Sporting News Galore in Cincinnati

It was a huge week for fans of Cincinnati sports teams. The Bearcats, the Reds, the Cyclones, and the Bengals all made news this week.

Let’s start with the Bearcats. On Friday, the University of Cincinnati Bearcats played host to the Bulls of South Florida. After cruising to a 20-3 lead in the first half, quarterback Gunner Kiel left the game with what appeared to be a rib injury. Prior to leaving the game, Kiel was having an excellent performance as he not only threw for 196 yards and a touchdown, but he also ran one in himself. Backup quarterback Munchie Legaux came in and closed out the game as the Bearcats defeated the Bulls 34-17.

The Cincinnati Cyclones are the next topic of discussion as they played their home opener on Saturday night against the Kalamazoo Wings. After grabbing a 2-1 lead, the Cyclones collapsed as the Wings scored seven unanswered goals in route to an 8-2 shellacking of the Queen City hockey team. Curtis Valk led the Winds with three points. Wade Megan and Andrew Yogan netted the only two goals for the Cyclones. The team looks to bounce back as they take on the Quad City Mallards next weekend.

Even though the baseball season is in its final week, the Cincinnati Reds are still making some noise as three players were named as gold glove finalists. Center fielder Billy Hamilton, shortstop Zack Cozart, and second baseman Brandon Phillips are all in the running to win gold glove awards.

Hamilton was simply incredible in center field as he made many phenomenal plays all year. The most recent one that comes to my mind is the homerun robbing catch he had against the Milwaukee Brewers. You can see that play here. Cozart routinely dazzled at the shortstop position as he flashed the leather on a daily basis for the Reds this past season, and despite injuring his thumb just before the All-Star break, Phillips did what Phillips does best and that is make incredible defense look ridiculously easy all year. Should these three players win Gold Gloves, it will be the first for Hamilton and Cozart and the fifth for Phillips.

The Cincinnati Bengals will conclude this post. On Sunday, the Bengals played host to the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore was one of the hottest teams in the NFL and entered the game with a 5-2 record. After the Bengals were shutout the week before by the Indianapolis Colts, you would have thought the sky was falling in Cincinnati; however, the Bengals rewarded those who remained faithful to Who-Dey Nation with a monumental win over the Ravens.

The game was a thriller as these two rivals went toe to toe with first place in the division on the line. The Bengals grabbed the lead early and held it until late in the game when the Ravens capitalized on two turnovers and snatched a 24-20 lead. As the cameras showed people heading to the exits of Paul Brown Stadium, the Bengal believers who remained were treated to one of the most thrilling endings to a game this season.

After starting the drive with two incompletions, the Bengals offense got hot as key catches by mighty Mo Sanu and Greg Little put the Bengals in prime position to reclaim the lead. Quarterback Andy Dalton took it in for the score from 1.5 yards out on fourth and goal with 57 seconds remaining in the game to make it 27-24 in favor of the Bengals. After an 80-yard touchdown bomb was wiped off the scoreboard due to offensive pass interference when Ravens reciever Steve Smith pushed off against Bengals safety George Iloka, the Ravens were faced with a fourth and 20. The defense then stood tall and sealed the deal as the Bengals beat the Ravens 27-24 and reclaimed the top spot in the AFC North. You can watch the game highlights here.

It was a big week for Cincinnati sports as the Bearcats beat the Bulls of South Florida, the Cyclones had their home opener, three members of the Redlegs were named Gold Glove finalists, and the Bengals regained first place in the division. I love being a Cincinnati sports fan!

Go Bearcats, go Cyclones, go Redlegs, and Who-Dey!

My Favorite Team Favorited My Tweet

This made my day. Even though it does not seem like a big deal, as diehard fan of the Redlegs, I was thrilled when I was notified they favorited my tweet. Hopefully it is a sign that the Reds will indeed give out a Devin Mesoraco bobblehead next season! You should favorite this tweet too, and while you're at it, give it a retweet and follow me on twitter @cincyfanzone!

Tony Perez Bobblehead Review

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone reviews the 2005 Cincinnati Reds SGA Tony Perez bobblehead.

3-0 Forever Ago

If you are a member of Who-Dey Nation, then you know the feeling of glum and disparity that has been hanging over the Queen City for the last few weeks, especially after the Bengals were blanked by the Indianapolis Colts in a 27-0 loss that really should have been much worse.

The last time the Bengals recorded a win was during week three of the NFL season when they cruised to a 33-7 win over the Tennessee Titans. This was the last time the Bengals looked phenomenal in all phases of the game. They dominated the Titans on the field, and they even pulled the starters out of the game towards the end of it. They were 3-0 and sitting atop the tough AFC North Division. The Bengals could not have gone into the bye week on a higher note.

