Who Dey Draft 2015

The National Football League draft is the one event of the year in which every NFL team believes that they are picking the next big football superstar to join their team. Whether it be a quarterback, a running back, or even a lineman, the bottom line is that hope springs eternal during the draft as former collegiate standouts realize their derams of playing in the NFL while coaches believe that their newest batch of players will be the piece that their team needs to bring home the Lombardi trophy. With the 2015 NFL Draft in the books, I thought I would take a look at the players that the Cincinnati Bengals drafted and discuss their possible role on the team in this post.

The first player chosen by the Bengals was an offensive tackle out of Texas A&M named Cedric Ogbuehi. Their second pick of the draft was Jake Fisher of the University of Oregon, also an offensive tackle. With 2015 being the last contract seasons for current offensive linemen Andrew Whitworth and Andre Smith, I believe that the Bengals drafted Ogbuehi and Fisher to potentially take Whitworth’s and Smith’s place. Whitworth will be entering his tenth season in the league so time is not exactly on his side, and Smith gets hurt quite a bit and based on what I remember, he also made the Bengals shell out some big time cash when they resigned him. With star wide receiver A.J. Green entering the final year of his contract as well, I believe the Bengals plan to part ways with Whitworth and Smith and use Ogbuehi and Fisher as their replacements in order to use the money that they are saving to resign Green.

The Bengals also drafted two tight ends this year as they selected Tyler Kroft out of Rutgers with their first pick in the third round and C.J. Uzomah out of Auburn in the fifth round. After saying goodbye to the seemingly aloof and frustrating to watch Jermaine Gresham, the Bengals only remaining tight ends on the team were Tyler Eifert and Ryan Hewitt. Eifert is going to be the starter this year and Hewitt split time last season as both a tight end and a full back. I think the Bengals might make Hewitt a permanent full back and use either Uzomah or Kroft as a second tight end.

Their second pick in the third round was Paul Dawson, a linebacker out of Texas Christian University. The Bengals defense was not very good last season, and the absence of Vontaze Burfict due to injury last year was a big reason why. He plays with reckless abandon, which is both good and bad as he makes a lot of great plays but also hurts himself a lot. With Burfict still recovering from surgery, the Bengals probably drafted Dawson in case Burfict is not ready for the season or hurts himself again.

Veteran cornerback Terrence Newman signed with the Minnesota Vikings in the offseason, meaning Dre Kirkpatrick will finally take over as the starter. As a result, the Bengals drafted Josh Shaw with their first pick in the fourth round. Shaw is a cornerback out of the University of Southern California and will probably be used as a backup cornerback or perhaps even a gunner on special teams much like Darqueze Dennard was last year.

The Bengals used their second pick in the fourth round to draft Marcus Hardison out of Arizona State in order to help bolster their defensive line. With the pass rush being almost nonexistent last season, this team is in desperate need of a player to help the defense put some pressure on the quarterback. Hardison could be that guy, and with Pro Football Focus ranking fan favorite and veteran Bengal Domata Peko as the worst defensive tackle in the NFL last year, it would not be surprising to see Hardison take Peko’s spot.

Derron Smith was drafted by the team in the sixth round. He is a free safety out of Fresno State. He could possibly take the place of George Iloka or Reggie Nelson after the 2015 season should the Bengals not be able to resign them.

Last but not least is Mario Alford, a wide receiver out of the University of West Virginia. With this season being the last on the contracts of A.J. Green, Marvin Jones, Mo Sanu and a few other receivers, Alford was probably selected to take the spot of a receiver who does not return to the team.

Overall, I think the picks of the Bengals make a lot of sense and should be beneficial to the team. They appear to be addressing some of the areas on the team that need to be strengthened and hopefully the newest batch of Bengals will be able to do just that. It will be interesting to see where they fit in with the team as the Bengals look to finally capture that elusive Super Bowl championship.

Who Dey!

Cincinnati Reds 1990 Replica World Series Ring Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes the 2015 SGA Cincinnati Reds 1990 replica World Series ring.

