#AUTOGRAPH PAGE UPDATE @ http://t.co/oiRAWLpVYr WITH NEW TYLER EIFERT AUTO #Bengals #BeyondtheStripes #Whodey #NFL pic.twitter.com/N2dW0O067r
— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) September 16, 2015
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Autograph Page Update
Photo Page Update
PIC PAGE UPDATE @ http://t.co/yzF6TznxxM WITH #BENGALS LINE & #BEYONDTHESTRIPES PICS #WhoDey #LetsRoar #SDvsCIN #NFL pic.twitter.com/9BW6NG2O7v
— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) September 16, 2015
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Pete Rose Bobblehead Unboxing
Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a 2015 Cincinnati Reds SGA Pete Rose bobblehead and shows some of the recent additions to his sports collection.
Bobblehead Page Update
#BOBBLEHEAD PAGE UPDATE @ http://t.co/7szAEAxyiu WITH A NEW #REDS NODDER #GoReds #ATOBTTR #STLvsCIN #Bengals #MLB pic.twitter.com/5XjQHRtX7h
— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) September 13, 2015
Photo Page Update
PIC PAGE UPDATE WITH #STLvsCIN PICS @ http://t.co/yzF6TznxxM #Reds #GoReds #Cardinals #ATOBTTR #MLB #FreePete #NFL pic.twitter.com/ztxqqzjeyc
— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) September 13, 2015
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Looks Bleak for Pete
The National Baseball Hall of Fame is the one place on Earth
where the greatest players, coaches, and other people associated with America’s
pastime are enshrined for their accomplishments in relation to the sport.
Legends like Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, and Joe Morgan among others are honored
inside the hallowed halls of Cooperstown because of their incredible ability to
play the game of baseball. The list of baseball hall of famers is a who’s who
of legends associated with the sport that exemplify true baseball greatness.
Despite this list of incredible heroes of the diamond, another list exists that
possibly outweighs and overshadows the hall of fame: the list of people banned
from Major League Baseball and the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Perhaps the two most well known people banned from both MLB
and the National Baseball Hall of Fame are “Shoeless” Joe Jackson and Pete
Rose. Last week, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred denied the reinstatement of
Jackson who was banned from baseball for his alleged involvement in the 1919
Black Sox Scandal. According to reports, Manfred had read what former
commissioners Kenesaw Mountain Landis and A. Bartlett Giamatti had said about
Jackson's banishment before deciding to uphold the decision set by Landis. For
Rose and Reds Country, this is a bad sign.
Manfred is reviewing Rose's banishment and said that he
would make a decision on it by the end of the year. Rose was banned from Major
League Baseball in 1989 and subsequently the National Baseball Hall of Fame in
1991 after the hall of fame made it a rule that anybody on the permanently
ineligible list of MLB would not be considered for induction. His banishment
was a result of his gambling on baseball while playing for and managing an MLB
team, which violates the rule MLB had put in place as a result of, ironically,
the Black Sox Scandal.
Many people, including myself, felt that this was Rose's
best shot at getting reinstated as Manfred appears to be open minded when it
comes to baseball. After all, he did agree to take another look at the case in
a year in which the Reds were hosting the All-Star game as well as giving out
an MLB approved bobblehead of Rose. It seemed that the stars had aligned for
Rose and Reds Country as all signs appeared to point to the hit king taking his
rightful place inside the hallowed halls of Cooperstown. The ruling on
Jackson's banishment, however, paints a different story as it shows that
perhaps Manfred is not willing to go against his predecessors. Factor in the
new and damaging evidence against Rose in relation to his gambling that was
brought to light earlier this summer, and the outlook for the reinstatement of
the Charlie Hustle is bleak.
Personally, I think both Jackson and Rose should be in the
National Baseball Hall of Fame. Their careers were indeed of legendary status
and their accomplishments on the field were incredible. The hall of fame just
seems incomplete without them. I believe they at least deserve the chance to be
put on the ballot. Unless they are taken off the permanently ineligible list of
MLB though, it will never happen. Manfred already denied “Shoeless” Joe. I hope
the outcome is not the same for Pete.
Rose for the hall!
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Autograph Page Update
#AUTOGRAPH PAGE UPDATE WITH JEREMY HILL AUTOS @ http://t.co/oiRAWLpVYr #Bengals #BeyondTheStripes #whodey #LetsRoar pic.twitter.com/tb5OM9bjcA
— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) September 9, 2015
Photo Page Update
PIC PAGE UPDATE WITH #BEYONDTHESTRIPES PICS FEAT. JEREMY HILL @ http://t.co/yzF6TznxxM #Bengals #WhoDey #LetsRoar pic.twitter.com/tAFKd0s5Iv
— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) September 9, 2015
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Bengals 2015 Season Outlook
Andy or AJ
Please note that this was created and posted before the
final preseason game of the year, and as a result, the final preseason game was
not taken into consideration when this post was written.