That was four weeks ago, and to Bengals fans all around the world, it almost seems like an eternity ago. Following the bye week, the Bengals were crushed by the New England Patriots in a 43-17 bloodbath that saw the Cincinnati football squad once again suffer a meltdown in a primetime game.

The following week, the Bengals played host to the NFC South leading Carolina Panthers. This was a huge opportunity for the Bengals to not only extend their regular season home winning streak, but also rebound from the pummeling they suffered at the hands of the Patriots by defeating a quality team. If you read my “Terrible Ties” post, then you know this was not the case as the game ended in a 37-37 tie when Bengals kicker Mike Nugent missed a very makeable field goal as time expired in overtime.

This brings us to this past Sunday when the Bengals took on the AFC South leading Indianapolis Colts. Not only were they shutout, but the defense allowed the Colts to amass over 500 yards, and the offense had so many three and outs that I lost count. Had the Colts not turned the ball over twice, this game would have been a massacre.

Why are the Bengals playing like a peewee team? I realize that they have suffered numerous injuries to key players like A.J. Green, Marvin Jones, Tyler Eifert, and Rey Maualuga among others, but this is not the only reason as to why they have played so poor. Ever since the bye week, the defense has struggled mightily as they have allowed opposing offenses to score 107 points in three games. Mike Nugent has missed six field goals in six games. The offensive production has been spotty, as it looked great against the Panthers but awful against the Colts and the Patriots.

Thankfully, the NFL season consists of 16 games, and the Bengals will have the opportunity to catch the Baltimore Ravens, who now lead the AFC North, when they pay a visit to Paul Brown Stadium next Sunday. They will then host the Jacksonville Jaguars followed by the Cleveland Browns in a Thursday night battle of Ohio. Hopefully the Bengals will get the season sweep of the Ravens and defeat the Jaguars and the Browns to reclaim the top spot in the AFC North. All of these games will be played at home, and usually the Bengals play great football in Paul Brown Stadium.

Keep the faith Who-Dey Nation. While 3-0 seems like a distant memory, the Bengals are still in the thick of things and have a chance to improve their 3-2-1 record to that of 6-2-1. Players will get healthy, adjustments and improvements will be made, and the gloom hanging over Cincinnati will vanish. I still believe they are very capable of bringing home the Lombardi Trophy this year!

Who-Dey!

Jerrell Freeman Follows Me!

I'm pretty stoked that Jerrell Freeman of the Indianapolis Colts follows me on Twitter! You should too! @cincyfanzone

Joe Morgan Bobblehead Review

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone reviews the 2013 Forever Collectibles Legends of the Diamond Cincinnati Reds Joe Morgan bobblehead.

Terrible Ties

The Cincinnati Bengals and the Carolina Panthers battled it out in one of the best games of the 2014 season. It was an overtime thriller that was building to a very dramatic and heart-stopping finish...or so we thought. The game ended in a 37-37 tie. Lame.

This is the second time in six years in which the Bengals had a game end in a tie. The 2008 Bengals tied with the Eagles when the score was 13-13 at the end of overtime. Both the Panthers and the Bengals had a chance to win the game in overtime, with the Bengals having a golden opportunity toward the end of the game. Bengals kicker Mike Nugent, however, absolutely shanked a very makeable field goal attempt as time expired to end the game in a draw.

Now some people might say at least they did not lose, and while that is true, they did not win either. Nobody won here. The Panthers didn't win. The Bengals didn't win. The fans didn't win. Nobody wins with a tie. It's a very anticlimactic way to end a game in one of the most thrilling sports in the world. It feels as if the game didn't even take place and because of that, the NFL needs to rework its overtime system.

Why not do what college football does? Put the ball on the 25-yard line and keep going until a team does not score. If the game reaches triple overtime, then the teams are only allowed to go for 2 point conversions. It makes perfect sense, and it always works. College games cannot end in a tie. You have a loser and a winner every time. The rules are also easier to understand. 

The NFL’s rules say that the team that received the ball first wins if they get a touchdown, but if they kick a field goal, the other team gets a shot. If the other team scores a touchdown, then they win but if they kick a field goal to tie up the game, then the next team to score wins. However, if the other team's defense gets a safety on the team that received the ball first, then the other team wins. Also, if the team that received the ball first does not score, then the next team to score wins. If the game is still tied at the end of the overtime period, then the game ends in a draw. Pretty confusing, right?

