Photo Page Update @ https://t.co/JzwEdxiFEu With #14Forever Weekend Pics#Reds #SDvsCIN #LetsGoReds #MLB #CHCvsCIN pic.twitter.com/JZJ0335GZI— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) June 26, 2016
Sunday, June 26, 2016
Photo Page Update
Thursday, June 23, 2016
Autograph Page Update
Autograph Page Update @ https://t.co/ULDHSOUCJg With a New #Bengals Autograph#WhoDey #LetsRoar #Reds #FCCincy #NFL pic.twitter.com/PRsyInYSNJ— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) June 23, 2016
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Induction Celebration
One of the biggest injustices in sports is the exclusion of
baseball legend Pete Rose from being on the ballot for induction into the
baseball hall of fame. His career is nothing short of legendary as he garnered
multiple awards, won three World Series Championships, and immortalized himself
as Major League Baseball’s “Hit King.” Unfortunately, Rose broke a cardinal
rule in MLB by betting on baseball and has been banned from the league. As a
result, he is not eligible for induction into the National Baseball Hall of
Fame. However, the Cincinnati Reds announced that they will induct him into the
team’s hall of fame, and they have a great weekend planned for the event.
The fun starts on Friday June 24 as the Reds take the field
for their second of a four game series against the San Diego Padres. All fans
in attendance will receive a 1976 Cincinnati Reds team photo, and the Reds will
wear their 1976 throwback uniforms. There will also be a special pregame
ceremony that will feature members of the 1976 World Series Championship team
as well as a postgame fireworks show. If you bought a special ticket package
for Friday’s game, you will also receive a replica 1976 Cincinnati Reds World
Series Championship ring.
Saturday is the day of the actual Cincinnati Reds Hall of
Fame induction ceremony in which Rose will be inducted during a pregame
ceremony. All fans in attendance will also receive a poster that features every
Topps baseball card showcasing Rose as a member of the Redlegs. There is a
picture of the poster online, and it looks very cool.
Sunday is the final day of the induction weekend. Not only
is it “Family Sunday” at the ballpark, but it is also when Rose will have his
number officially retired by the team. The retirement will happen before the
game during a ceremony, and all fans in attendance will receive a free Pete
Rose number retirement print. Kids 14 and younger will also receive a free wall
decal of Devin Mesoraco.
The Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum is also honoring
Pete, but they are doing it all throughout June. On Fridays, Saturdays, and
Sundays, everybody who purchases a ticket for the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum
will receive a free limited edition Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame induction Pete
Rose bobblehead. I went and got mine the first day they gave them away, and it
is easily a bobblehead that every Reds fans should try to attain.
As you can see, the Reds have a lot of stuff planned. Throwback
uniforms and a replica World Series ring on Friday, the induction ceremony on
Saturday, the number retirement ceremony on Sunday, and a free bobblehead of
Pete, while supplies last, all weekends in June from the hall of fame and
museum. I am going on Friday and will be getting the replica World Series ring.
I wish I could go to all three games, but one out of the three isn’t bad,
especially when the Reds are going all out to honor Charlie Hustle. Hopefully
the team can sweep the Padres for him.
Go Redlegs!
Monday, June 20, 2016
Money in the Bank 2016 Thoughts
Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on WWE Money in the Bank 2016.
Saturday, June 18, 2016
Photo Page Update
Photo Page Update @ https://t.co/yzF6TznxxM With #CINvTOR Pics#FCCincy #TFCII #NBAFinals #Reds #Bengals #USL #MLB pic.twitter.com/n8IKTue3Be
— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) June 19, 2016
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame Induction Pete Rose Bobblehead Unboxing
Bobblehead Page Update
Bobblehead Page Update @ https://t.co/f6kg2Fon2e With a New #Reds Nodder#BobbleHOF #BobbleheadAddicts #MLB #Sports pic.twitter.com/0HNSBtZtPK— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) June 15, 2016
The Money in the Bank Winner Is…
Money in the Bank is one of WWE’s best events of the year.
It is usually filled with great matches, and its results set the tone for
SummerSlam. The biggest and most influential match at Money in the Bank is the
bout that the event was named after in that the results of it are what people
care about the most. The winner of the match receives a contract for a WWE
Championship match whenever and wherever the victor wants, and when the cash in
happens, the crowd usually erupts in excitement. So who should win the event
this year? I believe that Dean Ambrose and Kevin Owens are the most deserving
to win this match. Let’s start with why I think Owens should win.
