblehead.
Cincinnati Reds 2016 Bobbleheads Review
In last week’s post, I wrote about the line of 2016
Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum bobbleheads. In this week’s post, I
will look at the entire line of 2016 Cincinnati Reds SGA bobbleheads. This was
the first time since 2013 that I got every bobblehead that that team gave away
to fans. This was a really good line of bobbles that the team gave away to
fans, and you will see why I think that in this post.
The first bobblehead the Cincinnati Reds gave out this year
was of Vottomatic, the superhero version of Reds first baseman Joey Votto. Had
this been another bobblehead of Votto in a regular Reds uniform, I would not
have added it to my collection but since he is in a pretty cool superhero
outfit, I thought it would make a great addition to my bobblehead collection.
The second bobblehead given out was a Star Wars X-Wing
Fighter Mr. Redlegs bobblehead. In my opinion, this is one of the coolest
nodders the team has ever produced. It features the mascot of the team in an
X-Wing, which is an awesome concept. I’m a big fan of both the Reds and Star
Wars, and this bobblehead is the best of both worlds.
The third nodder of the year was a Cincinnati Reds / Seattle
Mariners Ken Griffey Jr. double bobblehead. This was a special bobblehead that
was given out during the Seattle Mariners vs. Cincinnati Reds game because of
Griffey’s hall of fame induction. “The Kid” is one of my all-time favorite
baseball players so adding this bobble to my collection was a no-brainer. It
looks awesome and is easily one of the best bobbleheads of Ken Griffey Jr. that
I have ever seen.
The fourth bobblehead that the Reds gave away to fans was of
shortstop Zack Cozart. Cozart is one of the best defensive shortstops in Major
League Baseball today and has been a staple on the defensive side of the ball
for the Reds for the past few years. He routinely dazzles with amazing snags,
and his bobblehead has been long overdue. Being a defensive star, the Reds
obviously chose to have Cozart in a fielding stance. I think the bobblehead is
very cool and is a great bobble debut for the Reds starting shortstop.
The fifth and final bobblehead of the year was of Eugenio
Suarez. The Reds acquired Suarez from the Detroit Tigers last year and his
batting power made him an immediate fan favorite. This past season he was the
new starting third baseman and while he struggled in the beginning, he got
better as the season progressed and has become a pretty reliable player on the
defensive side of the diamond. This bobblehead features him swinging a bat though,
and it makes sense considering how his power is what made him known among Reds
fans.
In conclusion, the 2016 Cincinnati Reds SGA line of
bobbleheads is awesome. It features new players and unique twists on players
who have already had bobbles. I hope the Reds continue this trend of either
adding a unique feature to a player who has already had a bobblehead or by
issuing nodders of players who have never had a bobblehead. Based on this
year’s series of bobbles, the Reds are heading in the right direction.
Go Redlegs!
Bobblehead Page Update
#Bobblehead Page Update @ https://t.co/f6kg2Fon2e With a New #Reds Nodder#LetsGoReds #ATOBTTR #Bengals #FCCincy pic.twitter.com/M41Tem2kh9— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) September 7, 2016
Autograph Page Update
#Autograph Page Update @ https://t.co/ULDHSOUCJg With New #Bengals & #Xavier Autographs#WhoDey #LetsRoar #NFL #MLB pic.twitter.com/ymuKoWI7aJ— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) September 7, 2016
Photo Page Update
Photo Page Update @ https://t.co/JzwEdxiFEu With #Reds & #Bengals Pics#WhoDey #LetsRoar #Xavier #BeyondTheStripes pic.twitter.com/Cf9ONDOuIo— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) September 7, 2016
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