These are the stupidest overtime rules for any sport. They are confusing, and they still allow for a game to end in a tie. That's why I think college football has the right idea. If the NFL wants to be "different," then they should put their own spin on the college football rules such as putting the ball at the 30 yard line or only allowing 2 point conversions following a touchdown. Just make it so the fans are guaranteed a loser and a winner.

The bottom line is this. The NFL needs new overtime rules. Nobody likes a tie. So Commissioner Goodell, please consider changing how overtime works by eradicating the possibility of a draw. It will determine who lost and who won, and it will make everybody a lot happier.

Ties suck!

Reds Recap 2014

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone discusses the 2014 season of the Cincinnati Reds.

Dunn is Done

Following Oakland’s early exit from the postseason, Adam Dunn, a former Cincinnati Red, has called it a career.

Dunn started his career with the Cincinnati Reds in 2001 and bounced around the league after he was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008. He went on to play with the Washington Nationals and the Chicago White Sox before ending his career with the Oakland Athletics.

Dunn never played in a postseason game. It looked like he would have his shot in the American League Wild Card Game against the Kansas City Royals, but unfortunately for Dunn, he never got off the bench as the Athletics fell to the Royals in a 9-8, 12 inning thriller.

Even though Dunn did strike out a lot, he had some of his best years with the Reds and hit 270 homers during his time with the team, which is fourth most all time in Reds history. His best moment with the Redlegs was in 2006, when he hit a two out walk-off grand slam to give the Reds a 9-8 victory over the Cleveland Indians. You can relive that moment here.

Dunn was one of the most popular Reds players during my childhood, and was one of my favorites as a kid. In fact, his 2002 Reds nodder was one of the first bobbleheads I had in my collection. I also have a Louisville Riverbats bobblehead of him as well as a limited edition Adam Dunn baseball that was sold by Burger King during a special cross promotion they had with the Reds. Needless to say, I was a big Adam Dunn fan.

Happy retirement Big Donkey, and thanks for the memories.

Legacy Bobbin' Head Cincinnati Bengals Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes the Legacy Bobbin' Head Cincinnati Bengals Bobblehead.

Going Out With a Bang

On Sunday, the 2014 Major League Baseball season officially came to an end for the Cincinnati Reds. Even though the second half of the season for the Redlegs was quite awful, the last two games of the season gave Reds Country something to celebrate.

On Saturday during the second game of the three game series with the Pirates, the Reds' bats awoke from their slumber. They got nine hits and were able to move runners across the plate. The Pirates were also swinging the lumber well and got eight hits off Reds pitching. After nine innings, the Reds and Pirates were in a 6-6 tie.

The Reds held the Pirates scoreless in the top of the 10th and were in prime position for a walk-off win after they loaded the bases in the bottom half of the inning with only one out. However, Brayan Peña hit a popup for the second out of the inning, and it looked like the Reds would squander a golden opportunity.

Enter Ramon Santiago. All the Redlegs needed was a hit, and Santiago delivered in a huge way. He blasted the ball to the left field stands for a walk-off grand slam to give the Reds a 10-6 victory over the Pirates. You can see Santiago’s grand slam here.

Sunday was a different type of ballgame. Instead of both teams scoring runs at will, the game was deadlocked at a 1-1 tie. With a runner on third and one away in the bottom of the eighth inning, Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto hit a ground ball single up the middle of the field to score the go-ahead run. Kristopher Negron added some insurance runs with a 2 run homer before Chapman came in and slammed the door on the Pirates, giving Cueto his 20th win of the season. You can see Cueto’s rbi single here.

The Reds looked good during these two games, and the back-to-back wins over the Pirates this weekend helped cushion the blow of a losing season coming to an end. Even though the Reds are not going to be playing October baseball, the last images of the 2014 season definitely give Reds Country something to look forward to in 2015.

Go Redlegs!

Updated Photo Page

UPDATED PIC PAGE! #BENGALS GAME, BEYOND THE STRIPES, BENGALS NATION PICS at http://t.co/urHRpUV00z #WhoDey #LetsRoar pic.twitter.com/69BglxBmfe
— Cincy Fan Zone (@cincyfanzone) September 25, 2014

George Iloka Retweeted Me!

Thanks for the autgograph @George_iloka you da man! Who dey! pic.twitter.com/ne1EnVVu4j
— Cincy Fan Zone (@cincyfanzone) September 24, 2014

Bobblehead Page Update

BOBBLEHEAD PAGE HAS BEEN UPDATED with a NEW #BENGALS NODDER! Check it out at http://t.co/KQOaS0nlLO #reds #bobblehead #MLB #NFL #WhoDey

— Cincy Fan Zone (@cincyfanzone) September 24, 2014

WWE Night of Champions 2014 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on WWE Night of Champions 2014 and the potential aftermath.

