The Last Bobblehead

Despite the tumultuous rebuilding season of the Cincinnati Reds, it feels that the 2016 campaign has flown by as final month and a half of baseball draw near. With the end of the season comes the end of the bobblehead giveaways. A few weeks ago I got my hands on the final Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum bobblehead as they gave out a nodder of Gary Nolan. With my 2016 Reds Hall of Fame set complete, which means there is only one more bobblehead to get before the season ends. That bobblehead is of Eugenio Suarez, and it will be given out by the Reds on the third of September.

Suarez has been a pretty good player for the Reds ever since he arrived last year. His batting ability is pretty good and even though he has struggled on defense, he has shown flashes of brilliance at the third base position. The bobblehead will focus on his hitting as it features him swinging a bat in the white, home Reds uniform. The picture of the bobblehead can be seen on the Cincinnati Reds promotional schedule.

I cannot wait to add the Suarez bobblehead to my collection. Suarez is a rising star on the Reds roster, and his bobblehead debut is an awesome giveaway item. Hopefully I can get to the stadium early enough to get my hands on the nodder and complete my 2016 Reds bobblehead set.

Gary Nolan Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum Gary Nolan bobbleehad.

Too Many Titles

With the recent WWE brand extension, certain championships were made exclusive to certain brands. As I write this post, Raw is home to the WWE Women’s Championship, the WWE Tag Team Championship, the WWE United States Championship, and the soon to be crowned WWE Universal Championship (which has got to be one of the worst name for a championship I have ever heard). SmackDown on the other hand only hosts the WWE Intercontinental Championship and the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. However, SmackDown general manager Daniel Bryan recently announced that the blue brand would be getting its own tag team and women’s championships. Ugh….

I am not a fan of that decision, but when you consider how WWE is trying to make Raw and SmackDown seem like different wrestling promotions, it should not come as a surprise that they are going to introduce more belts for wrestlers to win. While it sounds like a great idea, it really devalues the championships as a whole. By having more belts, the value of the titles decreases. They become less special because more people have them.

With SmackDown gaining two new championships, WWE will now have a total of eight titles. That is absurd. I remember thinking during the first brand extension that having two of every championship seemed redundant. I wish WWE would have just had the champions battle on both brands. It gives every wrestler, regardless of what show they are on, something to fight for while making the titles seem more prestigious. Instead we will get championship inflation with an overabundance of belts for wrestlers to win, and it is all because of the brand extension.

Bobblehead Page Update

#Bobblehead Page Update https://t.co/f6kg2Fon2e with a New #Reds Nodder#ATOBTTR #Bobblehof #BobbleheadAddicts #mlb pic.twitter.com/fyO8usRB5e

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) August 7, 2016

Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum Vlog

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone vlogs about his trip to the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum.

Raw is Back

If you are a wrestling fan with some free time on Monday September 26, 2016, you might want to head to U.S. Bank Arena as WWE will present Monday Night Raw.

As I type this, only three wrestlers have been announced to appear, as Seth Rollins will be taking on Roman Reigns that night, and Chris Jericho is expected to be there as well. More wrestlers will probably be announced the closer it gets to the 26^th of September.

Tickets are on sale and start as low as $15. It is a really good value as there is no bad seat in U.S. Bank Arena, and you should be able to see the in ring action without any problem.

Normally I would be going, but the recent WWE brand split has changed those plans. With Dean Ambrose being exclusive to SmackDown, odds are I will not be buying tickets to Raw. Ambrose, a Cincinnati native, is my favorite wrestler and I would definitely go if he were going to be there. That is one reason why I hate the brand split.

Anyway, I highly encourage going to a WWE event in person. I have been multiple times and have always had a blast. When I was a kid, there used to be an extra half hour of action that would occur after the show went off the air. With the “New Era” in full swing in WWE, they might start doing it again.

Photo Page Update @ https://t.co/JzwEdxiFEu With #Bengals Training Camp Pics#Reds #WhoDey #LetsRoar #LetsGoReds pic.twitter.com/M88OBGgFWy

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) July 31, 2016

Bengals Training Camp 2016

It has been a busy summer. The Cincinnati Reds are in the midst of massive rebuilding project, FC Cincinnati has captivated the city with its inaugural season, and as I write this, Cincinnati’s own Dean Ambrose is enjoying his first reign as WWE World Heavyweight Champion. It’s a lot to focus on as the Reds, FC Cincinnati, and Dean Ambrose all have my attention every week, but my summer is about to get a bit more chaotic as the Cincinnati Bengals start training camp.