Kevin Owens has been absolutely incredible ever since he was
called up to the main roster from NXT. His rivalry with John Cena was one of
the best of 2015, his matches are generally some of the best on the card, and
his mic skills as a heel are fantastic. He is so good at being a heel that he
gets face reactions. He is currently involved in a great feud with Sami Zayn,
and if Owens wins the Money in the Bank ladder match and claims the briefcase
for himself, then his rivalry with Zayn could be taken to the next level as the
two could be battling it out for Money in the Bank contract. The crowd would
also go crazy if Owens cashed in on Reigns, and the rivalry between these two
could be epic.
Dean Ambrose also deserves to win the Money in the Bank
ladder match in my opinion. He is one of the best talents in WWE today. He is solid
in the ring, he is great on the mic, and despite WWE booking him in a
questionable manner, he is still over with the fans, receives huge pops every
time he enters the arena, and his rivalries with Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens,
Bray Wyatt, and Brock Lesnar have been very entertaining. If he wins the Money
in the Bank ladder match, then things in WWE could get very interesting. With
Seth Rollins returning to the WWE after his injury and Roman Reigns in the
middle of a WWE Championship reign, an Ambrose victory could finally mean that
we get the long awaited Shield triple threat match. Also, Ambrose is my
favorite wrestler, and I would love to see him win the match and hopefully the
WWE Championship with a successful cash in on Reigns, Rollins, or whoever the champion
may be.
In conclusion, that is why I think Owens and Ambrose each
have equal claim to the Money in the Bank contract. They are both great in the
ring, on the mic, and get really good crowd reactions. If either of these guys wins
the match, the crowd will cheer and the arena will definitely explode whenever
they decide to cash in their contract. While I am a fan of Owens and would
really like to see him win, I will be pulling for Ambrose and hope he climbs
the ladder, grabs the briefcase, and takes his first step to becoming WWE
Champion.
Let’s go Ambrose!
Autograph Page Update
Autograph Page Update @ https://t.co/ULDHSOUCJg With a New #FCCincy Signature#Reds #Bengals #USL #MLB #NBA #MLS pic.twitter.com/Uc8PHw7UG6— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) June 15, 2016
Saturday, June 11, 2016
Photo Page Update
Photo Page Update @ https://t.co/yzF6TznxxM With #Athletics vs #Reds Pics#LetsGoReds #FCCincy #MLB #NBA #NHL #NFL pic.twitter.com/xQ8ub4Qxgk— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) June 12, 2016
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Lee May Bobblehead Unboxing
SmackDown vs. Raw…Again Part 1
In 2001, World Wrestling Entertainment had established
itself as the undisputed wrestling promotion champion in the world. It had
defeated Extreme Championship Wrestling and squeezed the life out of World
Championship Wrestling, putting an end to the epic “Monday Night Wars.”
As the dust settled and the smoke cleared, many former ECW
and WCW wrestlers signed with WWE, creating a huge surge in talent on the WWE
roster. In order to give these new wrestlers airtime while keeping the
established WWE stars on television, WWE came up with the brand extension. The
idea was to make Raw and SmackDown two separate promotions that would “compete”
against each other. There was a draft between Raw and SmackDown and wrestlers
were exclusive to only the show that drafted them. The only exceptions were
champions who appeared on both shows. The only times fans saw wrestlers from
both Raw and SmackDown appear on the same show were pay-per-views.
Eventually, champions became exclusive to either Raw or
SmackDown with each brand having a total of four titles each. For midcard championships, this was not really a
problem as Raw had the Intercontinental Championship and SmackDown had the
United States Championship. There was also a Cruiserweight division with its
own title that was exclusive to the SmackDown brand. However, each show had its
own world champion, pair of tag team champions, and eventually a women’s
champion as SmackDown retired the Cruiserweight Championship and created the
Divas Championship while Raw already had the Women’s Championship
The brand extension continued until 2011 when SmackDown
wrestlers began to appear regularly on Raw. It was officially phased out by
2012, and titles merged as the Raw and SmackDown tag team titles and women’s
titles were unified. The unification process was complete in 2013 as the WWE
Championship of Raw and the World Heavyweight Championship of SmackDown were merged
by Randy Orton when he defeated John Cena and became the first Undisputed WWE
World Heavyweight Champion since 2002. With that, the brand extension had
officially come to an end.