Photo Page Update

PHOTO PAGE UPDATE WITH #REDS MUSEUM PICS @ http://t.co/yzF6TznxxM #GoReds #ATOBTTR #CINvsATL #Bobblehead #MLB #NBA pic.twitter.com/LTUc9ftf54

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) May 2, 2015

Extreme Rules 2015 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on WWE Extreme Rules 2015.

Another Year of Marvin

Last week, the Cincinnati Bengals announced that head coach Marvin Lewis signed a contract extension meaning he will be with the team through the 2016 NFL season. This was a very interesting piece of Bengals news that seemingly came from out of nowhere. There had been no sign that the Bengals and Coach Lewis were in contract talks and with the team having multiple starters entering a contract season, I figured that Mike Brown would be more concerned with signing some of his impact players to bigger contracts such as A.J. Green, who is not only a star wide receiver in the NFL but who is also the best player on the team in my opinion. This post is about Marvin, however, and I will discuss what Marvin has and hasn’t done with the Bengals in an attempt to explain the polarizing feel to his contract extension among many fans of the Bengals.

Let us go back to the 1990’s. This decade is known as the Dark Age for Who Dey Nation as the Bengals were the definition of terrible. They were an NFL laughingstock and were bestowed the nickname of the “Bungles.” Needless to say, times were tough for Bengals fans and after posting a record of 2-14 which resulted in a last place finish in not only the division but in the entire NFL in 2002, Dick LeBeau was fired as head coach and replaced by Marvin Lewis.

I will never forget the first game during the Marvin Lewis era as a fan in the Paul Brown Stadium crowd had a sign that said “We’re Starvin’ Marvin.” It summed up what Cincinnati had been feeling for years, and Coach Lewis and the 2003 Bengals flipped the script and finished with a record of 8-8 and a second place finish in the division. It was incredible. You would have thought that the team actually won the division as fan support for the Bengals was the highest that it had been in years and optimism for the future began to run rampant in the queen city.

Following his 2003 campaign as the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals have been two more .500 seasons, three losing seasons, and six winning seasons which resulted in six playoff appearances and three AFC North Division Championships. It has been a dramatic turnaround since the Dark Age; however, the success in the regular season has not transitioned into success in the postseason.

Despite six playoff appearances, Coach Lewis has yet to lead the Bengals to a postseason victory. The Bengals have been beaten every single time they reached the playoffs, which have led many Bengals fans to call for a change in coaching leadership. While winning during the regular season is nice, a Super Bowl championship is what Cincinnati so desperately desires and a lot of members of Who Dey Nation feel that Coach Lewis has been given plenty of opportunities to deliver the Lombardi Trophy to the Cincinnati Bengals organization.

So does Marvin really deserve another year as the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals? It’s debatable and both sides have valid points as to whether he should stay or go. The decision is ultimately Mike Brown’s to make, and if he feels that Marvin Lewis is the proper coach for the team, then there is nothing that you, me, or any other fan of the Bengals can do about it. The same would be true if Brown decided to go in another coaching direction. It is important to remember though that the team is not called the Cincinnati Marvins. It is called the Cincinnati Bengals, and we root for the team, not the coach. So whether you support him or hate him, Marvin is here to stay through 2016. All we can do is hope he finally solves the puzzle and ends not only the postseason victory draught, but the Super Bowl one as well.

Who Dey!

Bobblehead Page Update

#BOBBLEHEAD PAGE UPDATE WITH #NASTYBOYS NODDER @ http://t.co/7szAEAxyiu #Reds #PartyLikeIts1990 UNBOXING VID SOON! pic.twitter.com/R8BkocV2vW
— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) April 26, 2015

Photo Page Update

PHOTO PAGE UPDATE @ http://t.co/yzF6TznxxM WITH NEW #REDS PICS #NastyBoys #CHCvsCIN #PartyLikeIts1990 #GoReds #worldseries #bobblehead #MLB
— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) April 26, 2015

Dan Driessen Bobblehead Review

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

Celebrate Like It's 1990

In 1990, the Cincinnati Reds started the season in first place and ended the season in first place as they capped off their wire-to-wire year by sweeping the reigning and defending world champion Oakland Athletics to win their fifth World Series in franchise history. This year is the 25^th anniversary of that fabled run to the title for the Redlegs, and both the Cincinnati Reds and the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum will be celebrating it all season long with a few special festivities planned for this weekend.