Training camp starts on Friday July 29 and goes until Thursday August 11. Gates will open 30 minutes before practice starts with most practices starting at 3 p.m. The only exceptions are when practice starts at 6 p.m. on Friday August 5, 1 p.m. on Saturday August 6, and 11 a.m. on Thursday August 11.

Practices are also held on the practice field right next to Paul Brown Stadium, and this year the Bengals will have two joint practice sessions with the Minnesota Vikings on August 10 and 11. The only practice not held on the practice field will be the Family Day event on August 6. The Family Day practice will be held inside Paul Brown Stadium and will feature a lot of activities and a giveaway for kids. If you are an autograph hunter like me, the family day practice is the best training camp session to attend as every player is available for autographs once practice concludes.

The Cincinnati Bengals training camp is a great way to check out the team up close and personal. It is really cool to witness the current players mix it up the rookie draft picks and see how well they mesh together. It is also a great opportunity to get some autographs from your favorite Bengals players! Attending training camp is something that I highly recommend as every true Bengals fan needs to experience it before the season starts.

Who Dey!

Photo Page Update

Photo Page Update @ https://t.co/JzwEdxiFEu With #FCCincy Pics#Reds #Bengals #CINvsNYJ #LetsGoReds #ATOBTTR #USL pic.twitter.com/4Ze2wbLXK0

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) July 27, 2016

WWE Battleground 2016 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on WWE Battleground 2016.

Zack Cozart Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds SGA Zack Cozart bobblehead.

My All Time Favorite Wrestling Moment

If you have been a frequent visitor of my website or follow me on Twitter, then you know that I am a diehard fan of professional wrestling. I have been a fan ever since I was kid when guys like Stone Cold Steve Austin and the Rock were the top guys of the industry. I have watched tons of episodes of Raw and Smackdown and have seen numerous pay-per-views. I have seen matches that were duds and others that were thrillers, and I have witnessed moments and segments that have blown the roof off arenas. However, Money in the Bank 2016 produced the moment that is easily my all time favorite in my nearly twenty years of being a wrestling fan. That moment of course was Dean Ambrose successfully cashing in his Money in the Bank contract to become the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion.

Going into Money in the Bank, the two favorites to win the contract were Ambrose and Kevin Owens. I had predicted that Ambrose would win the contract after his feud with Jericho ended at Extreme Rules. However, Owens is the best heel in WWE today, and I began to think WWE would make him the winner. I like Owens and normally I would have been happy to see him win the contract, but Ambrose is my all time favorite wrestler so I was rooting for him to climb the ladder and grab the briefcase. Of course, the match came down to Owens and Ambrose battling atop the ladder and when Ambrose knocked off Owens and grabbed the briefcase, I was elated. I thought the night could not get any better...but WWE had a few more surprises.

The main event was a WWE World Heavyweight Championship match between Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns. The match was a very entertaining bout, and I thought that Reigns was going to retain his title. After Rollins countered a spear by Reigns into a pedigree, he hit another pedigree to pin Reigns cleanly and capture his second WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Rollins was celebrating with the belt, and I thought that was how the show was going to end. Then Ambrose’s music hit.

The arena exploded. I stood up out of my chair. The cameras showed the entrance, but there was no sign of Ambrose. The camera showed Rollins again when from out of nowhere, Ambrose appeared and smashed his Money in the Bank briefcase into the face of Rollins. He exited the ring, handed the referee the briefcase, and it was official. Ambrose was cashing in his Money in the Bank contract. I was ecstatic. The bell rang, Ambrose picked up Rollins, hit him with a Dirty Deeds, and pinned him to become the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion. I went crazy!

I was cheering and clapping as if I was there in person. I finally saw a world championship come to Cincinnati. The Reds have not a World Series since before I was born, and the Bengals have never won the Super Bowl, but Cincinnati’s own Dean Ambrose won his first ever WWE World Heavyweight Championship, and for the first time since 1990, Cincinnati has a world champion. I have never been more excited for a wrestling event in my life, and Ambrose winning the title is easily my all time favorite moment in professional wrestling. Even though the initial excitement has worn off, I am still thrilled that Ambrose is the champ. He is one of the few guys in WWE that I think deserves to be in the main event as the champion, and I can honestly say that this is the most interested I have been in professional wrestling in a long time.

Bobblehead Page Update

#Bobblehead Page Update https://t.co/f6kg2Fon2e with a New #Reds Nodder#BobbleheadAddicts #BobbleHOF #LetsGoReds pic.twitter.com/L6z3BSX1Se

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) July 17, 2016

Vacation

No new content this week as I am on vacation! A new post and a new video will be up next week!

Jack Billingham Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum Jack Billingham bobblehead.