Quarterbacks are considered to be the most important players
on football teams. Not only do they manage the offense and are responsible for
making sure that an offensive drive ends with points being put on the
scoreboard, but they also are the centerpieces of their respective franchises
as teams often attempt to build a successful dynasty around the quarterback
position.
The Cincinnati Bengals believe that they have in fact
created a successful team with Andy Dalton as the starting quarterback.
However, Dalton’s erratic style of play that has defined his career with the
Bengals has many fans in Cincinnati calling for a change in leadership. Many
members of Who Dey Nation have pointed to backup quarterback AJ McCarron as the
savior of the Bengals offense, citing his success as a member of the Alabama
Crimson Tide as to why he should start over Dalton.
More fuel to this argument was added when Dalton left the
third game of the preseason against the Chicago Bears with an apparent neck
injury. Dalton had snuck the ball into the end zone for a touchdown that capped
off an impressive Bengals drive before leaving the game. After his first drive
ended with a three and out, McCarron came back on the second drive with the
entire first team offense, the same offense that Dalton had commanded two
drives ago, and successfully stormed down the field before throwing a laser to wide receiver Marvin Jones who scampered into the end zone for a 31-yard
touchdown.
The following offensive possession of the Bengals resulted
in another touchdown after McCarron dropped in a 25-yard pass to tight end
Tyler Eifert that set up a Jeremy Hill touchdown run from the one-yard line. It
was a very impressive outing for McCarton who finished the first half with a
passer rating of 158.3. So does he deserve the chance to become the starting
quarterback for the Bengals?
Absolutely not. At least not yet. As much as half of the
city of Cincinnati wants McCarron to get the nod over Dalton, the fact of the
matter is that this was only McCarron’s second NFL game of his career. The
Bengals, who signed Dalton to a massive contract last season, are not going to
make the man they tagged as the face of the franchise a backup to a guy who has
only played in two NFL preseason games. However, should Dalton get hurt or play
horribly, then McCarron will get his chance to shine when the games matter
during the regular season. Until that happens, expect to see McCarron on the
sideline rather than the playing field.
I’m not going to lie. The thought of McCarron being the
starting quarterback for the Bengals entered my mind as he continued to throw accurate
passes on a consistent basis throughout the game. It was an entertaining
thought, but as I said earlier, the job is Dalton’s unless he gets hurt or just
flat out stinks. Based on the game though, it looks like the Bengals should be
in good shape with either Dalton or McCarron leading the offense.
Who Dey!
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Autographs Page Is Now Live
#AUTOGRAPH PAGE IS NOW LIVE @ http://t.co/oiRAWLpVYr #Reds #Bengals #WhoDey #LetsRoar #ATOBTTR #TNA #WWE #NFL #MLB pic.twitter.com/85j4y3qNHN
— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) August 30, 2015
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Picture Page Update
PIC PAGE UPDATE @ http://t.co/yzF6TznxxM with #REDS vs #DODGERS PICS #LADvsCIN #GoReds #ATOBTTR #MLB #Bengals #NFL pic.twitter.com/EEjkAjVFPk
— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) August 27, 2015
Celebrity Softball Challenge
SmackDown Solutions
What do you think of when I say “WWE?” You probably think of
the biggest wrestling event on the planet in Wrestlemania. Perhaps you think of
legendary wrestlers such as Hulk Hogan, the Rock, or Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Maybe you think of WWE’s weekly television program and my personal favorite
show on television, Monday Night Raw. I’m sure a lot of people think of Raw as
it is WWE’s flagship program that, to me and other wrestling fans, is must see
television. It advances storylines, features a few quality matches and
segments, and is overall a pretty entertaining way to close out the beginning
of the week.
This same sentiment is not felt toward SmackDown though.
SmackDown is known as WWE’s “B” show. It is taped on Tuesday and broadcast on
Thursday. What was once considered another opportunity for WWE to showcase
wrestlers and progress storylines has essentially become a watered down version
of Raw.
Since SmackDown has lost its luster, I too have generally
lost interest in it. I used to tune in every week to see what was going to
happen on SmackDown. During the Attitude Era, it felt like it was as good as
Raw and from about 2002 to 2005, it was better than Raw. Wrestlers like Edge,
Eddie Guerrero, Kurt Angle, the Undertaker, Brock Lesnar, and Rey Mysterio among
others put on classic matches that had me on the edge of my seat. Other notable
SmackDown moments from this time period were Hulk Hogan and Vince McMahon being
engaged in a classic feud during the Wrestlemania 19 season, Brock Lesnar and
Kurt Angle having the best rivalry in SmackDown history, and Lesnar and Big
Show causing the ring to collapse after a monster superplex. Sadly, SmackDown
has since decreased in quality, and if you a miss an episode, it usually isn’t
a big deal as you won’t be missing much.
