Holding on in Houston

While the Cincinnati Bengals cruised to a an easy 27-10 victory over the New Orleans Saints last week in the Superdome, their game this week was an entirely different story but with the same result as the Bengals paid a visit to the Houston Texans and came away with an ugly 22-13 win.

Even though the win was ugly, the entire game itself was not as the first half was comparable to the game against the Saints in that, for the most part, it was a thing of beauty. The Bengals grabbed a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter when quarterback Andy Dalton connected with wide receiver mighty Mo Sanu for a six-yard touchdown. The defense later added a safety to make the score at the half 9-3 in favor of the Bengals.

The Bengals looked good at the start of the third quarter as Rey Maualuga picked off Texans quarterback Ryan Mallett during Houston’s first offensive drive of the second half. Bengals running back Jeremy Hill took into the end zone a few plays later to give the Bengals a 16-3 lead. Then things got ugly.

NRG Stadium has been a house of horrors for the Bengals in recent years. The Bengals played the Texans in the playoffs two years in a row in Houston, and both times, the Texans sent the Bengals home with a playoff loss. It appeared that the Texans were going to send the team packing with a third straight defeat at NRG Stadium.

The Texans’ comeback attempt started when former Cincinnati Bengals and current Houston Texans cornerback Jonathan Joseph picked off Dalton and took it to the end zone for a touchdown to bring the Texans within six of the Bengals. The Texans would later add a field goal to make it a 16-13 game. At this point, I was watching the game in shock, as I could not believe that the Texans easily scored 10 points in only one quarter to be within three points of the Bengals.

The game remained close into the fourth quarter as the Bengals offense seemed to sputter. They were, however, able to add to their total when Bengals kicker Mike Nugent’s field goal gave them a six-point cushion. Nugent also had a 49-yard field goal late in the quarter, which iced the game, as the Bengals were able to escape Houston’s house of horrors with a 22-13 win.

The defense was the brightest aspect of the Bengals this week as they limited the offense of the Texans to only six points, and they bailed out the offense when it struggled in the second half. A.J. Green was another bright spot for the team as he hauled in 12 catches for 121 yards. Mo Sanu had a strong performance as well, catching 5 passes for 48 yards and a touchdown.

While the Bengals’ offensive performance against the Texans was not as great as it was against the Saints, it was good enough to get the win and in the end, that is really all that matters as the victory allows the team to stay atop the tough AFC North for another week. The defense played really well today, and hopefully the offense is able to find the groove it had in the game against the Saints as the Bengals face a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team next week that earlier this season defeated the hated Pittsburgh Steelers much to the delight of Bengals fans everywhere. So until next week, enjoy these highlights from the Bengals game as well as some turkey!

Happy Thanksgiving and Who-Dey!

Updated Photo Page

UPDATED PHOTO PAGE WITH #BEYONDTHESTRIPES PICS WITH LEON HALL at http://t.co/hkmCQl0Twv #Bengals #WhoDey #LetsRoar pic.twitter.com/haHSYon7oO

— Cincy Fan Zone (@cincyfanzone) November 19, 2014

Johnny Bench Bobblehead Review

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone reviews the Forever Collectibles "Legends of the Park" Cincinnati Reds Johnny Bench bobblehead.

Who-Dey Hammers Who-Dat

Great. Incredible. Fantastic. Phenomenal. Awesome. Outstanding. Amazing. These are just a few of the many words that can be used to describe the way the Cincinnati Bengals performed Sunday afternoon.

After a horrendous and embarrassing loss to the Cleveland Browns in what was the worst outing the Bengals had in a game this entire season, the men in the black and orange stripes rebounded and had one of their best games this year as they beat the New Orleans Saints by a score of 27-10.

This was a huge victory for the Bengals, and after the Thursday Night Football debacle, many Bengals fans, including myself, thought of this as a must win game as a loss could have put in motion a downward spiral for the team. Fortunately that was not the case as the Bengals bounced back big and silenced the Saints and the Superdome.

The game did not start out ideally for the Bengals as a combination of sloppy defensive play, penalties, and good plays by the Saints allowed New Orleans to grab an early 3-0 lead. The Bengals responded with an incredible offensive drive that was capped off with a play that was both bizarre and scary as Jermaine Gresham caught a pass from Andy Dalton and tried to extend his arm across the goal line for the touchdown while simultaneously attempting to break a tackle. The ball was then knocked out of his hand as he fell to the ground. A mad scramble for the fumbled ball ensued. Gresham ended up kicking the ball into the end zone and recovered it for a touchdown to give the Bengals a 7-3 lead.