Wrestlers were no longer exclusive to certain shows, titles
could be defended on both Raw and SmackDown, and the championships regained
their prestige as there were fewer belts to compete for between the wrestlers.
It was nice to have the WWE go back to a simpler way, and I was and still am a
fan of ending the brand extension.
In theory, the brand extension was a good idea, but in
reality, it failed. While it did allow a few wrestlers to emerge like John
Cena, Batista, and Randy Orton, it ultimately turned SmackDown into the “B”
show as more attention was given to Raw each and every week. SmackDown did have
great success and was an overall better show than Raw when the brand extension
began, however it slowly spiraled downward and essentially became a recap of
Raw with some filler. If it was executed better, then perhaps the brand
extension could have worked. Maybe there could have been more than a handful of
guys who had careers launched during the brand extension, and Raw and SmackDown
could have been treated as equal shows. That was not the case, and I do not
really see that happening with the new brand extension.
Stayed tuned for part two of this post in which I explain
why I do not like WWE’s choice to bring back the brand extension.
Saturday, June 4, 2016
Bobblehead Page Update
Bobblehead Page Update @ https://t.co/7szAEAxyiu With a New #Reds Bobble#bobbleheadaddicts #BobbleHOF #MLB #NBA pic.twitter.com/bO6vIQBw7q— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) June 4, 2016
Autograph Page Update
#Autograph Page Update @ https://t.co/oiRAWLpVYr With New Nolan Ryan Auto#Reds #Astros #NFL #MLS #MLB #NBA #NHL pic.twitter.com/Vx3t1yffLw— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) June 4, 2016
Photo Page Update
Pic Page Update @ https://t.co/yzF6TznxxM With #WSHvsCIN Pics#Reds #Nationals #MLB #LetsGoReds #ATOBTTR #NBA #NHL pic.twitter.com/q3Tm41Xpwc— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) June 4, 2016
Monday, May 30, 2016
Ken Griffey Jr. Double Bobblehead Unboxing
Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes an SGA Cincinnati Reds / Seattle Mariners double bobblehead of Ken Griffey Jr.
Sunday, May 29, 2016
Graphing at Reds Games
Being a diehard sports fan, I usually try to collect
everything that deals with sports. I collect sports cards, bobbleheads, and
other types of memorabilia. One of my favorite things to collect are
autographs. I try to get tons of things signed by Bengals players at the
various Bengals shows I go to during the season, and I am currently working on
getting the autographs of some of the FC Cincinnati players. Some of the most
challenging autographs to get are from Reds players. There are only a handful
of Reds shows before spring training, and Redsfest only comes once a year. That
means I have to try and get Reds autographs at games, and that is easier said
than done. In this post, I will discuss how I attain signatures from Reds players
at games.
Before I head to the stadium, I make sure I pack my bag with
things to get signed, usually baseballs, and a small bag of sharpies and pens.
I always bring extra in case one of the writing instruments I bring with me
runs out of ink.
The gates to the game usually open an hour and a half before
the game starts so arriving early is key. Once I get to the stadium, I head
over to the first base line and usually try to stand at the end of the aisle
that is next to the camera well that is by the Reds’ dugout. I have found that
you can usually get quite a few autographs in this spot as players walking on
and off the field pass this spot and other times players will walk over from
the dugout and into the camera well and sign for fans that way.
When players comer over, you have to your item ready with a
pen, hold it out, and hope they sign. Sometimes a lot of players sign, and
other times nobody signs. Some guys like Joey Votto and Jay Bruce rarely sign,
and others like Zack Cozart and Brandon Phillips sign pretty frequently. It is
all a matter of luck.
I have managed to get quite a few autographs from players at
Reds games. Brandon Phillips, Todd Frazier, Shin-Soo Choo, Zack Cozart, Joey
Votto, Billy Hamilton, and Raisel Iglesias among others have all signed things
for me at games. It is fun trying to call players over and when you manage to
get something signed, it’s a great feeling. I hope you found this post helpful
and hopefully you can get some autographs the next time you go to a Reds game.
Happy graphing and go Redlegs!
