A Controversial Pick

With the 2017 NFL Draft now officially in the past, hundreds of former collegiate football players realized their dream of playing for an NFL team. My beloved Cincinnati Bengals selected numerous players from various colleges from across the country. There is one player, however, that generated more buzz than all of their draft picks combined. That player is former Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon.

For those of you who are unaware, Mixon was caught on video punching a woman in the face in the midst of an altercation. He hit her with such force that she was knocked off her feet and suffered broken bones in her face. The incident occurred in 2014, and Mixon was suspended for one season at Oklahoma. Mixon also had to serve 100 hours of community service and undergo counseling. The woman filed a suit against Mixon in 2016 that ended in a settlement. Mixon has since apologized to the woman, and both parties have expressed their desire to move on from the incident.

Almost every team in the league said they would not select Mixon. I was hoping the Bengals would follow suit as I found what he did in 2014 absolutely disgusting. Despite the immense baggage that Mixon would bring, the Bengals still decided to draft him in the second round. When NFL hall of famer and Bengals legend Anthony Munoz announced the pick, the entire NFL draft crowd erupted in deafening boos. A Bengals fan was shown on camera giving a thumb down to the decision. Despite the obvious backlash, the Bengals decided to welcome Mixon into the fold.

Who Dey Nation can do nothing about it. Mixon is in the Queen City and will help make up the offensive backfield alongside Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill. Despite Mixon’s presence, I am still going to root for the Bengals no matter what. I have been and will always be a diehard fan of the team. Mixon being on the roster does not change that. Media outlets have already criticized the Bengals for drafting the former Oklahoma Sooner. Let them. They need to realize that it was not Mike Brown or Marvin Lewis or anybody else on the team that punched that woman in 2014. It was one player. It was Joe Mixon. The Bengals are merely offering him a chance to play football. What Mixon does with it is up to him. It is his responsibility to change how people perceive him. The Bengals gave him the ball. Let’s see if he runs with it.

Bobblehead Page Update

#Bobblehead Page Update @ https://t.co/f6kg2Fon2e with a new #Reds Bobblehead#MLB #ATOBTTR #bobbleheadaddicts #bobblehof #LetsGoReds pic.twitter.com/PM0tecaO67

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) May 10, 2017

Photo Page Update

Photo Page Update @ https://t.co/JzwEdxiFEu With New #Reds & #Bengals Pics#ATOBTTR #LetsGoReds #MLB #StarWars #Baseball #whodey #letsroar pic.twitter.com/uIsLuqXYn9

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) May 10, 2017

Bengals Banner Page Update

#bengals banner update @ https://t.co/ofDxRycawe #whodey #letsroar #nfl #NFLDraft2017 #football #sports pic.twitter.com/ePAjKZqaEQ

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) May 3, 2017

Draft Dodger

The 2017 NFL draft has come and gone, and I can honestly say that I barely watched it. Despite the hype and the amount of speculation that media outlets pour into the NFL draft every year, I spend maybe a grand total of two minutes actually watching it play out on television. The only time I make sure to tune in it is when my beloved Cincinnati Bengals are about to make a pick. Other than that, I could not care less about it.

Personally I do not understand its ability to lure in football fans. I find it boring. Don’t get me wrong. I love football. Every weekend during football season my eyes are glued to a TV as I watch either a college game or an NFL game. Games are exciting, get your blood pumping, and have been responsible for some of the greatest moments in professional sports. The draft on the other hand is just a glorified version of picking teams.

That is not to say that the draft doesn’t have its moments as the first few picks of the first round are the ones that people will remember as a team selecting either a future franchise cornerstone or a total bust. It is also a nerve-wracking experience for the players in the draft as they wait with baited breath to hear their name called by an NFL team. For a fan though, I think it’s boring

If you enjoy watching the NFL draft, more power to you. As for me, I will probably be watching a Cincinnati Reds game and will switch to the draft when the Bengals make a pick. It is what I have always done and will continue to do.

WWE Payback 2017 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on WWE Payback 2017.

Cincinnati Reds Rocket Raccoon Bobblehead Unobxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds Rocket Raccoon bobblehead.

My Thoughts on the Superstar Shakeup

The night after Wrestlemania 33, Vince McMahon announced that WWE will undergo a “superstar shakeup.” Wrestlers would be switching brands and another chapter of the “new era” would be written. The following week, the shakeup happened and while some big name wrestlers did switch shows, a lot of the superstars that were swapped had little to no direction or momentum.

The Shining Stars are a prime example of this. They were the perennial jobbers of the Raw tag team division. Nobody cared about them. They were then drafted to Smackdown, underwent a name change, and proceeded to defeat American Alpha. While the victory was shocking, it also made American Alpha look weak as they lost to one of the worst teams from Raw.