Meet Marvin

If you are a fan of Marvin Lewis, then this is the week for you. Fans of the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals will have the opportunity to see Marvin Lewis in person on Tuesday at Moerlein Lager House and on Wednesday at the Holy Grail Tavern & Grille.

On Tuesday during “Beyond the Stripes” presented by Enquirer Sports at Moerlein Lager House, Marvin Lewis will be the special guest for the football discussion show. Fans usually have the opportunity to attain an autograph from the special guest, so if you do not have the head coach’s signature, you might want to check out this event.

On Wednesday during Local 12’s taping of “Bengals Nation” at the Holy Grail Tavern & Grille, members of Who Dey country will have the opportunity to again see the coach as well as safety George Iloka. Usually the guest player will sign autographs at “Bengals Nation,” but with Marvin Lewis also being scheduled to appear at the event, fans might be able to get both Iloka’s and the coach’s autograph.

Both of these events are great for fans of the Bengals, and I highly recommend going to at least one of them. Even though I got the coach’s autograph on a football at training camp this year, I plan on going to one of these events this week to try to get his signature on my Marvin Lewis bobblehead.

Who Dey!

Updated Photo Page

More pics from #Bengals Nation like this on the UPDATED Cincy Fan Zone Photo Page at http://t.co/urHRpUV00z #whodey pic.twitter.com/caFrUBNPrl

— Cincy Fan Zone (@cincyfanzone) September 18, 2014

Bruskies with the Bengals

Ever wanted to knock back a few beers with your favorite Bengals players? Well you won't be able to drink with them, but you can drink and meet them on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during football season.

On Tuesdays at Moerlein Lager House at 7 p.m., Enquirer Sports presents "Beyond the Stripes," a weekly talk show featuring Enquirer Sports reporters discussing football. Aside from the discussion, the show also features a guest in the form of a bengals player. Sometimes the featured player will show off a talent or partake in a trivia game before signing a few autographs for the fans. If you can't make it, you can catch the live online stream of the event at cincinnati.com or on the free Enquirer Sports football app.

On Wednesdays at Holy Grail Tavern and Grille, Local 12 tapes Bengals Nation, a television show focusing on the Bengals that features Marvin Lewis and a guest player each week. Fans in attendance have the opportunity to play games for prizes, attain an autograph from the guest player, and enter a raffle for a chance to win tickets to a Bengals game. In case you are not able to go, you can watch Bengals Nation on Local 12 when it airs on Saturdays at 11:35 p.m.

Both of these events are great opportunities for Bengals fans to meet some of their favorite players as well as get some autographs. I have been to a few of these events and have gotten autographs every time. I was even picked to play a game during the Bengals Nation taping and won a $25 gift card to the Bengals Pro Shop. If you haven't attended to any of these events, I highly recommend you go.

Who-Dey!

Reds 1990 World Series Stein Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds 1990 World Series stein.

New Cincy Fan Zone Photo Page

NEW Cincy Fan Zone PHOTO Page at http://t.co/urHRpUV00z #Reds #Bengals #florencefreedom #whodey #letsroar #photography #NFL #MLB
— Cincy Fan Zone (@cincyfanzone) September 12, 2014

Green's Great Grabs

If you watched the Bengals game on Sunday, then you saw the cardiac cats blow a 15-0 lead to the Ravens only to come back and win when Andy Dalton threw a 77-yard bomb to A.J. Green who juggled the ball before securing it and taking it into the end zone. It was an incredible catch and reminiscent of what Green did in Baltimore last year.

The Bengals were down by a touchdown with seconds left in the game. The ball was on their own 49-yard line, and Dalton threw up a prayer. The ball sailed toward the end zone and bounced around twice before landing into the waiting hands of A.J. Green for the touchdown. Unfortunately, the Bengals lost the game in overtime, but what is most remembered from this game is Green’s Hail Mary grab. The catch can be seen here.

On Sunday, Green was once again able to dazzle fans of Who-Dey nation with another incredible catch. He has said multiple times that he was trained in the art of juggling as a kid, and he inadvertently showed off his juggling ability during the game. The Bengals offense had not scored a touchdown all day as they built their 15-0 lead with five field goals. The Ravens climbed back into the game and grabbed a 16-15 lead. With a little over 5 minutes left in the game and the ball on their own 23-yard line, Dalton threw the ball to Green who caught it, juggled it, and caught it again before taking it in for the score. It was the most exciting play of the game, and it gave the Bengals the win. The juggling catch can be seen here.