Photo Page Update
Pic Page Update @ https://t.co/yzF6TznxxM With #CINvHAR Pics#FCCincy #FCCincinnati #USL #MLS #Reds #Bengals #NBA pic.twitter.com/ovq6669eUE— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) May 29, 2016
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Bobblehead Page Update
Bobblehead Page Update @ https://t.co/7szAEAxyiu With a New #Reds/#Mariners Nodder#JrHOF #CINvsLAD #MLB #sports pic.twitter.com/yoWWPYVSBx— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) May 25, 2016
Monday, May 23, 2016
Meet The FC Cincy Team
With the Cincinnati Reds and the Cincinnati Bengals having
multiple opportunities for fans to meet and get autographs form their favorite
players, it was only a matter of time until Cincinnati’s newest team, FC
Cincinnati, had some sort of way for fans to connect with the team. The Bengals
have Bengals Line, Beyond the Stripes, Bengals Nation, and Bengals Pep Rally,
and the Reds have Reds Hot Stove and Redsfest. FC Cincinnati now has a show of
their own.
On Tuesdays at the Moerlein Lage House, ESPN 1530 presents
the Coach John Harkes show. The show features host Tom Gelehrter interviewing
FC Cincinnati head coach John Harkes and a guest player. Past guest players
have included goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt and midfielder Jimmy McLaughlin. The
interviews are very well done and interesting, and they usually feature a
segment in which fans can ask the coach and the player a question in person or
via twitter. You can also get autographs from Harkes and the guest player
during commercial breaks.
I have been to two of these shows already, and I find them
to be quite enjoyable. You get to gain insight on how the game of soccer is
viewed by the head coach and the players, and you get autographs for free,
which is always great. The Moerlein Lager House has also brewed a special FC
Cincinnati beer. I haven’t tried it yet but have only heard good things about
it. The atmosphere is great, and you will definitely have a fun time. I highly
recommend going and supporting FC Cincinnati.
FC “clap” “clap” Cincy!
Sunday, May 22, 2016
Photo Page Update
Photo Page Update @ https://t.co/yzF6TznxxM With #SEAvsCIN Pics#JrHOF #Reds #Mariners #MLB #NBA #NHL #baseball pic.twitter.com/6RSApOYAan— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) May 22, 2016
Friday, May 20, 2016
Autograph Page Update
Autograph Page Update @ https://t.co/oiRAWLHwPZ With 2 New #Reds Signatures#SEAvsCIN #MLB #ATOBTTR #NBA #NHL #NFL pic.twitter.com/Gv281DYSim— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) May 20, 2016
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
MikelineTV Care Pacakge Unboxing
Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a care package from MikelineTV.
Give MikelineTV a sub: https://www.youtube.com/user/mikeline...
Honoring the Kid
It's rare that a team gives away a double bobblehead. It is
even rarer for a team to give out a bobblehead that features another franchise.
The Cincinnati Reds will do both of these in one evening when they give out a
double Cincinnati Reds and Seattle Mariners Ken Griffey Jr. Bobblehead on May
21, 2016.
With Griffey Jr. being inducted into the Hall of Fame this
year, it was pretty obvious that the Reds were going to capitalize on his
induction. I figured they would simply give out another regular bobblehead of
him, but I was blown away when they announced it would be a double bobble.
The double bobble makes perfect sense in that it displays
Jr’s time with the Mariners, which was unquestionably the best playing days of
his historic career, while also showing that he was a Red for nearly a decade.
The bobblehead looks awesome, and I consider it different enough from my normal
Reds Griffey Jr. bobblehead. I have my tickets, and cannot wait to add it to my
collection.
Griffey Jr. was without a shadow of a doubt the best
baseball player of my childhood, and his swing was nothing short of legendary.
He thrived as a Mariner, returned home to Cincinnati to play for the Reds, and
was an incredible reminder of how natural talent could easily outshine the
controversy of the PED era in baseball. He was one of the few players who
accomplished his home run milestones without the help of steroids and other performance
enhancing drugs, and his induction into the hallowed halls of Cooperstown is
very much deserved. I can honestly say that the Kid is one of my all time
favorite players, and I cannot wait to get one more bobblehead of him.
Congrats Jr! Go Redlegs!
Saturday, May 14, 2016
Autograph Page Update
Autograph Page Update @ https://t.co/oiRAWLpVYr With 7 New Autographed Cards#Reds #Bengals #Cardinals #MLB #NFL pic.twitter.com/CRCQgsRvo0— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) May 14, 2016
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Star Wars X-Wing Fighter Mr. Redlegs Bobblehead Unboxing and More
Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes an SGA Star Wars X-Wing Fighter Mr. Redlegs bobblehead.