Another example of swapped wrestlers with little momentum is Kalisto. The former member of the Lucha Dragons was involved in a meaningless feud with Dolph Ziggler before vanishing. He then reappeared as a member of the Raw roster and was most recently dumped in the trash by Braun Strowman. While being on Raw will finally allow him to join the cruiserweight division, the fact that he floundered on Smackdown for so long diminishes his value to the weight class.

Popular wrestlers who switched brands include Dean Ambrose, Kevin Owens, the Miz, Bray Wyatt, Charlotte, and Alexa Bliss among others. It is refreshing to see big name superstars switch shows, but when you compare who is on the Raw roster with who is on the Smackdown roster, Raw easily has the better batch of wrestlers. For example, Ambrose and Miz are joining a roster that already features guys like Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, FInn Balor, and Chris Jericho. Raw is loaded. Smackdown is not. Yes, the blue brand has A.J. Styles, Shinske Nakamura, and Randy Orton, but the roster as a whole does not even come close to the amount of star power that Raw has.

In conclusion, I think that the shakeup was underwhelming. A majority of the wrestlers that swapped brands were not utilized much to begin with, and Raw clearly has the better roster in terms of popularity. Smackdown appears to be in complete rebuild mode after their roster was essentially raided. Raw has been presented as the flagship show ever since the brand extension. The superstar shakeup just made it more apparent.

Bobblehead Page Update

#Bobblehead Page Update @ https://t.co/f6kg2Fon2e with a new #Reds Bobblehead#Bobblehof #atobttr #letsgoreds #MLB #GuardiansOfTheGalaxy pic.twitter.com/62lGTNOctv

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) April 23, 2017

Autograph Page Update

#Autograph Page Update @ https://t.co/ULDHSOUCJg With New #Baseball Autographs#mlb #reds #letsgoreds #atobttr #sports pic.twitter.com/BRgyIKgzrw

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) April 23, 2017

Photo Page Update

Photo Page Update @ https://t.co/JzwEdxiFEu With New #Reds Pics#ATOBTTR #letsgoreds #mlb #GuardiansOfTheGalaxy #sports #bobblehead pic.twitter.com/1DtL1ECJ8O

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) April 23, 2017

Redsfest 2016 Recap

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shows what he got from Redsfest 2016.

Graphing at Reds Games

Baseball is officially back and that means autograph season is in full swing. While not every Reds game is an item giveaway game, you can still secure a free souvenir in the form of an autograph. How do you get an autograph at a Reds game? It’s quit simple. Just follow these steps and you will be almost guaranteed to get an autograph every time you head over to Great American Ball Park.

Before you go to the stadium, make sure you bring something to have autographed. I usually bring baseballs but just about anything you can get signed will do. Baseball cards, pictures, and tickets are easy to bring and store while at a game and usually look good when autographed. If it’s a bobblehead day, you can try to get your bobblehead signed. It can be a little risky as you do not want to drop the bobble, but if you can get it signed you will have an awesome piece of memorabilia.

Aside from brining something to get signed, also bring a pen or a sharpie with you. Players typically do not have a writing utensil on hand so it is best to bring one with you to help ensure that you get an autograph. Once you are at the ballpark, head over to the seats that sit by the first baseline. This is where the Reds players typically sign autographs. Try to stand at the bottom of the stairs as opposed to in front of seats. If a ticket holder comes early and you are in front of their seat, you will have to move and may miss out on getting an autograph. I recommend standing at the bottom of the stairs that are by the camera well connected to the Reds dugout.

Once you have your spot secured and your item ready, all you have to do is wait. Players usually come on about 30 minutes before the game starts. They will stretch, warm up, and will get ready for the game. Once they are finished, some will walk over and start signing autographs. You might have to call a player over and not every player does it. Just be ready for whoever is signing, and make sure to thank them once they sign an autograph as they are not obligated to do so.

I have gotten a ton of autographs at Reds games by doing this. It is fun, it is easy, and it is a great way to build up your sports memorabilia collection. Hopefully you found this post helpful and are able to add some autographs to your collection this baseball season!

Leo Cardenas Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum Leo Cardenas bobblehead. 

Cincinnati Reds Special Ticket Package Bobbbleheads 2017

The Cincinnati Reds are no strangers to bobblehead giveaways and special ticket packages. The past few years have seen the team release a special Star Wars themed ticket package that included a Star Wars Cincinnati Reds themed bobblehead exclusive to the ticket package. Apparently the promotion was popular enough to warrant the team to expand the promotion to not just Star Wars. The ticket packages can cost anywhere from $20 to $60 depending on the promotion and seating. They will be good for one game during a select home series and include an exclusive ticket package item. In this post, I will discuss the various special ticket package bobbleheads the Reds plan to give out during the 2017 season.