Duvall the All-Star

In a year that has Reds fan down in the dumps, one player has given Reds Country something to cheer about as he continues to grow and progress as a major leaguer. That player is Adam Duvall, and he is the lone Reds All-Star for 2016.

The Reds acquired Duvall from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for former Reds pitcher and fan favorite Mike Leake. As of now, it appears that the Reds got the better end of the deal as Leake and the Giants failed to make the playoffs last year while Duvall has continued to establish himself as one of the cornerstones of the future of the Reds.

As I write this post, Duvall currently has 22 homers and 59 RBIs. He is emerging as the next offensive powerhouse for the Reds and is garnering more fans every time he knocks a ball out of the park.  

I could not be happier for Duvall as he truly deserves this great opportunity to represent the Redlegs at the 2016 All-Star game. Of course I would love to see more Reds at the All-Star game, but aside from Jay Bruce and Zack Cozart, Duvall is really the only guy who deserves a spot on the National League roster. He is performing exceptionally well this season, and I hope he continues to get better and better. Congrats Duvall, and good luck at the All-Star game!

Go Redlegs!

Bobblehead Page Update

#Bobblehead Page Update @ https://t.co/f6kg2Fon2e With a New #Reds Nodder#BobbleheadAddicts #BobbleHOF #FCCincy pic.twitter.com/S3v8WQHe1R

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) July 3, 2016

Photo Page Update

Photo Page Update @ https://t.co/JzwEdxiFEu With #CINvBST Pics#FCCincy #Reds #Bengals #USL #CINvsWSH #FCCincinnati pic.twitter.com/bUxElzdYjL

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) July 3, 2016

1976 Cincinnati Reds World Series Championship Replica Ring Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes an SGA 1976 Cincinnati Reds World Series Championship replica ring.

SmackDown vs Raw…Again Part 2

In my previous post on the WWE brand extension, I discussed its history from its inception until it was pashed out completely. In this post, I will talk about why I am not a fan of WWE’s decision to bring back the brand extension, and why I think not having separate rosters is the way to go.

The last time there was a brand extension in WWE, both shows started out as equal before more and more attention was given to Raw each week. Maybe it was because SmackDown is on tape delay and Raw is live or maybe it was because Monday nights attain better ratings than Thursday nights. Either way, with each passing year, more attention was given to Raw than SmackDown as Raw always had guest stars, special episodes, and the most popular wrestlers on the roster. I do not see that changing because Raw has more airtime than SmackDown since it is a three-hour show. Raw will need to retain viewers for an extra hour and a way to do that is by having guest stars, special episodes, and the most popular wrestlers on the roster.

Another reason I am not a fan of the brand extension is because of what happened to the championships. Every championship was essentially doubled during the last brand extension, and it took away the prestige of winning a title. I have no problem with their being two midcard championships. However, having two tag team champs, women’s champs, and world champs is ridiculous and defeats the purpose of having those belts as those titles are supposed to represent the best tag team, woman, and man in WWE. I really hope WWE decides to leave the championships alone and have the champions appear on both shows. That would keep the prestige of the titles in tact.

I think that having one roster is the way to go because it keeps things simple. The championships remain prestigious, you can catch your favorite wrestlers on both shows, and storylines are a lot easier to follow. With two separate rosters, you have two separate shows, which doubles the amount of storylines and rivalries to follow. Some of these feuds might be between two wrestlers that nobody cares for, and instead of having a better overall product with few quality storylines, you get a worse product with more storylines that do not capture the attention of the audience. Also, there might not even be a payoff match at a pay-per-view. WWE’s montly pay-per-views are only four hours long if you include the kickoff show and with WWE having two separate rosters with their own storylines spread across five hours of weekly television, it will be nearly impossible to have all those rivalries culminate with a payoff match.

That is why I am not a fan of the brand extension, and why I think the WWE should not separate the rosters. The last time WWE separated the rosters, it failed. It started out well, but it ultimately did not work and the quality of WWE programming suffered because of it. Hopefully this time WWE does the brand extension right or ends it fast.

Photo Page Update

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

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

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!

Money in the Bank 2016 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on WWE Money in the Bank 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

Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame Induction Pete Rose Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame Induction Pete Rose bobblehead.

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

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

Lee May Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Lee May bobblehead from the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum.

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.

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

Ken Griffey Jr. Double Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes an SGA Cincinnati Reds / Seattle Mariners double bobblehead of Ken Griffey Jr.

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

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

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!

Extreme Rules 2016 Thoughts

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

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

MikelineTV Care Pacakge Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a care package from MikelineTV.

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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!

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

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!

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

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!

Payback 2016 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on WWE Payback 2016.