On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from April through August, the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum will be giving out bobbleheads of members of the 1990 World Series Championship team. A different member will be given out each month while supplies last with a Todd Benzinger bobblehead kicking off the promotion during the month of April. Benzinger was the first baseman for the team and caught final out of the World Series. That is not all that is going to happen at the Hall of Fame and Museum as I have also read online that there will be a few events happening there this weekend such as autograph signings and 1990 Reds related exhibits.

The Cincinnati Reds will be celebrating the 1990 team that weekend as well. Events are scheduled to kick off on Friday, April 24, as the team will be giving out a free commemorative 1990 World Series Championship print to fans. Also, a free 1990 World Series replica ring will be given out to fans who purchased a special view level ticket package. Based on what I have read, everybody at the game will get the print while only those who purchased the special ticket package will get the replica World Series ring. The game is also a “Fireworks Friday” game, and I would not be surprised if the 1990 team is honored on the field before the fireworks start, and if the Reds made the theme of the fireworks display related to 1990 in some fashion.

On Saturday, April 25, the Reds will be giving out a free triple bobblehead of the “Nasty Boys” to the first 25,000 fans in attendance. The nodder features 1990 Reds relief pitchers Norm Charlton, Rob Dibble, and Randy Myers, known collectively as the “Nasty Boys,” as bobbleheads on a single base. Based on pictures I have seen online and on television, this nodder looks fantastic and could not only be the most sought after bobblehead of the year, but one of the most sought after Reds bobbleheads of all time.

At the time I write this post, there have been reports that most of if not the entire 1990 Reds team will be in Cincinnati for the reunion. I believe it has been confirmed that the “Nasty Boys” will be back as will Billy Hatcher since he is the current first base coach for the Reds. I would love to see guys like Eric Davis, Barry Larkin, Paul O’Neill, and the manager, “sweet” Lou Piniella all come back for the reunion.

I will be attending both games to attain the print, the replica World Series ring, the bobblehead, and if I’m lucky, a few autographs from the 1990 Redlegs that I do not yet have. It is sure to be a great weekend that can only be made better by some wins by the Reds.

Go Redlegs!

That Bobblehead Looks Familiar...

As I was looking at Cincinnati Reds bobbleheads on eBay, I came across a Billy Hamilton nodder that looked very familiar. The picture for the listed bobblehead is from my website!

This is the picture of my bobblehead that I took for the bobblehead page on my website. Please note that while the picture is mine, the bobblehead the guy is selling is not, and I have no affiliation with the seller at all. I do, however, think it is amusing that he is using my picture to sell his bobblehead. If you buy his Billy Hamilton nodder, make you sure you tell him to give Cincy Fan Zone a shoutout for using my picture!

Todd Benzinger Bobblehead Unboxing and More

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Todd Benzinger bobblehead given out by the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum and talks about and shows what he got during Easter weekend and from Opening Night of the Reds.

Wrestlemania Ranking 2015

Now that Wrestlemania 31 has officially been in the books for a few weeks, I think it is time to see where it ranks among the previous Wrestlemanias. I will be comparing Wrestlemania 31 to my all-time favorite showcase of the immortals, Wrestlemania 17, in order to see if it really was as good as I had originally thought when the show went off the air.

Wrestlemania 17 is regarded by many wrestling fans, including myself, as being the greatest Wrestlemania of all time. Why is that? First and foremost are the matches, which are fantastic. Every match on the card ranged in quality from good to amazing, and most importantly, they were entertaining to watch.

The same can be said about every match on the Wrestlemania 31 card. Evert bout on the card ranged from good to amazing, and the matches were all very entertaining. The bouts on the kickoff show were fun to watch and set the tone for the rest of the event as all the matches were entertaining and told really good in ring stories.

Another aspect of Wrestlemania 17 that I love is the excitement that oozed from the event. Whether it was Edge spearing Jeff Hardy while he dangled in the air in the WWE Tag Team Championship TLC match, or Shane McMahon going coast to coast with a dropkick to a trashcan that bent around his father Vince’s face, everything about this Wrestlemania seemed exciting.