Green is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, and these two catches are prime examples of why he is one of the best offensive weapons for the Bengals. I jumped up and cheered like crazy when he made the two phenomenal grabs. The catches were exciting to watch, and they will definitely be featured in the Bengals highlight reel for years to come. Hopefully Green continues to make more phenomenal catches for the Bengals and help lead them to more victories.

Who-Dey!

Bengals 2014 Season Outlook

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on the Cincinnati Bengals and the upcoming season.

Mr. Redlegs 2015 All-Star Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes the Cincinnati Reds SGA Mr. Redlegs 2015 All-Star Bobblehead.

Bobblehead Page Update

BOBBLEHEAD PAGE has been UPDATED with Mr Redlegs 2015 All-Star bobblehead. http://t.co/QxrltFGuJO unboxing vid soon #Reds #bobblehead #MLB

— Cincy Fan Zone (@cincyfanzone) August 30, 2014

Big Week for Pete

For the Hit King and all of his loyal subjects, this upcoming week is going to be one to remember, as he will be honored by both the Florence Freedom and the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum.

On Tuesday, September 2, the Florence Freedom will host Pete Rose Night at UC Health Stadium when the Freedom take on the River City Rascals. Rose will be at the game, coaching first base and third base for a few innings. He will also lead off for the Freedom in the bottom of the 1^st inning for pictures before having the Freedom bring in a pinch hitter. He will also throw out the ceremonial first pitch as well as have his number retired during a ceremony that is to take place during the 7^th inning stretch.

Tickets for this game can be bought for as low as $14. Also available for purchase are special packages that include autographed items, pictures, and a meet and greet with Rose himself. Additional information can be found on the Florence Freedom website.

On Friday, September 5, the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum will honor Rose with a bobblehead giveaway. The bobblehead will be free with the purchase of a full-priced admission to the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum or Scotts Great American Ballpark Tour on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays throughout September. The Rose bobblehead will be the last nodder given out by the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum during the 2014 season. General admission tickets for the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum cost $10.

The Rose nodder will most likely be the hottest giveaway of the year for the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum. Every bobblehead supply has been exhausted, and the Rose bobblehead could be exhausted by the end of the weekend, so if you plan on getting one without the help of eBay, you might want to consider visiting the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum early on Friday.

If you are a fan of Rose, then you defiantly want to consider checking out at least one of these two events. Rose’s appearance at the Freedom game could spark some national interest, and the bobblehead could be one of the most valuable nodders the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum has ever given out to guests. Rose fans should also check out the online petition to get him reinstated into Major League Baseball. The petition can be found here.

I already have a Pete Rose bobblehead, so I will not be heading to the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum. However, his appearance at the Freedom game sounds pretty cool, and I might get tickets for that. Hopefully he will be involved with the All-Star game next year when it is at Great American Ballpark, and maybe some day he will take his rightful place in Cooperstown.

Rose for the Hall!

Hang in There Reds Country

The Reds have struggled mightily since the All-Star break, going from NL Central contenders to a team desperate to grab a wildcard spot. Winning has almost been nonexistent for this team, especially during this past week in which the Reds lost seven games in a row.

The Reds’ postseason dreams seemed to be fading fast, and the frustrations they had been battling all season were on full display. Baseball, however, is game that can change in an instant, and a team that was icy one week can become scorching the next. Fans in Cincinnati should know all about this because that is exactly what happened to the Reds earlier in the season.

The Reds looked like they were out of the pennant race in May, but as the summer went on, the team hit their stride and started reeling off win after win. By the All-Star break, they had climbed from fourth in the division to 1.5 games out of first place. They were on the hottest streak of the season and seemed to pull out victories every time they played. Unfortunately, they have tumbled back to fourth, but they still have a shot.

With five weeks left in the season, the Redlegs are six games out in the wild card race. Before the season ends, they play the Pirates and the Cardinals, two teams ahead of them in the wildcard standings, and earning wins over these teams is a must, as it would allow the Reds to climb over them and into a wildcard spot. The door to the wildcard opened up a bit more as Phillips returned to the lineup, and Simon pitched his best game since before the All-Star break on Sunday in a 5-3 Reds’ victory over the Braves.

Coming up next for the Reds is the NL Central cellar dweller Cubs, a team the Redlegs should beat. Should they sweep the Cubbies out of the Queen City and extend their winning streak to five games in a row, a hot streak could be on the horizon, and all of the doubt and disparity surrounding this team will disappear as their chance of playing in October grows. So hang in there Reds Country. This team has climbed up the standings before. They certainly can do it again.