First up for 2017 is a Rocket the Raccoon bobblehead. Rocket is one of the main characters from the “Guardians of the Galaxy” series which has recently exploded in popularity thanks to the blockbuster Marvel film from a few years ago. The bobblehead looks really good and features Rocket standing on a baseball that has both the Marvel logo and the Reds logo on it. This nodder will be given out during the April 21-23 home series against the Chicago Cubs.

Second is the Star Wars ticket package bobblehead. This package will be good for either the May 5 or May 6 game against the San Francisco Giants and will feature a Storm Trooper bobblehead. Like Rocket, the Storm Trooper is standing on a baseball and has both the Star Wars logo and the Cincinnati Reds logo on it. This is the third Star Wars ticket package bobblehead the Reds have given out to fans. They have previously given away nodders of R2-D2 and Yoda.

The third bobblehead is of the Marvel metallic mega hero known as Iron Man. This bobble will be given away during the June 2-4 weekend series against the Atlanta Braves and coincides with both a standard bobblehead giveaway on Saturday as well as a Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum bobblehead giveaway weekend. If you play your cards right, you could go to the Saturday game and walk away with three bobbleheads. The nodder features Iron Man standing on a flat circular base. The base has the Marvel logo on the side and baseball stitching and the Reds logo on the top.

Fourth is a Jimmy Buffett Margaritaville bobblehead that will be given out on July 14 when the Washington Nationals come to town. The nodder is of a sunglasses wearing parrot in a Cincinnati Reds road jersey while standing on a baseball that says “Fins Up” and sports the Reds logo. This game is also a Friday Night Fireworks game and will feature a fireworks show set to the music of Jimmy Buffett.

Fifth is a special Charlie Brown Cincinnati Reds bobblehead that celebrates the 50^th anniversary of the “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” musical. It will be given out during the July 21-23 series against the Miami Marlins. The bobblehead is of Charlie Brown wearing a Reds hat and Reds version of his trademark shirt. He is also holding a bat and a baseball, and the base appears to be home plate that says “50^th Anniversary” and “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.”

The last special ticket package bobblehead of the year is of Elvis Presley. This bobblehead will be given out during the August 4 and 5 games against the St. Louis Cardinals. The nodder showcases Elvis in a white outfit while holding a microphone and standing on a black circular base. The Reds logo is on the top of the base and his name is featured in gold letters on the side.

In conclusion, the special ticket package bobbleheads are very gimmicky but are also unique pieces of Reds memorabilia. I am and have always been a huge super hero fan and will be going to get both the Rocket the Raccoon bobblehead and the Iron Man bobblehead. Other special ticket package giveaways include an FC Cincinnati scarf, a Grateful Dead statue, an Oktoberfest mug, and a replica 1975 Cincinnati Reds World Series Championship ring. In addition to the Marvel bobbleheads, I will also be going to the Saturday 1975 replica ring game which I believe is also the same day as a standard bobblehead game. If you are interested in any of these giveaways, check out the Cincinnati Reds website for more information.

Go Redlegs!

Bobblehead Page Update

#Bobblehead Page Update @ https://t.co/f6kg2Fon2e with a new #Reds Bobblehead#atobttr #letsgoreds #MLB #Cincinnati #sports #bobblehof pic.twitter.com/3MaOAJOnrt

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) April 11, 2017

New Year, New FC Cincy Show

With FC Cincinnati’s second season in the USL officially underway, the FC Cincinnati radio show is back and with a new format. Now known as the “Toyota FC Cincinnati Fan Show,” the ESPN 1530 radio program will once again air from 6:00 to 7:00 pm at the Moerlein Lager House two Wednesdays a month.

Tommy Gelehrter will return as host and will be joined ESPN 1530’s Mo Egger. While last year’s show was mainly an interview segment with a featured player, this year’s version is emphasizing fan engagement. There will be trivia, prizes that range from jerseys to match tickets, and the opportunity to obtain autographs from featured players. New head coach Alan Koch will also be featured on the show.

I went to last year’s show a few times throughout the season and had a good time. I was able to get autographs from former head coach John Harkes and a few of the players from last year’s team every time I went. With the increased emphasis on fan engagement, this year’s show sounds like it could be a lot better. If you are an FC Cincinnati fan, I highly recommend you go. I will try to go to a few shows this year and show my support for FC Cincinnati while getting some new autographs and hopefully winning some FC Cincy prizes.

Wrestlemania 33 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on Wrestlemania 33.

Cincinnati Reds 2017 Season Outlook

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone previews the 2017 season of the Cincinnati Reds.