Who Dey Draft 2016
After the most heartbreaking postseason defeat that I have
ever seen and an offseason filled with players departing from the Queen City,
the Bengals went into the 2016 NFL Draft with roster holes that needed to be
filled in order to build a team that can hopefully win in the playoffs. So who
did my beloved Bengals add to their roster, and how will these rookies fit in
with the team? Allow me to explain.
In the first round, the Bengals drafted William Jackson with
the 24th pick of the NFL Draft. Jackson is a cornerback out of Houston and was
one of the best collegiate defenders in the country. Adam Jones is entering the
twilight years of his career and Darqueze Dennard will be coming off a major
injury, so it seems that Jackson was drafted as a way to both prepare for the
future once Pac-Man is gone and to serve as a backup if Dennard is not ready to
go.
In round 2, the Bengals selected Tyler Boyd, a wide receiver
out of the University of Pittsburgh. With Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu leaving
the Bengals via free agency, the Bengals were in desperate need of a wide
receiver. Boyd should help fill the void nicely and be a great addition to the
offense.
The Bengals drafted Nick Vigil in the third round. Vigil is
a linebacker out of Utah State. With Burfict being suspended for the first four
games, this could be his last chance with the Bengals. Vigil could get some
significant playing time during the first four games this season due to
Burfict’s playoff actions, and should the Bengals part ways with Burfict, they
have Vigil to take his place.
Andrew Billings was the four draft pick of the Bengals. He
is a defensive tackle out of Baylor. The defensive line of the Bengals last
year was incredible. Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins among others were a force to
be reckoned with and were great at rushing the quarterback. Wallace Gilberry,
however, left during the offseason so Billings could take his place on the
defensive line.
The fifth pick of the Bengals was Christian Westerman. He is
an offensive lineman out of Arizona State University. The Bengals parted ways
with Andre Smith during the offseason and Andrew Whitworth is in the final
years of his playing career. Cedric Ogbuehi will most like take over for Smith
and Westerman could serve as a backup before potentially taking over for
Whitworth.
Cody Core was selected in the sixth round, and he is a wide
receiver out of Ole Miss. As I said earlier, the Bengals are in desperate need
of a wide receiver and Core will be competing for one of the starting positions.
Clayton Fejedelem was the final draft pick for the Bengals.
He is a safety out of the University of Illinois. Reggie Nelson had a great
career as a Bengal and his fantastic season last year put him out of the
Bengals price range. Fejedelem could take the place of Nelson and help bolster
the defense.
In conclusion, the Bengals addressed their needs for the
most part, and hopefully these draft selections are the pieces needed to get
the Bengals over the hump in the postseason. I’m especially interested to see
how Boyd will fit in with the offense. He has big shoes to fill, but I think he
can do it. With the Reds tanking this season, I cannot wait for the Bengals to
take the field!
Who Dey!
Sunday, May 8, 2016
Bobblehead Page Update
Bobblehead Page Update @ https://t.co/XgZSZLMaDf with 2 New Nodders#Reds #StarWars #baseball #mlb #nba #nhl #wwe pic.twitter.com/nWpyzqejjW— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) May 8, 2016
Photo Page Update
Pic Page Update @ https://t.co/sgVOa05mjt with #MILvsCIN Pics from #Reds/#StarWars Weekend#bobblehead #MLB #NBA pic.twitter.com/qXrrHFHGZr— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) May 8, 2016
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
The Force is Strong this Weekend
Do you love the Cincinnati Reds? Do you love Star Wars? If
you answered yes to one or both of these questions, then this weekend is for
you. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the Cincinnati Reds will be having Star
Wars weekend with various Star Wars themed events. They have done this the past
few years but have really amped it up for 2016.
On Friday, the Reds will host the Milwaukee Brewers in the
second of a four game series. After the game will be a special fireworks show
with music from the Star Wars movies. The team will also give away a free Reds
and Star Wars themed poster. The Reds were also selling a special ticket
package that included an exclusive bobblehead. The bobblehead is of the
legendary green Jedi master Yoda standing on a Reds baseball. The bobblehead is
pretty cool, but it just seems like a regular bobblehead of Yoda. The only
thing that makes it a Reds bobblehead is the baseball. For that reason, I am
not getting it. If Yoda was in a Reds uniform, then I would have definitely
gotten the ticket package for it.
Day two of Stars Weekend is the best in my opinion as the
Reds will be giving out a bobblehead of Mr. Redlegs piloting an X-Wing. This
bobblehead is awesome. It is easily one of the coolest bobbleheads the Reds
have ever given away to the fans. It is a perfect blend of both Star Wars and
the Reds, and this should serve as a template for future Reds and Star Wars
bobbleheads. Perhaps next year the Reds could do crossover between Gapper and a
wookie.