Was Wrestlemania 31 as exciting as Wrestlemania 17? In my opinion, no it was not. It was close though. Had WWE instead scheduled another match instead of booking the musical performance by Skylar Grey and Kid Ink, then the excitement level as a whole for Wrestlemania 31 could have matched or even passed that of Wrestlemania 17. To me, the musical performance really stifled all the momentum that the matches before it had built. I think WWE should have made the musical performance part of a wrestler’s entrance like they did at Wrestlemania 17 when the band Motorhead performed Triple H’s ring music.

To conclude this comparison, I will talk about if the events gave the fans what they wanted. To me, Wrestlemania 17 gave the fans exactly what they wanted and more. In ring masterpieces from superstars like William Regal, Kurt Angle, and Chris Jericho satisfied the wrestling purists while matches like TLC 2, the Hardcore Championship triple threat, the Street Fight, and the WWE Championship bout satisfied the bloodthirsty wrestling extremists.

Wrestlemania 31 did the same thing. The Intercontinental Championship ladder match was brutal and exciting, Sting and Triple H engaged in a bout that, for one night, resurrected the Monday Night War, and in exciting fashion, Seth Rollins made sure that Roman Reigns did not leave Levi’s Stadium with the WWE World Heavy Championship. The entire event fired on all cylinders and left wrestling fans satisfied.

In my opinion, Wrestlemania 17 is still the greatest Wrestlemania of all time. Wrestlemania 31 however, gave it a run for its money as it was nearly a perfect show. Had there been no musical performance, then it might have taken the top ranking as the greatest Wrestlemania ever. As you recall in my Wrestlemania 31 Thoughts video, I said that the event was amazing and will be talked about for years to come. I believe this comparison helps explain why. It was a fantastic show, is now my second favorite Wrestlemania, and is the reason why I cannot wait until Wrestlemania 32.

Bobblehead Page Update

#BOBBLEHEAD PAGE UPDATE WITH NEW #REDS NODDER @ http://t.co/7szAEAxyiu #STLvsCIN #RedsMuseum #MLB #Baseball #NBA #NHL pic.twitter.com/Mvzh5Xy8Ch
— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) April 11, 2015

Updated Photo Page

PHOTO PAGE UPDATE @ http://t.co/yzF6TznxxM WITH #REDS GAME & #REDSMUSEUM PICS #STLvsCIN #Baseball #MLB #bobblehead pic.twitter.com/Xg6EPfczjR
— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) April 11, 2015

Photo Page Update

PHOTO PAGE UPDATE WITH PICS FROM #REDS #OPENINGNIGHT @ http://t.co/yzF6TznxxM #PITvsCIN #OpeningDay #MLB #Baseball pic.twitter.com/k98aCUUHj4
— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) April 9, 2015

Reds 2015 Season Outlook

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on how the Cincinnati Reds will do during the 2015 season.

2015 Cincinnati Reds Bobbleheads Part 2

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

This post will discuss the bobbleheads that the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum is giving away to fans. The theme for this year’s giveaway nodders is the 1990 World Series championship team, and three of the five nodders have been announced.

The bobblehead that will be given out in April is of first baseman Todd Benzinger. He is a native of the Greater Cincinnati area having been born in Dayton, KY, and he caught the final out of the 1990 World Series. I got to meet him at Redsfest last year when I got his autograph. He is a really nice guy let me see his World Series ring. I think he is a good choice for a bobblehead, and I will be looking to add this nodder to my collection.

The nodder for the month of May is of catcher Joe Oliver. He was one of the more popular Reds from the team, and I have heard many people say he was one of the best catchers in the history of the Redlegs behind Johnny Bench and Ernie Lombardi. He had the walk-off hit that drove in Billy Bates in Game 2 of the 1990 World Series in the bottom of the 10^th inning. I will be heading to the Hall of Fame and Museum to get this nodder.

The June bobblehead is of former outfielder and current first base coach Billy Hatcher. He is a fan favorite among Reds fans today and his bobblehead might go quickly. He set World Series records by batting .750 and having seven consecutive hits. I got his autograph at Redsfest 2014, and I cannot wait to add his bobblehead to my collection.