My Thoughts on the ROH Rumors

With Wrestlemania 33 just around the corner, I thought it would be appropriate to write a post that dealt with professional wrestling. I was thinking of doing a post with my match predictions but ultimately decided against it because of the latest wrestling rumor swirling around the internet. It is without question that WWE is the largest professional wrestling company in the world ever since it bought out World Championship Wrestling in 2001. It has been 16 years and not a single professional wrestling company has come close to giving WWE a run for its money like WCW did during the Monday Night Wars.

That is not to say WWE does not have its competitors. Overseas there is New Japan Pro Wrestling, and in the Untied States there are Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and Ring of Honor. While these are alternatives to WWE’s product, they still have yet to prove to be viable competition. NJPW is still trying to broaden its global reach to match that of the WWE, and TNA has been barely afloat as a company for the past few years. It was even rumored that WWE was in the process of buying out TNA in the fall of 2016. While the sale ultimately did not happen, the rumor generated a ton of buzz around the wrestling world. Fast forward five months and now the rumor is that WWE might be buying out the other major American wrestling promotion I mentioned earlier: Ring of Honor.

This was very shocking to me. ROH is currently owned by the Sinclair Broadcast Group and is aired everywhere a Sinclair station is broadcasting. For example, I can get my ROH fix on either Saturday at 10:30 pm or Monday at 12:30 am on Star 64. While the strange schedule and one hour format of the show does not allow it to compete head to head with WWE, it is still a viable alterative to wrestling fans that prefer in ring action over storylines. It is a formula that works for the company as it has garnered a respectable audience and has been the career launch pad for various wrestlers such as Daniel Bryan, Samoa Joe, Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, and A.J. Styles among others. A lot of former WWE superstars have also wrestled for Ring of Honor such as Alberto Del Rio, Charlie Haas, Shelton Benjamin, the Hardy Boyz and Cody Rhodes. Needless to say, Ring of Honor has made a significant impact on the world of professional wrestling. So what would happen should WWE buy ROH?

ROH is loaded with talent. The Young Bucks, Adam Cole, Kazarian, Christopher Daniels, and Lio Rush make up a small sample of the talented roster that makes up ROH. Should ROH become a WWE property, I would think that a majority of these guys end up in either NXT or on the main roster. While the idea of the Young Bucks taking over the tag team division and potential WWE matchups between Styles and Daniels are enticing, an ROH buyout would not be good for guys like Cody Rhodes who left WWE for greener pastures. WWE would also add the ROH video library to its already massive collection of professional wrestling footage. As a diehard wrestling fan, it would be both awesome and extremely convenient to have the ROH video library available on the WWE Network.

While the possibility of WWE buying ROH is appealing in some ways, I think it would be better for the wrestling industry as a whole if WWE did not buy ROH. Competition is necessary in professional wrestling. It forces creativity and innovation and everybody benefits from it. WCW and WWE competed for ratings and professional wrestling supremacy and it took the industry to new heights. The product was at its best, ratings were at an all-time high, and fans were able to soak in a quality wrestling product for years. That is why I hope ROH does not get bought by WWE. Perhaps the company can rise to a level similar to that of WCW, compete with WWE at a global level, and rejuvenate the professional wrestling industry as a whole.

Bobblehead Page Update

#Bobblehead Page Update @ https://t.co/f6kg2Fon2e with a new #Reds Bobblehead#RedsST #LetsGoReds #BobbleHOF #BobbleheadAddicts #MLB pic.twitter.com/PmOLrB6FrG

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) March 23, 2017

Crosley the "Vintage" Cincinnati Reds Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a "vintage" Cincinnati Reds Crosley bobblehead.

What Dey Doing?

The National Football League is officially in its offseason, and the free agency period is underway. Players whose contracts are up are free to shop themselves around the league in hopes of attaining a new contract, joining a Super Bowl contender, or both. During this process, the various NFL franchises have the duty of determining if they want to re-sign players or test the waters of free agency and see if they can acquire an established player or a young up and comer. Most teams make moves that generate a lot of buzz around the league. The Cincinnati Bengals however, are generating buzz for their apparent lack of moves.

The team preaches drafting well to obtain young talent to replace the veteran players who often leave via free agency. For the most part, it has worked well. Their run of five straight postseason appearances proves that the bengals were able to draft well and build a formidable team with 2015 being the peak of that draft success. After the end of the 2015 campaign, players like Mohmmed Sanu, Marvin Jones, and Reggie Nelson left the Bengals for new teams and more money. Bengals fans didn't think much of it. The team had lost players before and seemed to still do well the following season.

That was not the case in 2016. The team struggled on offense and defense and missed the playoffs. Draft picks like Cedric Ogbuehi did not pan out the way the fans and the franchise thought they would. Once free agency began, veteran players like Andrew Whitworth and Domata Peko headed out west for the Rams and Broncos respectively. Kevin Zeitler signed a massive contract with the Browns. Rex Burkhead is now a Patriot. A defensive stalwart, two of the best offensive linemen on the team, and a running back who had a breakout year are now gone.