Go Redlegs!

Giovani Bernard Bobblehead "Unboxing"

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone "unboxes" the 2014 Florence Freedom SGA unofficial Cincinnati Bengals Giovani Bernard bobblehead.

WWE SummerSlam 2014 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on WWE SummerSlam 2014.

Reds Save Best for Last

With the exception of the Billy Hamilton nodder and the bobbleheads given out by the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum, there really hasn't been any Reds bobblehead that has been the must have SGA item of the season. That will change this Saturday when the Reds host the Atlanta Braves, as they will be giving out a limited edition Mr. Redlegs bobblehead that celebrates Cincinnati being the host city for the 2015 MLB All-Star Game.

The bobblehead will be free to the first 25,000 fans in attendance, so if you plan on getting one, make sure you arrive early, as this could be the hottest giveaway of the year. The all-star nodder is the last bobblehead the Reds will be giving out this season.

A picture of the bobblehead has been posted on the Reds’ website, and in my opinion, the nodder looks great. Not only does the bobblehead feature the 2015 all-star game logo as well as signify how the Reds will host the 2015 midsummer classic, but it also pays homage to the past all-star games that took place in the Queen City.

This has been the bobblehead game I have been looking forward to the most this season, and this nodder has the potential to be one of the rarest bobbleheads the Reds have ever given out to the fans, possibly becoming as rare as the 2002 Eric Davis nodder. I bought tickets for this game back in May and cannot wait to add this bobblehead to my collection. The only thing that could make this game better would be a Redlegs win.

Go Reds!

Football at the Ballpark

On Sunday, the Florence Freedom have one question for you. Are you ready for some football?

This Sunday, August 17, at 5:05 pm, the Florence Freedom will have “Are You Ready for Some Football Night” at UC Health Stadium when they take on the Joliet Slammers. The giveaway item for this event is a bobblehead of the dynamic Cincinnati Bengals running back, Giovani Bernard. For those of you who do not know who the Florence Freedom are, they are a Frontier League baseball team located in Florence, KY.

This will be the third and final Freedom bobblehead giveaway game of the year. Earlier this year, the Freedom gave out nodders of Shakey Shaw, owner of Shakey’s Pub and Grub, and of John Calipari, head basketball coach for the University of Kentucky. I did not got to these bobblehead games as I did not really care for the Shaw nodder, and I am a Louisville Cardinals fan so getting the Calipari bobblehead would have been sacrilege.

Being a diehard fan of the Bengals, attaining the Giovani Bernard bobblehead is a must, so I will be attending the game. There is a picture of the bobblehead on the Florence Freedom website, and it looks pretty cool.

Tickets for the game can be purchased online or at UC Health Stadium for as low as $10. Members of the eFlock, the Florence Freedom online newsletter club, can purchase tickets for as low as $8. If you are a fan of the Freedom, the Bengals, or both, you definitely want to consider going to this game to get the Bernard bobblehead.

Go Freedom and Who-Dey!

David Fulcher Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes an autographed Cincinnati Bengals David Fulcher bobblehead.

The 115 Million Dollar Man

While one half of Cincinnati rejoiced on Monday, the other half cried out in agony. The reason? Andy Dalton and the Cincinnati Bengals agreed to a six year $115 million dollar contract.

This was a huge shock to fans of the Bengals, myself included. Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever imagined that the Bengals would shell out that kind of cash to lock up Dalton to a contract before he won a postseason game.

As I said in the “The Dalton Dilemma,” I believed that Dalton’s contract should have been based on what he does this upcoming season. Even though Dalton has helped lead the team to three straight playoff appearances in his first three seasons with the team, the Bengals have lost every single time, and Dalton’s performance in the postseason has been underwhelming as he has thrown only one touchdown and six picks.

This contract is very similar to San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s contract. Both were drafted in 2011, and both have guided their teams to the postseason. The huge difference between these two men is that Kaepernick has actually won in the playoffs while Dalton has struggled mightily and has yet to give Cincinnati its first NFL postseason win since 1990. So while many people feel Kaepernick has earned his money, many more feel that Dalton has not, which is why his lucrative contract blindsided many Bengal fans.