So is WWE wasting its time with SmackDown? I think so and
unless WWE changes the way it presents its blue-branded wrestling show, I think
they should consider cancelling it. If WWE were to broadcast SmackDown live
once it moves to USA Network in 2016, that could generate some buzz about the
show and hopefully force WWE to treat SmackDown the same way they treat Raw by
creating compelling content that viewers would feel a need to tune into
SmackDown to watch. Also, spoilers for SmackDown would be a thing of the past
if it were live. A lot of people read the spoilers for SmackDown since it is
taped on Tuesday. This causes a lot of fans to not tune into SmackDown because
they already know what happened.
Another solution I think WWE should look into is cancelling
SmackDown and broadcasting NXT in its place. NXT is phenomenal and sometimes is
as good if not better than Raw. The wrestlers in WWE’s “minor league” system
are really good, and I think WWE should give them the opportunity to show the
world what they can do on an actual television network instead of the WWE
Network. I would defiantly watch NXT if it were on actual television, and I am
sure a lot of wrestling fans feel the same way.
In conclusion, I think WWE should either treat SmackDown like
it would an episode of Raw and broadcast it live, or cancel it and air NXT in
its place. SmackDown today is just not a wrestling program worth watching every
week. Hopefully WWE does something with its Thursday night television programming
that will make it must see TV again.
Monday, August 24, 2015
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Welcome FC Cincinnati
Cincinnati has a rich history in sports. The Reds were the
first professional baseball team in history when they were formed in 1869 and
have gone on to capture 5 world championships as well as the hearts of baseball
lovers in the Queen City. The Bengals were formed in 1968 and turn what is
regarded as a baseball town into a jungle filled to the brim with members of
Who Dey Nation during the fall and winter months. The Cyclones hit the ice with
routine hockey finesse and have captured a few Kelly Cup Championships over the
last few years. Next year, a new chapter in Cincinnati sports history will be
written as the United Soccer League showcases the sport of professional soccer
to the Queen City when its latest team, FC Cincinnati, takes the field.
FC Cincinnati will play in the USL, which is a Division III
Professional Soccer League according to the United States Soccer Federation.
This division is below the Division II North American Soccer League as well as
the Division I, and perhaps most well-known professional soccer league in the
United States, Major League Soccer.
The team will play its home games inside the newly renovated
Nippert Stadium on the campus of the University of Cincinnati. The stadium is
also the home of the University of Cincinnati Bearcats football team, and with
it being able to hold a capacity of 40,000 people, there will be plenty of
seats for Cincinnati soccer fans to watch their new professional team in
person.
This is not the first professional soccer team to call
Cincinnati home. Currently, the Cincinnati Saints of the National Premier
Soccer League, which is considered to be a lower tier than the USL, play both
indoor and outdoor soccer and have garnered a nice fan base. Personally, I
would love to see the Saints play FC Cincinnati in some sort of scrimmage that
would promote both teams and attract a larger audience for Cincinnati soccer.
Plus, I think it would be awesome to see the two soccer teams that represent
Cincinnati duke it out for Queen City soccer supremacy.
At the time that this post was written, all that is really
known about FC Cincinnati is that they will be playing inside Nippert Stadium,
their colors are orange and blue, they are owned by Carl Linder III of the
Linder family who had previously owned the Reds, and their coach is former
professional soccer player John Harkes.
I am very excited to see the USL come to Cincinnati, and I
will definitely be rooting for FC Cincinnati. I plan on going to a few of their
games as well as watching the ones that I cannot attend via the USL YouTube
channel which streams live USL matches. Hopefully they have a bobblehead night
or produce a bobblehead for purchase. I would love to add an FC Cincinnati
nodder to my collection.
In conclusion, I am very excited that FC Cincinnati will be
playing soccer and with a USL team now in Cincinnati, maybe the NHL and the NBA
will look at the Queen City as a potential expansion city. U.S. Bank Arena is
getting a complete makeover, and I think it would be a perfect place for a
revived Cincinnati Royals basketball team! Until that happens, I am very
satisfied having a new soccer team to cheer on to victory!
Go FC Cincinnati!
The Reds Tweeted a Picture of Me!
The Reds posted this picture on their Twitter account featuring Raisel Iglesias and me! In case you can't tell, I'm the one getting the baseball back from Iglesias.
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Photo Page Update
PIC PAGE UPDATE @ http://t.co/yzF6TznxxM WITH #REDS & #BENGALS PICS #beyondthestripes #whodey #letsroar #goReds #MLB pic.twitter.com/9go3HsZsGq
— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) August 19, 2015
Thursday, August 13, 2015
MLB All-Star Kickoff 2015
Sting's SummerSlam Surprise
SummerSlam is
WWE’s biggest event of the summer and its second biggest event of the year
behind Wrestlemania. With this year’s edition being extended to four hours, one
has to expect it be at the same level if not better than Wrestlemania. The card
is shaping up nicely with matches that should be entertaining to watch but one
match stands out from the rest. That bout, of course, is the Wrestlemania 30
rematch between the beast and the phenom.