The team was able to resign Dre Kirkpatrick and Brandon LaFell, but that does not seem like enough to stop the bleeding. The only big free agent signing they have had was bringing back Andre Smith, but his history with injuries makes him more of a liability than an asset. Fans aren't the only ones questioning the moves of the team. Defensive end Carlos Dunlap tweeted that he didn't know what the team was doing. When the players are confused about what the team is doing, that generally is not a good sign. Maybe the Bengals know something that we fans don't. I guess we just have to trust the process.

Who Dey!

NKU Norse Championship Shirts Unobxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes two Northern Kentucky University Norse basketball championship shirts. 

Norse Up

With March Madness finally here, college basketball fans across the nation will be glued to their television sets as the best teams in the country battle it out for the right to be called national champions. I love March Madness and am a tournament junkie. I will try to watch every game simultaneously in order to make sure I do not miss a single second of the action. In the past, I have watched merely as a fan as the Louisville Cardinals, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, the Xavier Musketeers, and the Cincinnati Bearcats took to the hardwood in the national tournament. I root for all of those teams as a fan without any ties of my own to the universities that they represent. The college I attended had never qualified for the “big dance.”

I went to Northern Kentucky University from 2010 to 2014. During my freshman and sophomore years as an undergraduate, the athletic teams competed at the Division II level of the NCAA. They had some success as a D-II university as they won a few national titles in women’s basketball and a men’s soccer national championship my freshman year. Despite the successes, the fandom among students and those who lived around the university was not that great. The logos of other universities were a common sight, and the attendance at sporting events was usually pretty low.

That began to change toward the end of my sophomore year. The university announced that they would be moving up to Division I. They joined the Atlantic Sun conference and even qualified for the conference championship tournament in men’s basketball in their first year at the D-I level. They eventually moved to the Horizon League conference and qualified for that conference championship tournament as well. Even though they participated in conference tournaments, they were not allowed to participate in the national championship tournament for four years per NCAA rules after moving up to D-I. Any chance I had of seeing the Norse play for the national title in March would be as an alum and not a student.

So here we are in 2017 and it is NKU’s first season of national championship eligibility. Under the leadership of second year coach John Brannen, the Norse qualified for the Horizon League Conference Championship tournament as a 3 seed and went on a run that culminated in the school winning its first ever D-I conference championship for men’s basketball as well as qualifying for the national championship tournament. Words cannot describe how proud I am of my alma mater. As a student, nobody cared about Norse athletics. As an alum, Norse athletics are the current talk of the town.

Everybody wants an NKU conference championship shirt and finding one in stores is no easy task. The shirts hit stores last Thursday and sold out in hours. I had to order mine online form the NKU bookstore. Despite this minor inconvenience, I am still very excited to cheer on the Norse as they enter their first ever national championship tournament. I will be glued to a television screen hoping that the Norse become the 2017 Cinderella team. Maybe their magical season can culminate with them cutting down the net on April 3.

Norse up!

2017 Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum Bobbleheads Preview

The Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum have announced what bobbleheads they will be giving to fans during the 2017 season. For the first time since 2012, the Reds Hall of Fame will be giving out six bobbleheads as opposed to the usual five. This series of Reds nodders will feature players from a few different eras that celebrate the rich history of the Cincinnati Reds franchise. In this post, I will discuss the six bobbleheads that the Reds Hall of Fame will be giving away and share my thoughts on them.

The first bobblehead the Reds Hall of Fame will be giving out is Leo Cardenas. The former Reds shortstop from the 1960s will be given out during the month of April. Known as “Chico” and “Mr. Automatic,” Cardenas was a four time All-Star and is an excellent choice to be featured as a bobblehead.

The second bobblehead of the 2017 season will be given out during the month of May and will showcase former Reds second baseman Tommy Helms. The 1966 Rookie of the Year was a huge fan favorite, and many members of Reds Country were sad to see him dealt to the Houston Astros for future hall of famer Joe Morgan. While Morgan has been featured as a bobblehead many times, Helms has never been immortalized as a Reds nodder, and it is good to see the Reds Hall of Fame honor Helms with a bobblehead.

The third nodder will be of Pete Rose, and it shall be distributed in June. I am not excited for this bobblehead. Don’t get me wrong. I am a huge fan of Pete Rose. Charlie Hustle is undoubtedly the biggest baseball star to emerge from the Queen City, and I firmly believe he deserves to be in the hall of fame. That being said, I think the Reds should have chosen somebody else for the bobblehead. Rose has been featured on a Reds bobblehead every year since 2014. Instead of once again showcasing Rose, the team could have picked somebody who has not been featured such as Jose Rijo or Aaron Boone.