This contract also brings with it many ripple effects, mainly what to do with other players on the Bengals such as Vontaze Burfict and A.J. Green. As of now, Burfict and the Bengals have not agreed to a new contract, and the Bengals exercised their fifth year option on Green. Burfict has been one of the best defensive investments the Bengals have had in years, and he is, unquestionably, worth a ton of money. Green has been Dalton’s favorite target ever since the two started their NFL careers together in the Queen City, and it can be argued that Dalton would not have had so much success as the quarterback of the Bengals had it not been for Green. Seeing as how Dalton signed an enormous contract, Green could demand a similar contract should he choose to stay with the Bengals.

Now I am not bashing Dalton. In fact, I am one of the few Bengal fans that like Dalton as he has been the most successful quarterback of the Bengals I have seen in my lifetime. However, giving him a contract based on seasons in which his playoff performances were lackluster with postseason victories being nonexistent seems foolish to me. But it is Mike Brown’s money, and he can do with it whatever he wants. All I can do is continue to root for the Bengals and hope they bring the Lombardi Trophy to Cincinnati.

Who-Dey!

Training Camp Tips

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone gives some advice on getting autographs at the training camp sessions of the Cincinnati Bengals.

New Cincy Fan Zone Bobblehead Page

New bobblehead page is now live on Cincy Fan Zone website at http://t.co/o1Zxf8kkzx! Check it out #Reds #Bengals #bobblehead

— Cincy Fan Zone (@cincyfanzone) July 31, 2014

Larkin is Coming Home…Sort Of

One of Cincinnati’s favorite sons is coming back to the Queen City in the form of a bobblehead. Starting this weekend, the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum will be giving away bobbleheads of former Cincinnati Reds shortstop and 2012 Major League Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, Barry Larkin.

The bobbleheads will be free with the purchase of a full price admission to the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays throughout the month of August starting on Friday, August 1. Tickets cost $10 for adults, $8 for students and senior citizens, and $6 for all active and former members of the military. There is a strict one bobblehead per visitor per day rule.

Considering how the Reds gave out Barry Larkin bobbleheads in 2001 and in 2006, I would expect demand for this nodder to be less than that of the Eric Davis nodder that was given out in July. However, Larkin is one of the more popular Reds from the 1990 World Series Championship team, and if you want this bobblehead, I suggest you get to the Hall of Fame and Museum as soon as possible as only 6000 bobbleheads were produced, and the supply might deplete rather quickly.

I have the Barry Larkin bobblehead that the Reds gave out during the 2006 season, so I will not be heading to the Hall of Fame and Museum to get the 2014 edition. Pictures of the 2014 version are online, and it does look like a cool bobblehead, so if you do not yet have a Larkin nodder in your collection, you might want to consider heading to the Hall of Fame and Museum to get one for yourself.

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Bengals Training Camp is Almost Here

Have you ever wanted to see your Cincinnati Bengals practice for the upcoming season? Now you can as the Cincinnati Bengals 2014 Training Camp starts Thursday, July 24 at 3 p.m.

Most of the practices will take place on the practice fields located to the west of Paul Brown Stadium. The only practices to take place in Paul Brown Stadium are the two “Family Day” events. The first will take place at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 2, and the other will happen on Saturday, August 9 at 3 p.m.

“Family Day” practice sessions feature things for kids such as face painters and balloon artists among other activities, as well as the opportunity for fans to win Bengal prize packs as well as purchase game tickets. Also, the first 1000 kids at the “Family Day” practices will get a free Cincinnati Bengals give-away item.

Training Camp is also a great opportunity for fans to get autographs of their favorite players. At the conclusion of each practice session, groups of players will be available for autographs for 15 minutes. The best time to get autographs is the “Family Day” practices as the entire roster of players is available to sign autographs once practice ends.

Training Camp is always a lot of fun to attend. You get to see the Bengals practice, and it offers a unique opportunity to interact with the players. I have been to the Bengals’ Training Camp three times, once when it was still held at Georgetown College and twice at Paul Brown Stadium, and all three times have been great. It is a fun way to get pumped up for the upcoming season, and I highly recommend attending at least one session.

Who Dey!

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Four Reds Shine Bright

What could be better than winning a three-game home series against the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers? Being named to the National League All-Star team the very same day.

Aroldis Chapman, Johnny Cueto, Todd Frazier, and Devin Mesoraco will represent the Cincinnati Reds at Target Field in Minneapolis, MN, on July 15, as all four of these men were named members of the N.L. All-Star team.

This is the first All-Star appearance for everybody but Chapman as he made the N.L. All-Star team in 2012 and 2013. All four of these Reds are very deserving of this honor, and all but Mesoraco were voted in by the players. Mesoraco was named to the team by St. Louis Cardinals and N.L. All-Star team manager Mike Matheny.