Brock Lesnar and
the Undertaker are set to square off in the main event of SummerSlam and while
it looks great on paper, I can’t help but worry that this match will drag like
their bout at Wrestlemania 30 did. The only thing memorable about their
encounter at the 2014 edition of the showcase of the immortals was the jaw
dropping finish in which Lesnar ended the Undertaker’s undefeated streak at
Wrestlemania. So how can WWE salvage the match that is going to headline their
second biggest event of the year? Enter Sting.
The vigilante
has not been seen since Wrestlemania 31 after he was defeated by Triple H. What
better way to reintroduce Sting to the WWE universe by having him interfere in
the SummerSlam main event and cost the dead man the match? This is how I would
book the ending of the bout.
After a grueling
battle between the Undertaker and Brock Lesnar, the phenom has gained the upper
hand and is about to tombstone the beast and claim the retribution that he has
been so desperately craving since Wrestlemania 30. The Undertaker picks up
Lesnar and slams his skull into the mat. As the dead man crosses the arms of
the beast in rest in piece fashion for the pin, the lights go out as the cry of
a crow echoes throughout the arena.
When the lights
turn back on, the Undertaker is standing across the ring from the baseball bat-wielding
vigilante. The crowd is roaring in shock and excitement as two of the biggest
names in wrestling share the same ring for the first time in history. Then
Sting makes his move. He swings for the fences and misses, allowing the phenom
to pick up the vigilante in preparation for the tombstone. Before he can
deliver the blow though, Sting manages to reverse the signature move of the
dead man into a scorpion death drop. The vigilante connects and stands up and
surveys the carnage in the ring. The lights go out and the cry of the crow
echoes throughout the arena as Sting disappears.
When the lights
turn back on, Lesnar, having recovered from the tombstone, staggers over to the
Undertaker, picks up the limp body of the phenom, and delivers an F5 to the dead
man for the pin and the win. This makes the Undertaker look strong in defeat,
allows Lesnar to still remain undefeated since 2013, and more importantly, it
sets up the long awaited dream match between Sting and the Undertaker at
Wrestlemania 32.
That is how I
would book the ending to the SummerSlam main event. It has shock value,
violence, and it tells an intriguing story that will culminate in the biggest
dream match in wrestling history. Hopefully this prediction I have for
SummerSlam is correct and proves to be more than fantasy booking on my part!
Friday, August 7, 2015
Paul O'Neill Bobblehead Unboxing
Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a 2015 Paul O'Neill bobblehead from the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum.
Bobblehead Page Update
#BOBBLEHEAD PAGE UPDATE WITH A NEW #REDS NODDER @ http://t.co/7szAEAxyiu #GoReds #ATOBTTR #CINvsARZ #Bengals #MLB pic.twitter.com/RZoRkf7uVU
— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) August 7, 2015
2015 Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum Bobbleheads Review
Earlier this year I wrote a blog post previewing the 2015
Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum series of bobbleheads. They gave away
five different nodders on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from April to August
and all were of a member of the 1990 World Series Championship Cincinnati Reds
team. In this post, I will share my thoughts on every bobblehead I received
from the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum.
The first bobblehead I got from the Reds Hall of Fame and
Museum was of former first baseman Todd Benzinger. I thought this was an
awesome looking bobblehead and a great way to start of the series as Benzinger
had never been immortalized as a bobblehead. The pose they chose was also
topnotch. It features Benzinger making the final out in the fourth game of the
World Series to both end the game and give the Reds their fifth World Series
title in franchise history.
The second bobblehead was of Joe Oliver. He was the popular
catcher on the 1990 team whose clutch hitting scored Billy Bates in walk off
fashion in Game 2 to put the Reds ahead two games to none over the Athletics.
In fact, that moment is what the bobblehead was based on and in my opinion,
they mirrored that moment almost perfectly.
The third bobblehead of the series was of Billy Hatcher. He
was one of the most popular outfielders on the 1990 team and also serves as the
current first base coach for the Reds. Hatcher being featured as a bobblehead
was a no-brainer because of his record setting performance in the series as he
had a batting average of .750. I’m shocked that he hadn’t been featured as a
bobblehead sooner because he is just as popular today if not more than he was
in 1990 with members of Reds Country. They did a nice job with this nodder, and
it is my personal favorite of the bunch.
The fifth bobblehead was of Ohio native and former Reds
outfielder Paul O’Neill. This was the last bobblehead the Reds Hall of Fame and
Museum gave away, and they picked an excellent player to immortalize as a
nodder. Even though he might be more famous as a Yankee than a Red, he will
always be considered a member of the Redlegs to me and to other members of Reds
Country. This bobblehead looks great and was a fantastic way to end the series.
It was also flying out of the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum as its release was
on the same day as the Devin Mesoraco bobblehead game and virtually every fan
who attended the game hit the hall before going to the game. That’s what I did,
and at the end of the night, I left the game with both the O’Neill bobblehead
and the Mesoraco bobblehead.