Sunday will conclude Star Wars weekend and all kids in
attendance will get a free Star Wars wall decal that features both Mr. Red and
Rose in Star Wars outfits. There will also be special appearances from various
Star Wars characters throughout the weekend.
Needless to say, this will be a fun weekend for both fans of
Star Wars and the Reds as the intergalactic film franchise and the greatest
team in Major League Baseball come together for a few days. I will be at
Saturday’s game and hope to get not only the Mr. Redlegs bobblehead but also a
bobblehead of Reds legend Lee May from the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and
Museum. If you do not have any plans for the weekend, head on over to Great
American Ball Park. It should be a fun few days!
May the force be with you, and go Redlegs!
Monday, May 2, 2016
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Vottomatic Bobblehead Unboxing
Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds SGA bobblehead of Vottomatic.
Autograph Page Update
#Autograph Page Update @ https://t.co/oiRAWLpVYr With a New #FCCincy Autograph#FCCincinnati #USL #MLS #soccer pic.twitter.com/3d2zxNloYk— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) April 27, 2016
Photo Page Update
Pic Page Update @ https://t.co/yzF6TznxxM With #FCCincy Pics#FCC #FCCincinnati #CINvWIL #USL #MLS #soccer #sports pic.twitter.com/EgqZrUbO5t— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) April 27, 2016
Is It Worth It?
I love the Cincinnati Reds. They are my team when it comes
to Major League Baseball. My parents instilled a love for the Redlegs in me
when I was a kid, and my passion for this team has only grown since. I was with
this team during the dark days when it looked like October baseball would never
grace the Queen City again, and I was with this team when they walked off with
the National League Central Division Championship in 2010 and when they ran
away with it in 2012. I have seen guys like Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Larkin
forge their Hall of Fame legacies on the shores of the Ohio River, and I
witnessed the rise of the “Cuban Missile” Aroldis Chapman, and the crowning of
the Homer Run Derby King Todd Frazier.
I have seen a lot during my time as a Reds fan. Rebuilding,
however, is a hard thing to watch. It is especially difficult when you consider
how good the Reds were a few years ago. They made the playoffs, and it seemed
like they were on the verge of breaking through and capturing their first World
Series Championship since the 1990 season. That was not the case as those
dreams were dashed when the front office realized that the team they had
assembled was not quite good enough to win it all. Fan favorites left town,
wins were outnumbered by losses, and the reconstruction of the Reds has
officially begun. So after witnessing the rise and fall of the Reds of the
2010s, I have to ask if it is worth watching this team struggle as it looks to
regain its former glory?
To sum it up: yes. It is worth watching this team struggle.
Do not get me wrong. I want to see the Reds win every game they play and win
the World Series. I will always have that sate of mind and will be angry when
they play poorly and be excited when they play well and win. It is the fan in
me that evokes that emotion. I also realize that this team is designed to win
in the next few years and not now. I do not like it, but I know that this team
will lose a lot of games and will look very bad at certain times during the
season. The baseball analyst in me realizes that.
So why will I watch this team? I want to see them grow. I
want to see this young crop of payers evolve into the next batch of Reds stars.
This team is loaded with untapped potential. I have seen flashes of their talent,
and if they can turn those flashes into sustained play game in and game out,
then the future looks very bright for the Redlegs. This team will put it all
together and become a winning franchise once again. It is only a matter of
time.
So is it worth it? Absolutely.
Go Redlegs!
Monday, April 25, 2016
Bobblehead Page Update
Bobblehead Page Update @ https://t.co/7szAEAxyiu With a New #Reds Nodder#CINvsNYM #Vottomatic #MLB #Baseball #NBA pic.twitter.com/64aq6cFe3A— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) April 25, 2016
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Photo Page Update
Pic Page Update @ https://t.co/yzF6TznxxM With #COLvsCIN Pics#Reds #Rockies #MLB #baseball #ATOBTTR #sports #NBA pic.twitter.com/DWIec0A7KL— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) April 20, 2016
Monday, April 18, 2016
Wrestlemania 31 Two-Disc Blu-Ray 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 this week’s post, I will review the two-disc Blu-ray
version of Wrestlemania 31. Aside from seeing it live on television when it
aired last year, I have only seen it on Blu-ray on a 16:9 television screen.