Chapman has bounced back brilliantly from his horrifying spring training injury, recording 17 saves so far this season. Cueto has been the ace of the staff and has a record of 8-6 and a 1.99 ERA. Frazier has rebounded after last season’s slump and currently has a batting average of .291 while driving in 47 runs. Mesoraco is excelling in his first full year as starting catcher, as the Punxsutawney Powerhouse has driven in 42 runs while attaining a batting average of .317.

Congrats to these four players as they will make the Queen City proud during the All-Star break. I hope to see all four, as well as more Reds players, make the N.L. All-Star team next season as Great American Ball Park will be the site of 2015’s MLB All-Star Game. 

(On a side-note, I do not have a Devin Mesoraco bobblehead since the Reds have not released one, which is why he is not in the picture. Based on his performance so far this season, I believe the Reds should immortalize him with a bobblehead next season. Make it happen Reds!)

Welcome to Raw is Jericho

The night after Money in the Bank was almost as big as the actual pay-per-view itself. After an almost one year absence, Chris Jericho returned to the WWE on Monday’s episode of Raw.

Y2J‘s Monday night homecoming occurred as the Miz was cutting a promo for his new movie, The Marine 4: Moving Target. After interrupting the former Real World star, Jericho hit the Miz with a codebreaker much to the delight of both the crowd and myself. Just when Jerichoholics thought it could not get any better, WWE showed why they can be masters in both entertainment and surprises.

Following the codebreaker to the Miz, the Wyatt Family entered the ring and stared at Jericho. The intense stare down between the Ayatollah of Rock 'n' Rolla and the Wyatts had the crowd chanting, “this is awesome.” The Wyatts then attacked Jericho, setting up what seems to be a great summer rivalry that will culminate at SummerSlam.

I am a big Chris Jericho fan and was thrilled to see him come back on Monday. He is a master of debuts and returns, and Monday’s episode of Raw proved it. I can’t wait to see how this Jericho vs. Wyatt rivalry plays out during the summer months and hopefully, Jericho can work his magic and help take Bray Wyatt to the next level.

Brokenhearted in Brazil

The hearts of American soccer fans broke all over the world yesterday, as Belgium defeated the United States by a score of 2 – 1 in a World Cup thriller.

The match itself was filled with drama as outstanding goal keeping by Tim Howard of the United States held Belgium scoreless during regulation, sending the game into extra time. During the first period of extra time, however, things took a turn for the worse for the Americans.

Kevin De Bruyne of Belgium scored the first goal of the game during the third minute of extra time to give Belgium a 1 – 0 lead. Nine minutes later, Romelu Lukaku scored a goal to make it a 2 – 0 game in favor of Belgium.

During the second extra time period, a glimmer of hope for American soccer fans was provided by the youngest player on Team U.S.A., Julian Green, as he scored at the 107^th minute of the match. The Americans then began attacking the goal at a frantic pace and almost pulled even with Belgium when Clint Dempsey’s shot was stopped by Belgium goalie Thibaut Courtois at the game’s 114^th minute. Belgium was able to hold on for the 2 – 1 win.

This game was the very definition of a heartbreaker, and it had moments of despair and frustration as well as times of excitement and jubilation. It was an unbelievable match to watch, and it really showed how resilient the American team was. The Men's National Team has nothing to be ashamed about, as they were able to capture the heart of a nation with soccer. Based on their performance in the World Cup, things look pretty bright for the American soccer team as they begin looking toward the next World Cup.

Celebrate the 4th with Eric

If you missed your chance in 2002 to get an Eric Davis Cincinnati Reds bobblehead, fear not as Independence Day will give you another opportunity. Starting on July 4, the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum will release an Eric Davis bobblehead.

The bobbleheads will be free with the purchase of a full price admission to the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays throughout the month of July. Tickets cost $10 for adults, $8 for students and senior citizens, and $6 for all active members of the military and veterans.

There is a strict one bobblehead per visitor per day rule, so if you plan on getting more than one without the help of eBay, plan on attending the Hall of Fame and Museum once a day over the weekend. If you want this bobblehead, make sure you get to the Hall of Fame and Museum as soon as possible as only 6000 bobbleheads were produced with a few of these bobbleheads being reserved for Hall of Fame and Museum members.

I have the 2002 Eric Davis Cincinnati Reds bobblehead as evident by the picture, so I will not be heading to the Hall of Fame and Museum to get the new one. It does look pretty cool though, and it is the third bobblehead in the five-bobblehead series. More details about the bobblehead can be found on the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum website.

WWE Money in the Bank 2014 Thoughts

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