You probably noticed that I did not pick up the fourth
bobblehead in the series. It was of Tom Browning, one of the pitchers on the
team. The reason I did not go and pick up this one was because I have a
Cincinnati Reds Tom Browning bobblehead that the team gave away in 2008, and I
usually only collect one bobblehead of a player per team.
In conclusion, the 2015 series of Cincinnati Reds Hall of
Fame and Museum bobbleheads were great and the best series of nodders that they
have done to date. My only gripe with the series is Browning being featured as
I thought that should have gone with somebody else other than him as he has
already been featured as a Reds bobblehead. I think Jose Rijo, Glenn Braggs,
and Lou Pinella would have been great choices. Hopefully the Reds or the Reds
Hall of Fame and Museum make bobbleheads of these guys in the future. If you
were not able to get your hands on any of these bobbleheads, then eBay is your
best bet to find them. All fans of the Reds need these bobbleheads in their
collection as they celebrate the only wire-to-wire team in the history of the
Cincinnati Reds.
Make sure you check out the unboxing videos for these bobbleheads by clicking here!
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Photo Page Update
PIC PAGE UPDATE WITH #REDS VS #CARDINALS PICS @ http://t.co/yzF6TznxxM #GoReds #STLvsCIN #ATOBTTR #MLB #baseball #NFL pic.twitter.com/Lrq4i49lBQ
— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) August 6, 2015
Sunday, August 2, 2015
Photo Page Update
PIC PAGE UPDATE WITH #BENGALS PICS @ http://t.co/yzF6TznxxM #NFL #TrainingCamp #whodey #letsroar #TC53 #football #mlb pic.twitter.com/KkSzZ2NBlI
— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) August 2, 2015
Devin Mesoraco Bobblehead Unboxing
Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a 2015 SGA Cincinnati Reds Devin Mesoraco bobblehead.
Bobblehead Page Update
#BOBBLEHEAD PAGE UPDATE WITH NEW #REDS NODDER @ http://t.co/7szAEAxyiu #Mesorocket #PITvsCIN #ATOBTTR #GoReds #MLB pic.twitter.com/oNDlhJtvY3
— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) August 2, 2015
Photo Page Update
PIC PAGE UPDATE WITH #PIRATES VS #REDS GAME PICS @ http://t.co/yzF6TznxxM #GoReds #PITvsCIN #Bobblehead #MLB #ATOBTTR pic.twitter.com/7IaxMEGaPz
— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) August 2, 2015
Friday, July 31, 2015
Wrestlemania 22 3-Disc DVD Set Review
Wrestlemania is the biggest wrestling event of all time. It features high profile matches, celebrity involvement, and showcases World Wrestling Entertainment’s product on a global stage. An event this big only happens once a year, but that does not mean you only have to watch it once every 365 days. WWE has released every Wrestlemania on some sort of home video format whether it be on VHS, DVD, or Blu-ray. Over the course of the next few weeks, I will review the different home video editions of Wrestlemania that I own.
In 2006, World Wrestling Entertainment presented its 22nd
edition of the showcase of the immortals in front of the always-rowdy Chicago
crowd. It was a fun event that had a lot of memorable moments and as soon as
WWE released it on DVD, I immediately picked it up for my home viewing
pleasure. With this being an individual Wrestlemania DVD set, all three discs
of the Wrestlemania 22 DVD set deal with Wrestlemania 22 in some sort of
fashion.
Disc 1 contains some vignettes, the pre-Wrestlemania18-man
interpromotional battle royal between the superstars of Raw and Smackdown, and
the first few hours of Wrestlemania 22 as it starts with the traditional
singing of “America the Beautiful” before ending with the announcement of where
Wrestlemania 23 will take place. When viewing the first disc, I recommend
watching the battle royal before the actual event in order to get the full
Wrestlemania 22 experience.
Disc 2 contains the rest of the Wrestlemania 22 event as
well as a ton of extras. Should you choose to continue watching Wrestlemania
22, the second disc picks up immediately where the first disc left off as the
very entertaining triple threat match for the World Heavyweight Championship is
the first match you will see. The extras included on disc 2 are what really
make this DVD set shine. Aside from the home video exclusives that feature Mick
Foley getting stitches and Rey Mysterio celebrating his World Heavyweight
Championship victory, you also get to see the entire Wrestlemania Post Show,
John Cena on Raw the night after Wrestlemania 22 addressing the hostile Chicago
crowd that almost booed him out of the city, and Saturday Night’s Main Event
that occurred a few weeks before Wrestlemania 22 in its entirety.
Disc 3 contains the entire WWE Hall of Fame induction
ceremony that featured the inductions of former Chicago Bear William “The
Refrigerator” Perry, the late great Eddie Guerrero, and Bret “Hit Man” Hart
among others. I enjoyed the induction ceremony and the Wrestlemania 22 edition
had some very entertaining moments that make it worth a watch.