Therefore I have no idea how the DVD version of Wrestlemania 31 is presented on
a 16:9 or a 4:3 television.
Like my other Wrestlemanias on Blu-ray that I previously
reviewed, the entire wrestling event is on the first disc. It starts with Aloe
Blacc performing “America the Beautiful” and ends with the WWE World
Heavyweight Championship match. There are three bonus features included on the
first disc. They are the Fatal 4-Way WWE Tag Team Championship match between
the Usos, Los Matadores, the New Day, and Tyson Kidd and Cesaro that aired on
the Wrestlemania 31 Kickoff Show, and videos showing how Seth Rollins is the
“future” and how John Cena prepared for Rusev.
The second disc features the entire 2015 WWE Hall of Fame
induction ceremony. While the 2015 hall of fame class was not as star-studded
as year’s past, it was still a pretty decent group of inductees. The biggest
wrestling personalities to be inducted were Alundra Blayze, Rikishi, Kevin
Nash, and the most legendary of the group, the “Macho Man” Randy Savage. It is
a real shame that Savage was inducted posthumously as his induction was long
overdue, and I can honestly say that he was one of my most favorite wrestlers
of all time. His induction is the main reason every wrestling fan should watch
this induction ceremony. Like the first disc, disc two has three bonus
features. These include the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal that aired on
the Wrestlemania 31 Kickoff Show, and two videos that center on Brock Lesnar
and Daniel Bryan.
The packaging for this Wrestlemania is okay. The front is
very simple as it showcases the Wrestlemania 31 logo and some of the more
popular wrestlers who competed that night. The back of the packaging features
some of the matches, a list of the 2015 WWE Hall of Fame inductees, and a
collage of Wrestlemania 31’s biggest moments.
The inside of the packaging looks great as it is a panoramic
picture of Levi’s Stadium as the show went off the air. There are fireworks
exploding all over the place, and it makes for an epic looking picture.
In conclusion, this is a great home video version of an
amazing Wrestlemania. This is my second favorite Wrestlemania of all time
behind only Wrestlemania 17. Wrestlemania 31 featured great matches, epic
encounters, and an ending that was almost as shocking as Stone Cold Steve
Austin and Mr. McMahon joining forces at the end of Wrestlemania 17. You are
doing yourself an injustice if you do not purchase this Blu-ray set. It should
be in every wrestling fan’s collection.
Stay tuned for the Wrestlemania 32 Blu-ray review!
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Jim Maloney Bobblehead Unboxing and More
Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum Jim Maloney bobblehead and shows what he got from the Cincinnati Reds Opening Night game and the inaugural FC Cincinnati home opener.
My FC Cincinnati Experience
When it comes to professional sports in Cincinnati, the
Cincinnati Reds and the Cincinnati Bengals have total ownership of the loyalty
of sports fans in the queen city. The Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL also have
a loyal fan base although it is not quite as big or vocal as the members of
Reds Country or Who Dey Nation. A new fan base has sprung up in Cincinnati as a
new professional team made its home debut on Saturday April 9, 2016, at Nippert
Stadium on the campus of the University of Cincinnati. That team is FC
Cincinnati. I was at their inaugural home opener this past Saturday, and I can
honestly say that I had a blast and am a fan of this team for life.
For those of you who are unaware of FC Cincinnati, allow me
to explain. FC Cincinnati is a professional soccer team that competes in the
Untied Soccer League. According to the United States Soccer Federation, the USL
is classified as a Division III Professional League. FC Cincinnati hopes to
some day move up from the USL to Major League Soccer, the top division in
American professional soccer according to the United States Soccer Federation.
2016 is FC Cincinnati’s inaugural season. I was at their
very first home opener, and I had a great time. When my girlfriend and I
arrived at the stadium, we checked out everything that was happening outside of
Nippert. They had free soccer lessons for kids, giveaways, and a cool game that
combined soccer and volleyball. Some of the things they were giving away that I
picked up were an FC Cincinnati sticker, magnet, and rally rag.
The gates to the stadium opened soon after, and once we made
our way in, we headed over to the merchandise stand. In terms of merchandise,
the team has pretty good variety of apparel for FC Cincinnati fans to choose
from such as shirts, hoodies, scarves, and jerseys. I bought an inaugural
season shirt for a pretty good deal of $15. I do wish they had more stuff to
choose from though such as bobbleheads and hopefully they have more merchandise
options in the future.