The bobblehead for the month of July is Tom Browning. He is the only pitcher in the history of the Reds to have pitched a perfect game. I will not be getting this nodder as I already have the bobblehead of him that the Reds gave out in 2008. I am a little disappointed that they decided to do a bobblehead of a player who already had a bobblehead game when there are a lot of great players form the 1990 team that have not yet been immortalized as a nodder. Lou Pinella, Jose Rijo, and Glenn Braggs would all have been great choices in my opinion.

The last bobblehead is for the month of August, and it is of Paul O’Neill. I am happy about this choice and think it will look great. This is the first Reds bobblehead of O’Neill, and one I will add to my collection.

In total, Reds fans will have the opportunity to attain 14 different bobbleheads. If you are a Reds fan who is just getting into bobblehead collecting, then this is your year. The team will be giving out nine nodders, and the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum will be giving out five of them. In total, I will be adding at least seven of the 14 to my collection, so make sure you keep an eye out for the unboxing videos!

Go Redlegs!

Wrestlemania 31 Thoughts

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

2015 Cincinnati Reds Bobbleheads Part 1

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Go Redlegs!

Cincinnati Reds Fan Pack Unboxing

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

Show Me The Money!

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

Are We There Yet?

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

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

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

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

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

Twister the Cincinnati Cyclone Bobblehead Unboxing

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

Return to Glory

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bobblehead Page Update

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

Photo Page Update

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

On the App Again!

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

Dave Concepcion Bobblehead Review

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

Another Pro Follows Me

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

Help Needed

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ickey Woods Cold Cuts Shirt Unboxing

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

Lacking Leadership?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Go Redlegs!

Fastlane 2015 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on WWE Fastlane 2015.

Still a Dream?

Tyson vs. Ali. MJ vs. Lebron. Murderers’ Row vs. The Big Red Machine. What do all of these mythical bouts have in common? They are dream matches: battles between sports icons that are only able to happen in the fantasies of sports fans. However, not every dream match has remained a dream. Just ask World Wrestling Entertainment.

Throughout the years, the WWE has managed to bring to life many different bouts that originated in the dreams of wrestling fans all over the world. Back in 1987, Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan were two of the biggest names in wrestling. Having these two titans clash in the ring was something that many wrestling fans wanted to see. The WWE delivered as the main event of Wrestlemania 3 saw Hogan and Andre battle it out for the WWE Championship.

In 2002, the New World Order made its debut in the WWE and marked the return of Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, and Hulk Hogan to the company that made them international superstars. This opened the door for another dream match as Hogan took on one of the wrestlers that rose to power in his absence, the Rock, at Wrestlemania 18.

A decade later, the WWE once again gave fans a match that they thought would only be possible in their dreams as the Rock wrestled the current face of the WWE, John Cena, in the main event of Wrestlemania 28. It was quite possibly the most hyped match in the history of Wrestlemania as one of the faces of the Attitude Era took on the man who has been the staple of the Reality Era.

While WWE has delivered when it comes to matches that fans want to see, there have been instances when the biggest wrestling promotion in the world has missed the mark.

In 1991, the man who had been the face of World Championship Wrestling, Ric Flair, signed with the WWE. As soon as he appeared on WWE television programming, wrestling fans started salivating as the possibility of a dream match between Flair and Hulk Hogan appeared to be imminent. WWE was seemingly setting up the match as Flair won the WWE Championship at the 1992 Royal Rumble and a Wrestlemania 8 dream battle with Hogan looked like it was on the horizon. However, Flair defended the title against the “Macho Man” Randy Savage, and Hogan took on Sid Justice. It would not be until WCW’s Bash at the Beach 1994 event when Hogan and Flair finally wrestled for a world title.

Another missed opportunity was when Hogan and Stone Cold Steve Austin were both with the WWE in 2002 and in 2003. Hogan was the face of the WWE in the 1980’s and Austin and the Rock became the faces of the company during the Attitude Era. While the Rock and Hogan fought at Wrestlemania 18, Austin and Hogan never had a one-on-one match. Wrestlemania 19 could have served as the stage for the dream bout, but Hogan instead took on Vince McMahon, and the Rock and Stone Cold had their third Wrestlemania match against each other.