The packaging of this 3-disc set looks very cool as it
features all of the competitors in what were arguably the night’s biggest
matches as well as the classic Wrestlemania logo in which the “R” and the “S”
are connected. Inside the case are the discs and pictures from the event with
the two biggest pictures being of the then World Heavyweight Champion Rey
Mysterio and the then WWE Champion John Cena.
Overall, the Wrestlemania 22 3-disc DVD set is a very nice
home video version of the event. It contains the entire Wrestlemania 22
pay-per-view, the entire pre-Wrestlemania 22 Saturday Night’s Main Event
television special, and the entire WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Most of
the matches on the card were fantastic and had me in awe. Shawn Michaels
dropping a massive elbow on to Vince McMahon from an enormous ladder, Edge
spearing Mick Foley through a flaming table, and the Money in the Bank ladder
match acrobatics are just a few of the cool moments from this event. It is
relatively cheap and easy to find today, so add it to your Wrestlemania
collection.
Stay tuned for the Wrestlemania 23 DVD review!
Friday, July 24, 2015
The Cancelled Bobblehead
Please note that this was written before the All-Star teams
were announced.
If you have been a fan of my website, then you know that I
am a collector of bobbleheads and a diehard fan of the Cincinnati Reds. When
the Reds release their promotional schedule, I always look for the games that
feature a bobblehead giveaway so that I can get tickets for it and add the new
nodder to my collection. One bobblehead on the 2015 schedule that caught my eye
was a special “2015 All-Star player” bobblehead. With the Reds hosting the 2015
midsummer classic, the team decided to give away a nodder of a Reds player that
made the All-Star team with the player being featured in what I would guess to
be the National League All-Star uniform. Unfortunately for bobblehead fans, it
appears that this nodder has been cancelled.
As I was looking at the Reds promotional schedule to see if
the third “Stars of the Queen City” bobblehead had been revealed, I noticed
that the “2015 All-Star player” bobblehead game had been changed. Instead of
giving out a bobblehead, the team is now giving out a figurine of a Reds player
that makes the All-Star team. Talk about disappointing.
This was one of the bobbleheads I had been looking forward
to most this season. Last year, the team gave away what I consider to be the
best Reds bobblehead of all time in that it was a 2015 All-Star Game Mr.
Redlegs nodder. It is a timeless nodder considering that it features a mascot
and not a player, and it has an outstanding look to it. I was expecting
something similar this year when the team announced that they would give away a
bobblehead of a Reds player who made the All-Star team.
If you look at the Reds record though, it is easy to see why
the team has decided to with a figurine instead of a bobblehead. As I write
this, the Reds are in fourth in the National League Central and have once again
been ravaged by injuries. Combine that with frustratingly bad play and the
results have not been pretty. Fans have noticed this too as it appears that
Todd Frazier might be the only Reds player at the 2015 All-Star game. Shortstop
Zack Cozart was having a great year and was in contention to make the All-Star
team, but a terrible leg injury has him on the shelf for the rest of the year,
leaving Frazier as the lone Reds player to possibly make the team.
I would have loved to see Cozart make the team and have him immortalized
as the All-Star bobblehead. Frazier had a bobblehead game very early in the
season, and I doubt fans would shell out the cash for another Frazier
bobblehead or any Reds other player for that matter. As I write this, Phillips
and Votto have gained ground in the All-Star voting for their positions, but
Phillips, like Frazier, has already had a bobblehead game this season, and
Votto seemingly has one every other year.
With it being slim pickings for Reds All-Stars, the team has
decided to play it safe and give out a figurine instead of a bobblehead. The
figurine might turn out to look pretty cool, but bobbleheads are and always
will be cooler. It is out of my hands though, and if I like how the figurine
looks, I might head to Great American Ball Park to get it.
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Photo Page Update
PHOTO PAGE UPDATE WITH #REDS vs #CUBS PICS @ http://t.co/yzF6TznxxM #GoReds #CHCvsCIN #ATOBTTR #LetsPlayTwo #MLB #wwe pic.twitter.com/F4wUDTm5nf
— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) July 23, 2015
Monday, July 20, 2015
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Photo Page Update
PIC PAGE UPDATE @ http://t.co/yzF6TznxxM WITH #REDS GAME & TODD FRAZIER AUTO SIGNING PICS #Reds #OhioCup #ATOBTTR pic.twitter.com/MJ6JCILYc5
— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) July 19, 2015
Thursday, July 16, 2015
My All-Star Week Experience
The 2015 edition of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game
took place on Tuesday, July 14, and in the end, the American League topped the
National League by a score of 6-3. It was a fun game to watch, and it capped
off an incredible week of baseball activities. I tried to soak up as much of
the All-Star Game festivities as I could, and in this post, I will discuss what
I was up to during All-Star week.