After the merchandise stand, we went to the “Bailey,” which
is essentially an open seating section of the stadium located behind one of the
goals. The “Bailey” is also where the “Pride,” the official support group of FC
Cincinnati, is located. Since it was open seating, my girlfriend and I sat in
the front row and had a great view of the action. The fans were fired up, the
“Pride” beat their drums, waved their flags, and set off smoke flares, and the
action on the field was incredible. The game was very competitive, and there
was no shortage of action. In the end, FC Cincinnati defeated Charlotte
Independence 2-1 to cap off a great night. As we left the stadium, FC
Cincinnati employees handed out oversized commemorative tickets of the
inaugural home opener.
In conclusion, I had a great time and will definitely be
going to more FC Cincinnati matches in the future. The atmosphere was great,
the team looked very good, and the overall experience was one of the best in
sports that I have ever had. I highly recommend going to a match. You will have
a phenomenal time.
FC! “clap” “clap” Cincy!
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Bobblehead Page Update
Bobblehead Page Update @ https://t.co/7szAEAxyiu With New #Reds Nodder#PITvsCIN #MLB #Baseball #NBA #NHL #WWE #MLS pic.twitter.com/QVRUZrCbpH— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) April 11, 2016
Photo Page Update
Pic Page Update @ https://t.co/yzF6TznxxM With #FCCincy & #Reds vs #Pirates Pics#CINvCLT #PITvsCIN #MLB #sports pic.twitter.com/0nvbQIYxSx— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) April 11, 2016
Thursday, April 7, 2016
Autograph Page Update
#Autograph Page Update @ https://t.co/oiRAWLpVYr With 5 New #Reds Signatures#MLB #PHIvsCIN #OpeningNight #baseball pic.twitter.com/eCeKwajhNM— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) April 7, 2016
Photo Page Update
Pic Page Update @ https://t.co/yzF6TznxxM With #Reds #OpeningNight Pics#MLB #OpeningDay #baseball #PHIvsCIN #NBA pic.twitter.com/sdBa2IJrl3— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) April 7, 2016
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Wrestlemania 30 Two-Disc Blu-Ray Edition 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 this week’s post, I will review the 2-disc Blu-ray set of
Wrestlemania 30. I have only viewed the Blu-ray version of this Wrestlemania on
a 16:9 television screen, so I do not know if the picture crops to fit a 4:3
television screen or how the DVD version is presented.
The action starts on the first disc which contains the
entire Wrestlemania 30 event from Hulk Hogan welcoming everybody to the
“Silverdome,” (if you do not understand this reference, watch the event), to
the triple threat WWE World Heavyweight Championship match that closed out the
show. Also on the first disc is the Wrestlemania 30 Pre-Show Fatal 4-Way WWE
Tag Team Championship match between The Usos, Los Matadores, the Real
Americans, and Rybaxel.
The second disc contains the complete 2014 WWE Hall of Fame
induction ceremony that features some pretty big names from the world of
professional wrestling. The late Paul Bearer, Lita, Razor Ramon, and the late
Ultimate Warrior among others were all inducted into the hall of fame. The
induction of the Ultimate Warrior is a major reason to watch this ceremony as
he tragically passed away the night after Wrestlemania 30. The second disc also
contains a ton of bonus content including two special features exclusive to the
Blu-ray version.
The packaging of Wrestlemania 30 is great. The front of the
packaging features a few of the wrestlers from the night’s biggest matches and
moments as well as the Wrestlemania 30 logo, and the back of the packaging
lists the matches from the event and features a nice collage of some of the
wrestlers.
The Blu-ray came in a cardboard sleeve that included a book
entitled “Wrestlemania 30: 30 Moments for 30 Years.” The book is small but it
contains a lot of cool pictures, match results, storyline recaps, and more from
past Wrestlemanias. It is a nice little bonus that really makes this home video
version of Wrestlemania stand out above the rest.
In conclusion, the two-disc Blu-ray version of Wrestlemania
30 is an excellent home video version of the showcase of the immortals. The
event itself was one of the most memorable and shocking Wrestlemanias of all
time, and most of the matches and segments were really good. My favorite parts
of the event are when Daniel Bryan wins the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
and when Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and the Rock all gather in the
ring at the same time to kick off the show. It was a really good show, and I
highly recommend picking up the Blu-ray version of Wrestlemania 30 for
yourself.
Next is the Wrestlemania 31 two-disc Blu-ray version review!
Monday, April 4, 2016
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