One of the biggest dream matches of wrestling fans is Sting vs. The Undertaker. These two men were the foundations of their respective companies during the Monday Night War, and their characters drew many comparisons as they both oozed of mystique. When Sting made his WWE debut at Survivor Series 2014, many wrestling fans, myself included, thought that the Icon and the Phenom would finally have a match against each other at Wrestlemania 31. However, it appears that Triple H is going to fight Sting while Bray Wyatt will challenge the Undertaker. Personally, I am disappointed as I have wanted to see Sting and the Undertaker battle it out ever since I was a kid. Both wrestlers are getting older and the window for this dream match to become realty is closing fast.

Sting vs. the Undertaker is a primetime, big money matchup that would only be able to happen on a Wrestlemania stage. Hopefully WWE knows what its doing as I would hate to see Sting/Taker go the way of Flair/Hogan or Hogan/Austin. Maybe Wrestlemania 32 will be the site where these two legends of the business finally clash. If not, this dream match might remain a dream.

Cesar Geronimo Bobblehead Review

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone reviews the 2012 Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum SGA Cesar Geronimo bobblehead.

Roman Empire or Yestlemania?

This Sunday, World Wrestling Entertainment will present its final pay-per-view before its biggest event of the year. WWE Fastlane will take place from the FedExForum in Memphis, TN, and it will feature a key matchup that will shape the main event WWE World Heavyweight Championship match at Wrestlemania 31.

It is no secret that WWE seemed to have originally intended to have Roman Reigns win the Royal Rumble, march into Levi’s Stadium, and proudly dethrone the reigning and defending champ, Brock Lesnar, in front of a roaring and adoring crowd. However, the reaction that Reigns received at the Royal Rumble and at the Raw and Smackdown events since has apparently caused WWE to rethink their setup for the biggest match of the year.

At Fastlane, Reigns and Daniel Bryan, the man that many believe should have won the Royal Rumble, will face off in a match to determine who goes on to the main event match against Lesnar at Wrestlemania 31. Who that man will be is anybody’s guess.

If Reigns wins, then the odds of various social media sites erupting with comments filled with rage and displeasure over Reigns securing his Wrestlemania spot are pretty great. At the Royal Rumble, Reigns did not even eliminate the perennial fan favorite Daniel Bryan, and the reaction he received was still brutal. Imagine if he actually defeats Bryan. The internet wrestling community might burn down Titan Towers.

On the other hand, there is a scenario in which Bryan defeats Reigns. A majority of wrestling fans will be overjoyed should that be the result, but it would completely nullify the Royal Rumble, which is one of WWE’s biggest events of the year behind Wrestlemania and SummerSlam. As much I want to see it happen, I have a very hard time believing that WWE would book Bryan over its handpicked successor to John Cena and ignore the result of the Royal Rumble match.

So what will happen at Fastlane? Will the Roman Empire rise or will Yestlemania return for an encore performance? I think we will get both, and Bryan and Reigns will advance to Wrestlemania 31. There is no way this match ends cleanly with either Bryan or Reigns as the clear winner. WWE is not going to abandon Reigns, and they will not want a similar reaction to that of the Royal Rumble. The match will end in a shady manner, and it will set up a triple threat match at Wrestlemania 31 between Lesnar, Reigns, and Bryan for the WWE World Heavyweight title.

If I were in charge of writing the WWE’s programming, I would have Lesnar and Paul Heyman sitting at ringside for the Bryan vs. Reigns match. After 20 minutes of action, I would have Lesnar jump into the ring and destroy both Bryan and Reigns. The match ends with no winner, and Reigns and Bryan both come out of it looking like underdogs. This helps build their characters as they both chase Lesnar in hopes of pulling off an upset, and it continues to build Lesnar as a destructive storm of a man. It also bails the WWE out of having to either nullify the Royal Rumble or initiate a riot.

That’s how I would book the match at Fastlane. However the decision is ultimately the WWE’s to make. No matter how they book it, they are probably going to be criticized. If Reigns wins, a majority of wrestling fans will march to Stanford with torches and pitchforks. If Bryan wins, then the Royal Rumble will essentially be nullified, which will tarnish its reputation of being one of WWE’s premier events. If there is no winner and a triple threat match is booked, then people will complain that the main event is a copy of last year’s WWE World Heavyweight Championship match.