Fourth will be former Reds second baseman Ron Oester. The 2014 Reds Hall of Fame inductee is a Cincinnati native and was a member of the 1990 team that won the World Series. Despite losing his starting role to Mariano Duncan, Oester was a key pinch hitter and sported a batting average of .299. I think he is a solid choice to be featured as a bobblehead, and I plan on adding it to my collection.

Fifth in the Reds Hall of Fame series of bobbles is Dave Parker. Known as “The Cobra,” Parker was a fan favorite who won multiple awards during his playing days. He was a seven time All-Star, the 1978 National League MVP, and earned two World Series rings with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Oakland Athletics. I got to meet him at Redsfest 2016, and I was able to easily see why he was a fan favorite. I think I am the most excited for his bobblehead, and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.

The sixth and final bobblehead of the year will feature former outfielder and 1977 National League MVP George Foster. Known for his powerful bat, Foster was instrumental in helping the Big Red Machine win back-to-back World Series Championships in 1975 and in 1976. The Reds Hall of Fame previously gave out a bobblehead of Foster in 2012, but it was a mini bobblehead that did not match the size of most modern nodders. Should this bobblehead be a regular sized nodder, I will add to my collection to replace the 2012 mini bobblehead.

That is the line up for the 2017 Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame series of bobbleheads. Overall, it is a solid series that features four players that have never been immortalized as a nodders. While I would have preferred to see two other players take the place of the already featured Rose and Foster, the selections of Cardenas, Oester, Helms, and Parker are stellar nonetheless. I plan on visiting the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum this season to add some of these Reds bobbleheads to my collection. Stay tuned for those unboxing videos!

Go Redlegs!

WWE Fastlane 2017 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on WWE Fastlane 2017.

Autograph Page Update

#Autograph Page Update @ https://t.co/ULDHSOD1kG With a New #Xavier Autograph#letsgox #LetsMarch #marchmadness #ncaa #BIGEAST #tourney17 pic.twitter.com/MukYzcODta

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) March 5, 2017

David Fulcher Bobblehead Review

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone reviews an unofficial Cincinnati Bengals David Fulcher bobblehead.

Return of the King

Every wrestling fans knows about WWE’s “big four” pay-per-views. Wrestlemania, SummerSlam, Survivor Series, and the Royal Rumble are WWE’s four crown jewels in terms of pay-per-view programming as they generally have the biggest buildup and a plethora of marquee matches. However, the “big four” used to be the “big five” as the King of the Ring pay-per-view was once viewed as another of WWE’s signature events. With WWE using the WWE Network to increase the amount of pay-per-views it produces, why not bring back the King of the Ring? In this post, I will explain what the King of the Ring is, why they should bring it back, and how I would organize the new tournament.

The King of the Ring was a single elimination tournament in which wrestlers competed for the prestigious title of “King of the Ring.” Tournament matches were held on Raw and SmackDown with the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals taking place at the King of the Ring pay-per-view. The winner of the tournament was perceived to be the next big breakout star in the WWE, and history backs up that perception. Previous winners included Triple H, Brock Lesnar, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Edge, and Kurt Angle. All these wrestlers went on to hold world championship gold and became staples in the main even scene. The tournament was kind of like a summer version of the Royal Rumble match and was easily one of the most anticipated wrestling events of the year.

Despite the event having such a rich history, the King of the Ring pay-per-view was last held in 2002. The King of the Ring tournament has been held sporadically since 2002 having taken place in 2006, 2008, 2010, and most recently in 2015. The tournament matches were usually held on Raw or SmackDown with the finals being held at a pay-per-view. The lone exception is the 2015 edition that had its finals take place on a Tuesday night WWE Network special.

It has been 15 years since WWE last held a King of the Ring pay-per-view, and I think that it is time that WWE brought it back. With WWE reviving the brand split to try and create new stars, the King of the Ring tournament and pay-per-view could be a tremendous boost to WWE’s efforts. Rivalries could stem from tournament matches allowing for more airtime for wrestlers as well as intriguing storylines that would have a logical beginning. It would also enable WWE to load its programming with less filler content. WWE fans generally complain about the amount of filler that is featured on SmackDown and especially Raw. The King of the Ring tournament would easily give WWE more content to air on Raw and SmackDown in place of filler.

So how would the new King of the Ring tournament work? If I were in charge, I would have the tournament take place in the summer and split the tournament bracket into a Raw division and a SmackDown division with 8 wrestlers per division. There would then be qualifying matches to determine what wrestlers would participate in the tournament. Once the qualification process is complete, the tournament matches would take place on Raw and SmackDown until the semifinal round. The semifinals and finals would take place at the King of the Ring pay-per-view with the finals consisting of the winner of the Raw division taking on the winner of the SmackDown division with the King of the Ring crown on the line. The victor of the match will not only be the new “King of the Ring” but also earn either a WWE World Heavyweight Championship match or a WWE Universal Championship match at SummerSlam depending on their brand.