Things officially kicked off with the opening of the MLB
All-Star Game FanFest on Friday. I went to it and was blown away by everything
they had there. They had a lot of cool exhibits that dealt with not only the
Cincinnati Reds but with some of the all-time greats to have ever played the
sport of baseball. There were exhibits about the Negro League, women in
baseball, and the baseball hall of fame. After the All-Star FanFest closed for
the day, I went up to Fountain Square in the center of the city. Buildings and
skywalks were decked out in All-Star decorations, and you could feel the excitement
in Cincinnati building as the midsummer classic drew near. There was a concert
at Fountain Square as the band, Saint Hotel, rocked the heart of downtown after
a baseball themed fireworks display illuminated the night sky. It was a
fantastic day and an excellent way to start All-Star week with a bang.
The next day I went to a celebrity softball game. It was not
the official MLB Celebrity Softball Game. The one I went to was called the
Celebrity Softball Challenge. It featured a lot of local celebrities playing
softball for charity. The game featured Team Johnny Bench taking on Team
Evander Holyfield. Players on the teams included a few members of the
Cincinnati Bengals such as Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill, a Cincinnati radio
DJ named Meat, Tae Bo fitness guru Billy Blanks, and a few members of the
Columbus Blue Jackets. This was a very entertaining game and you could tell
that the celebrities were having fun. In the end, Team Bench destroyed Team
Holyfield.
On Monday, the day of the Home Run Derby, I went back to the
All-Star Game FanFest. The different booths and stations there were giving out
a lot of free stuff, and I managed to pick up some really cool things for my
sports memorabilia collection. I also got the autograph of Amos Otis, a former
player of the Kansas City Royals and the New York Mets among other teams. I
also did the “Steal a Base Challenge” in which you race an MLB player on a
screen. I chose to race Billy Hamilton and in the end, I beat him! I also went
to the All-Star Game Block Party. There were games, a zip line, and an
autograph session that featured former player and current co-host of the show
“Intentional Talk,” Kevin Millar.
In the end, I found All-Star week to be a blast and now that
the game is over and all the festivities of the midsummer classic are no longer
in Cincinnati, I’m a little sad. This was the first time I had ever seen the
city and the surrounding area come together and put on a spectacle for the rest
of the nation to see and enjoy. Cincinnati truly shined in the national spotlight,
and I cannot wait to see what happens the next time the MLB All-Star Game comes
to the Queen City.
Check out pictures from All-Star week on the “Photos” page
and keep an eye out for my trilogy of All-Star week vlogs!
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Photo Page Update
PIC PAGE UPDATE @ http://t.co/yzF6TznxxM WITH #ASG PICS #Reds #ASG2015 #AllStarGame #HRDerby #FanFest #FranchiseFour pic.twitter.com/Ac5lKBiTPF
— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) July 15, 2015
Friday, July 10, 2015
Mr. Redlegs 2015 All-Star Game Edition Bobblehead Review
Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone reviews a 2014 Cincinnati Reds SGA Mr. Redlegs 2015 All-Star Game Edition bobblehead.
Chapmania!
On Thursday, I got a notification from Twitter that said Aroldis Chapman, the flame throwing closer of the Reds, follows me on Twitter! I'm not too entirely sure if the Twitter account is legit, but based on who he follows and who follows him, it seems real. I got an automated direct message from him saying that he just opened the account so maybe it is actually Chapman's Twitter handle! If he likes it, then you will too! Give me a follow @CincyFanZone!
All-Star Week 2015
For one night in July, Major League Baseball’s best players
will gather at Great American Ball Park as the Cincinnati Reds host the 2015
MLB All-Star Game. It should be a fun week that showcases the city of
Cincinnati and the surrounding area to rest of the nation. After for what
seemed like an eternity of waiting and skyrocketing hype, All-Star week is upon
us, and in this post, I will discuss the various events that will be happening
in Cincinnati for the Midsummer Classic.
The week of baseball festivities kicks off on Friday, July
10, at the Duke Energy Convention Center. This will be the site of the T-Mobile
All-Star FanFest, a big five-day festival in which baseball fans will have the
opportunity to get autographs from some of the sport’s greatest legends,
participate in various activities, and win tickets to some of the other events
happening throughout the week. The FanFest will run from Friday, July 10, to
Tuesday, July 14, and the first 2000 guests each day will receive a free
giveaway item. The giveaway items vary depending on the day and range from a
plush toy of Major League Baseball Hall of Famer and former Cincinnati Red
Barry Larkin to a mini bobblehead of a player from the Big Red Machine.
On Saturday, July 11, the Color Run MLB All-Star 5K will
take place with the race starting at 9 a.m. Also on Saturday is the Budweiser
MLB All-Star Concert. The concert will feature pop star Ariana Grande and will
take place at Paul Brown Stadium, the home of the Cincinnati Bengals, at 8 p.m.