After that, the Bengals never looked back as the defense rebounded nicely and held the Saints scoreless for the rest of the half and the offense added a pair of field goals, including one to end the second quarter after Jeremy Hill reeled off a huge 62-yard run, to give the Bengals a 13-3 lead.

In the second half, the Bengals offense added 14 more points as Jermaine Gresham and A.J. Green hauled in passes from Dalton for touchdowns. The defense allowed just one touchdown to the Saints and essentially stifled Drew Brees and his arsenal of offensive weapons as well as the Superdome crowd. Fans of the Saints are known for making the Superdome not only loud but also difficult for visiting offenses to make play calls. That was not the case today as the great play by both the defense and the offense of the Bengals turned the home of the Saints into a literal home of saints as the stadium was as quiet as a church for most of the game.

Overall, this was one of the best performances turned in by the Bengals all year, and it was reminiscent of the way they played during the first three weeks of the season. The defense played well, and the offense was balanced with its attack as the running game produced 186 yards and the passing game produced 220 yards. Dalton had one of his best games of the season as he threw for 220 yards and three touchdowns. Green had 127 yards receiving and a touchdown catch, and Hill had 152 yards rushing off 27 attempts.

As a Bengals fan, this was a beautiful game to watch. Not only did the defense finally show up to play, but the offense was able to establish a running game which opened up the passing game which led to 27 points and a Bengals win. It seemed like the day couldn’t get any better…or so I thought. The Browns lost to the Texans, allowing the Bengals to reclaim the top spot in the AFC North.

While this was a great win for the Bengals, the team cannot rest on its laurels as it has a date with the Houston Texans next Sunday. NRG Stadium, formerly known as Reliant Stadium, has been a house of horrors for the Bengals as the Texans beat the Bengals there two years in a row in the playoffs. 

Hopefully the Bengals will play the way they did today not only next week but throughout the rest of the season and into the playoffs as their schedule only gets tougher. For now though Who-Dey Nation, let’s enjoy this win as well as the highlights from the game as we get pumped up for next week.

Who-Dey! 

George Foster Bobblehead Review

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone reviews the 2012 Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum George Foster bobblehead.

Primetime Problems...Again

Awful. Terrible. Horrendous. Ugly. Brutal. Sick. Nauseating. These are just a few of the many words that can be used to describe the way the Cincinnati Bengals performed Thursday night.

Once again the Bengals were showcased in a high profile, high stakes, primetime football game that was seen across the nation, and once again the Bengals embarrassed themselves when the lights were shining brightest. The Cleveland Browns cruised to a 24-3 victory over the Bengals and ended the team’s home-unbeaten streak that dated back to 2012.

In my opinion, this was a must win game for the Bengals as a victory would have put some distance between them and the other teams in the division as well as keep the Bengals atop the AFC North Division rankings. Unfortunately, the loss caused the Bengals to tumble to third in the standings.

To me, this loss was worse than the beating the New England Patriots handed the Bengals during their Sunday night game back in week five. Sure the Patriots absolutely crushed the Bengals, but it appeared that the Bengals were completely outplayed and outcoached by a better team. In the game against the Browns, it felt like the Bengals did not even take the field. They played so bad that I was literally lost for words when trying to discuss how awful the team looked.

Now don’t get me wrong. The Browns proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that their winning record is no fluke and that they are a real contender this season. They earned the win on Thursday night. My beef with the game is that the Bengals turned in their worst performance of the 2014 season. The defense still resembled Swiss cheese, the running game was a joke, receivers like Mighty Mo Sanu and A.J. Green could not haul in the few passes that were on target, and Andy Dalton had quite possibly the worst performance from a Bengals quarterback that I have ever seen, and I watched the Bengals during the Akili Smith years.

Remember when the Bengals were being praised and were thought of as one of the NFL’s top teams this year? That was after three weeks. After 10 weeks, they have become a laughingstock and rightfully so as they have failed to deliver when it matters most.

However, as an optimist and a diehard fan of the Bengals, I have to think that his performance is a one and done deal for the team this season. In fact, if the Bengals want to have any hope of making the playoffs this year, it has to be a one and done deal. The team still has to play the New Orleans Saints, the Denver Broncos, the Browns again, and the Pittsburgh Steelers twice. All of which are good teams that will manhandle the Bengals if they morph into the Bungles again this season. Oh yeah, that game against the Broncos is a primetime contest on a Monday night. Let’s hope the Bengals don’t wilt under the lights when Peyton comes to town.