In conclusion, the King of the Ring was a fun wrestling tournament that generally saw the elevation of wrestlers from the mid card to the main event scene. Bringing it back would be beneficial for both the participating wrestlers and the WWE as a whole as it would allow for more ample storytelling from the WWE and more screen time for wrestlers on the roster. My format would allow both brands to have competing wrestlers as well as grant the winner a world title bout in addition to being crowned as the new King of the Ring. Hopefully WWE brings the tournament back and utilizes the overabundance of talent it currently has on its roster.

Cincinnati Reds Joe Nuxhall Statue Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds SGA Joe Nuxhall statue.

Here’s Hoping

On Tuesday, January 31, 2017, FC Cincinnati officially submitted its application to join Major League Soccer as an expansion team. For those of you who do not follow the sport of soccer, FC Cincinnati is currently in the United Soccer League, which is a second tier professional soccer league in the United States. MLS is the highest tier in American soccer as designated by the United States Soccer Federation. With MLS undergoing expansion, a number of cities have entered the race to be chosen as a site for an MLS expansion team. The Queen City was thrust into the mix thanks to the fantastic debut season of FC Cincinnati.

During its premier season in the USL, FC Cincinnati made waves by shattering USL attendance records and by producing a quality product on the field of play. When it came to attendance, FC Cincinnati was able to draw a record setting average of 17,296 fans a match with a season total of 333,353 people. Their home playoff game drew a staggering 30,187 people, which is a USL single game attendance record, and their friendly match against Crystal Palace drew a jaw dropping 35,061 people. It must also be noted that they were the only USL team selected to play Crystal Palace during Crystal Palace’s three-match friendly tour of America. The other two teams selected were MLS teams and drew less than half the amount of people that FC Cincinnati was able to draw for their friendly match with Crystal Palace.

Aside from having the attendance numbers of an MLS team, FC Cincinnati was able to hang with the best competition that the USL had to offer. The team finished third in the USL Eastern Division with a record of 16-6-8 and was able to clinch a home playoff match. Players such as Mitch Hildebrandt and Sean Okoli were honored with multiple USL awards for their efforts on the pitch with Okoli receiving the coveted USL Most Valuable Player award. In fact, Okoli performed so well during the 2016 season that he was offered and accepted a contract to join the New York City Football Club which plays in MLS.

Aside from FC Cincinnati proving that they can draw fans like an MLS team and that they have on field talent worthy of being on an MLS team, they have also presented themselves as an MLS team. From the very beginning, FC Cincinnati presented itself as a professional sports team at a major league level. They secured deals with local radio and television stations to have their games broadcasted in the Cincinnati area and have garnered huge partnership and sponsorship deals with companies such as Toyota, Kroger, and Pepsi. FC Cincinnati’s major league presentation has reverberated well with fans as they perceive the team as major league franchise on par with the Cincinnati Reds and the Cincinnati Bengals.

The only big question about FC Cincinnati’s bid to become an MLS team is the stadium situation. MLS requires teams to have a soccer specific stadium to host matches. FC Cincinnati is currently playing in Nippert Stadium on the University of Cincinnati campus. Nippert Stadium serves as the home field for the UC Bearcats football team and is currently undergoing FC Cincinnati funded field expansion so that it can meet FIFA standards. It has been reported that FC Cincinnati has found a few suitable areas for a soccer specific stadium to be built. With the commitment that the team has shown in converting a football stadium into a makeshift soccer stadium, I personally believe that FC Cincinnati will do whatever it takes to construct a soccer specific stadium to call home.

As of now, FC Cincinnati appears to be hitting all the right buttons in its quest to become an MLS team. The team has a huge fan base that shattered attendance records last year and has already bought close to 10,000 season tickets for the 2017 season, and it has an on field product capable of playing with some of the best teams that make up the USL. FC Cincinnati has also presented itself as a major league team by securing big corporate partnerships, local television and radio deals, and by scouting areas for its own stadium. I believe the team has what it takes to be the next MLS expansion franchise, and I will be waiting with baited breath for MLS to announce which city will be the next location for an MLS team. Here’s hoping its Cincinnati!

Bye-Bye BP

One of the hardest things for any sports fan to go through is the rebuilding process of their favorite teams. It can feel like somebody is rubbing salt in the wound as teams undergoing reconstruction generally have losing records and also trade away players perceived as fan favorites. Trading away the star players that fans had grown to love is perhaps the hardest thing about rebuilding a franchise as it usually catches fans off guard when it happens. For members of Reds Country, the rebuilding process has been felt for the past few years. Guys like Johnny Cueto, Jay Bruce, Mike Leake, Aroldis Chapman, and Todd Frazier all contributed to the success the Cincinnati Reds had from 2010 to 2013 and have all since been traded due to the rebuilding efforts of the franchise. All the players previously mentioned left an impact on the franchise that fans will never forget. However, the Reds’ most recent trade might prove to be the most difficult for fans to swallow as the franchise traded team veteran and Cincinnati favorite Brandon Phillips to the Atlanta Braves for a pair of young pitchers.