On Sunday, July 12, the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game,
which features the best players in the minor leagues, will take place at Great
American Ball Park at 3 p.m. Following the Futures game will be the All-Star
Legends and Celebrity softball game. The softball game will feature singer
Jordin Sparks, Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer, and Cincinnati Bengals
quarterback Andy Dalton among others. Also on Sunday is the MLB All-Star Summer
Pepsi Block Party. This will take place from noon to 8 p.m. and be on East
Freedom Way.
On Monday, July 13, the Gatorade All-Star Workout Day will
happen at Great American Ball Park, which will feature the Gillette Home Run
Derby at 8 p.m. There are new rules for the home run derby this year and with
Great American Ball Park being considered a hitter friendly ballpark, it should
be a fun event to watch.
Tuesday, July 14, will be the conclusion of the MLB All-Star
festivities. The All-Star Game Red Carpet Show will start at 1 p.m. with the 86th
MLB All-Star Game starting at 7 p.m. The entire baseball world will be watching
as the best of the American League take on the best of the National League in a
game in which the winning league will ensure home field advantage for the 2015
World Series.
If you are a baseball fan, Cincinnati is the place to be
from July 10 to July 14. Major League Baseball will take over the city as the MLB
All-Star game makes it triumphant return to Cincinnati for the first time since
1988. Hopefully I can snag some tickets to a few events and the All-Star game.
If anybody is willing to hook me up, leave a comment!
Saturday, July 4, 2015
Friday, July 3, 2015
Bobblehead Page Update
NEW #BOBBLEHEAD @ http://t.co/7szAEAxyiu #Bengals #LetsRoar #WhoDey #Reds #MILvsCIN #GoReds #ATOBTTR #ASG #ASGWorthy pic.twitter.com/pjeROMNp3M
— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) July 3, 2015
Booking Battleground
The beast is back. The champ is in trouble.
WWE's next pay-per-view will give wrestling fans a glimpse
at the possible SummerSlam card, and with Battleground being the site of the
WWE World Heavyweight Championship bout between Brock Lesnar and the champ,
Seth Rollins, the main event of the biggest wrestling show of the summer hangs
on the outcome of the match. So how will Battleground shape SummerSlam's main
event? Allow me to explain.
As we all know, Seth Rollins cashed in his Money in the Bank
contract at Wrestlemania 31 and turned the main event title bout between Roman
Reigns and Lesnar into a triple threat match before pinning Reigns and walking
out as the new champion. The following night on Raw, Lesnar went on a rampage
and destroyed everybody in his path, which resulted in him being
"suspended" by WWE. Since then, the arrogance of Rollins has escalated,
and he has stepped on the toes of the Authority multiple times. As a result,
they brought back Lesnar and named him as the number one contender for the WWE
World Heavyweight Championship.
I believe that Lesnar will defeat Rollins and regain the WWE
World Heavyweight Championship. This will allow for WWE to set up two
intriguing storylines that could lead to a SummerSlam pay-per-view with two
main events: Rollins vs. Triple H and Reigns vs. Lesnar.
Let’s start off with why I think Rollins vs. Triple H will
happen. In the summer of 2014, Triple H picked Rollins to be his protégé and
the former member of the Shield has become WWE’s top heel. He became arrogant,
won matches in dirty ways, and has managed to squirm his way out of big title
defenses with his hands still on WWE’s biggest prize. He has essentially become
very similar to the Game and in the Authority, there can only be one Triple H.
Following his defeat to Lesnar at Battleground, the Authority, tired of
Rollins’ attitude and inability to retain his title without their help, will
turn on Rollins, resulting in a SummerSlam bout between the Cerebral Assassin
and his former student.
Now let’s move on to why I think Reigns and Lesnar will take
place at SummerSlam. At the Royal Rumble, Reigns won the Royal Rumble match and
earned a main event title shot at Wrestlemania 31 against Lesnar. Fan reception
to this booking decision was horrible as Reigns was booed every week leading up
to Wrestlemania. This poor reaction is perhaps what prompted WWE to have
Rollins cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase at Wrestlemania and steal the
title from Reigns and Lesnar. Since then, Reigns has been garnering better
reactions from the crowd and all the boos have seemingly vanished. A
combination of having Reigns constantly team up with the insanely over with the
crowd Dean Ambrose and WWE gradually feeding Reigns to the crowd instead of
forcing him down their throats has allowed Reigns to finally be put in a
position to be crowned champion without receiving a terrible reaction. This
allows WWE to stage a Wrestlemania rematch between Reigns and Lesnar in the
main event of their second biggest event of the year. I think Reigns will then
defeat Lesnar and win the title only to suffer a loss to the new Mr. Money in
the Bank, Sheamus. This allows Lesnar to stay off TV until Wrestlemania season,
and it keeps Reigns busy as he once again tries to capture the WWE Championship.
That is how I think Battleground will shape SummerSlam 2015.
It should be an entertaining main event between Lesnar and Rollins and knowing
how WWE likes to do things, expect a few surprises throughout the match. Thanks
for reading and stay tuned for my “Battleground 2015 Thoughts” video.
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