Who-Dey!

Gettin' Tricky with Ickey (Ickey Woods Autograph Signing)

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone goes to the 10-28-2014 edition of “Beyond the Stripes” and meets Ickey Woods, competes in an “Ickey Shuffle” competition, and gets an autograph!

Is Newer Really Better?

1st College Football Playoff rankings are here: 1. Mississippi State 2. Florida State 3. Auburn 4. Ole Miss pic.twitter.com/82bbyx9fNJ
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 28, 2014

This past week, the very first College Football Playoff poll was released. If you do not follow college football or are unfamiliar with the College Football Playoff, allow me to explain what it is. The College Football Playoff is a single elimination tournament to determine the national champion of all the football teams that compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. Four teams will be chosen at the end of the college football season to participate in the College Football Playoff, with the winner being crowned as the national champion.

How are these four teams chosen?  A special committee consisting of 13 members that range from former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to former college football coach Tyrone Willingham will choose which four teams will compete for the national title at the end of the season. This new system of determining who will play for the national championship is supposed to be better and less controversial than the Bowl Championship Series that was in place from 1998-2013.

Personally, I think that this system is not much better than the BCS system that was in place for the last 15 years. I understand that the BCS system generated a ton of controversy, but a four-team playoff in which the teams are picked by a committee? This too is going to produce a large amount of debate. For example, if the committee picks a team that has one loss over a team that is undefeated as the fourth and final team in the College Football Playoff because that one loss team is in what is perceived as a stronger conference, the undefeated team that is left on the outside looking in is going to cry foul.

The only difference I really see between the Bowl Championship Series and the College Football Playoff is the number of teams that get to compete for the national title grows from two to four, and the anger associated with a team not being selected will be shifted from the computers that were used to determine the two teams that played for the BCS National Championship to the 13 members of the selection committee that choose who competes for the College Football Playoff National Championship. In other words, it increases the number of competing teams from two to four and gives angry college football fans a new target to blame and criticize.

If I were running the show, I would have a 16-team tournament. There are currently 10 conferences in Division I FBS, and under my system, every conference champion gets an automatic bid to the playoffs. There would then be six open spots for wildcard teams or teams that are considered Division I FBS Independents, such as Notre Dame. The wildcard teams that get the six remaining spots can be determined by a selection committee much like March Madness is. Should the sponsors want to keep the big bowls alive, then the “Elite Eight” of this tournament will play in four of the six current College Football Playoff bowls. The “Final Four” would then play in the two remaining bowl games with the winners advancing to the national championship final.

My system is not perfect, but I think it is much better than the one in play now, and since everything comes down to the almighty dollar, I also think it could be more lucrative with more teams having the chance to play for the national title. It also gives the schools in “non-power” conferences a chance to shine in the national spotlight and take on some of the best teams in the country.

However, the current College Football Playoff might actually work. According to its website, all ten conferences and Notre Dame are involved with it, so there is the possibility that this system could be the answer. I doubt it, but it’s possible.

Ickey Shuffle Champ!

Click the link in the tweet below to see yours truly compete in the Ickey Shuffle Competition at Beyond the Stripes with Ickey Woods featured as a judge!

VIDEO: Former #Bengals RB Ickey Woods judges Ickey Shuffle contest during #BeyondTheStripes http://t.co/0rb8Lh04F7 #ColdCuts @GlennHartong
— Enquirer Sports (@ENQSports) October 29, 2014

Updated Photo Page

UPDATED PIC PAGE FROM #BeyondTheStripes Featuring @THE_Ickster and @NKUmenshoops at http://t.co/urHRpUV00z #bengals pic.twitter.com/ujKaCbmMf4
— Cincy Fan Zone (@cincyfanzone) October 29, 2014

WWE Hell in a Cell 2014 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on WWE Hell in a Cell 2014.

I was on the WWE App!

As I was watching WWE Hell in a Cell 2014, I was also tweeting out the match results as well as my opinions. During the WWE United States Championship match between the Miz and the United States Champ Sheamus, I composed this tweet:

Somebody get mizdow an oscar for this performance #wwe #ustitle #hiac #wwehiac
— Cincy Fan Zone (@cincyfanzone) October 27, 2014

A little while later, it popped up on the WWE App! Needless to say I was excited! Obviously WWE liked what I was tweeting. Maybe you will like what I tweet too, so you should follow me on twitter @cincyfanzone!

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.