And to think that all of this could have been avoided if Daniel Bryan won the Royal Rumble.

Meeting Mesoraco (Devin Mesoraco Autograph Signing)

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone goes to Reds Hot Stove League and gets a few autographs!

A Season of Controversy

If I could sum up the 2014-2015 National Football League season in one word, it would be controversy. Unless you have been living under a rock for the past seven months, then you know all about the woes that plagued the most profitable sports league in the nation.

In what was yet another season of incredible games, amazing individual performances, and outstanding plays that left football fans with their jaws on the ground in awe, the overall image of the NFL was tainted as instances of domestic abuse cast a dark shadow over the league for much of the season. The cases of Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson were discussed for the much of the year and rocked the National Football League to its core. However, the NFL appeared to weather the storm, despite being guided by a commissioner who has become a bumbling buffoon in the eyes of many football fans, and prepared itself for its most interesting and exciting series of games of the year: the playoffs.

Most of the postseason contests were exciting and memorable games that had the country talking for weeks. Who could forget the pounding the Denver Broncos suffered on their own home turf at the hands of Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts? What about the Seattle Seahawks’ improbable come from behind victory over the Green Bay Packers in what could be considered the greatest conference championship game of all time? It was all overshadowed by a potential cheating scandal that occurred during the AFC Championship game between the Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots.

Instead of building up the Super Bowl matchup between the Seahawks and the Patriots, all that was heard was speculation of how Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, and the rest of the Patriots organization deflated the footballs in their conference championship shellacking of the Colts. By the time the Super Bowl arrived, talks of "deflategate" continued to swirl around the game.

However, the entire “deflategate” discussion seemed to vanish after the opening kickoff of the Super Bowl as a fantastic football game unfolded before our eyes. It was an amazing battle that lived up to the hype. It managed to make everybody forget about the domestic abuse cases and the “deflategate” drama as well as remind football fans everywhere of the beauty of America's game.

A dramatic goal line interception by a player drafted from a college nobody had heard of ended the Seahawks’ quest for a second consecutive world championship. It was an incredible play that could have perhaps put a bit of a sweeter ending to what was a disastrous year for the NFL. Or so we thought...

As the Patriots attempted to kneel out the clock and head back to Massachusetts with their fourth Lombardi Trophy, a brawl broke out which resulted in a player being ejected from the Super Bowl for the first time in history. What a way to cap off the 2014-2015 NFL season.

In conclusion, this was a horrendous year for the National Football League. Great games will forever be sandwiched between domestic abuse cases and a Super Bowl that ended in a fight and was won by a team accused of breaking the rules. Will the NFL be able to shake this controversial image? Probably. Will the 2014-2015 season be considered one of the NFL's greatest years? Doubtful. Will the controversy of this past season shape the league for the better? As sports fans, we have to hope so. If not, then America's game might not be America's game anymore.

More Pro Athletes Follow Me

Former NBA player Corey Maggette, former NFL player Jovan Haye, and T.J. Barnes of the New York Jets follow me on Twitter! That is a sign that you need to follow @CincyFanZone as well!

The Reds Love My Tweets

Met #mesorocket at @reds hot stove! Thanks for the autograph! pic.twitter.com/2W8hKafXN5
— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) February 3, 2015

Met #mesorocket at @reds hot stove! Thanks for the autograph! pic.twitter.com/yJd0giNWbF
— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) February 3, 2015

The Reds favorited a few of my tweets! That must mean I'm worth following! @CincyFanZone

Photo Page Update

PHOTO PAGE UPDATE: http://t.co/yzF6TznxxM WITH #REDSHOTSTOVE PICS FEAT. DEVIN MESORACO #Reds #Mesorocket #OpeningDay pic.twitter.com/Q04WFWL8DV

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) February 4, 2015

Soccer with Sanu and the Saints (Mo Sanu Autograph Signing)

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone goes to the 12-9-2014 edition of "Beyond the Stripes" and gets the autographs of Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Mo Sanu as well as some players from the Cincinnati Saints soccer team!



Watch the entire "Beyond the Stripes" episode at http://t.co/avUlg3ss4i.