Rumors of the trade began to circulate late Saturday night and intensified into Sunday. Baseball experts and various sports outlets were reporting that a trade between the Reds and the Braves involving Brandon Phillips was a done deal. I was a bit skeptical when I read these reports as the Reds have unsuccessfully tried to ship Phillips out of the Queen City multiple times in the past. Each time it seemed like the Reds had finally traded away the popular second baseman, news would break saying that Phillips exercised his no trade clause and would remain as a member of the Reds.

I followed the story throughout the morning on Sunday and did not see anything notably different than what was originally reported on Saturday night. I thought the trade was going to fall through again. A few hours later, a notification appeared on my phone saying that the Reds had traded Phillips to the Braves in exchange for two pitchers. I immediately checked the Twitter account of the Reds. To my shock, a statement had been released by the franchise confirming the trade. I was stunned not because the Reds traded Phillips but because Phillips had accepted the trade. I had heard reports of how Phillips loved Cincinnati and had hoped to retire as a Red. That is why he kept exercising his no trade clause. I began to expect him to leave via free agency since a trade was having trouble materializing. However, the Reds managed to get Phillips to accept the trade and ended his decade with the franchise.

Phillips was my favorite player on the team. He came to Cincinnati in 2006 and dazzled fans with his defensive prowess. He routinely made fantastic plays such as bare handing grounders, making diving catches, and throwing out base runners by tossing the ball behind his back. During his decade with the Reds, Phillips won four Gold Glove awards, a Silver Slugger award, became only the third Red in history to join the 30-30 club, and made the National League All-Star team three times. He also helped revitalize the franchise by bringing playoff baseball back the Queen City for the first time in 15 years. Aside from his on field accomplishments, Phillips was a fantastic representative of the Reds. He usually signed autographs before every game, never hesitated to take pictures with fans, and would occasionally pop up at high school sporting events in the Greater Cincinnati area. He was one of the friendliest players on the team, and the city will miss his trademark infectious smile.

Phillips was a huge fan favorite and had a genuine connection with the city that only few players can muster. He created a defensive highlight reel with the Reds and was one of the most popular players in the history of the franchise. His skill on the field combined with his love for Reds Country was well received by the city, and it is definitely sad to see him go. However, that is the cost of rebuilding a franchise. Fan favorites leave and make room for young prospects. As a Reds fan, I am excited to see what the two young pitchers the team got in exchange for Phillips can do. Hopefully they can help lead the Reds to prominence once again and have an impact on the city similar to that of Phillips. Thanks for the memories BP, and good luck in Atlanta.

Go Redlegs!

Elimination Chamber 2017 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on WWE Elimination Chamber 2017.

Cincinnati Reds Nutcracker Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds nutcracker.

Are We Being Trolled?

I am by no means a Roman Reigns hater. Despite his shortcomings on the microphone, I find his ring work entertaining. His career in WWE, however, has me asking one question: Are we being trolled? It is no secret that WWE wants to push Roman Reigns as the next top star of the company. WWE has done seemingly everything in their power to position Reigns as the heir apparent to John Cena and lead the company over the next decade. He has been booked as an unstoppable underdog. No matter how high the odds seem to be stacked against him, he usually overcomes them. Whether it be the Authority, the League of Nations, or a WWE wellness policy violation and suspension, Roman Reigns has always come out on top. His booking history is a very clear indicator of WWE’s big plans for the “big dog.”

He debuted as a member of the Shield in 2012 alongside Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose, and the trio received a massive push by running over everybody that stood in their way. While the group appeared as a unit of solidarity, Roman Reigns was actually being portrayed as the best of the bunch. At Survivor Series 2013, Reigns was the sole survivor in a traditional Survivor Series 5-on-5 elimination tag team match. During the 2014 Royal Rumble match, Reigns eliminated both of his Shield brethren in route to tossing a record total of 12 people over the top rope while finishing as the bout’s runner-up. When Rollins dismantled the Shield during the summer of 2014, Reigns was immediately thrust into the main event scene and world title contention. He won the 2015 Royal Rumble and earned a main event Wrestlemania 31 WWE World Heavyweight title shot. Although he lost the match, he still managed to win the title by the end of 2015. He lost the title at the 2016 Royal Rumble but regained it in the main event of Wrestlemania 32. He then lost it again at Money in the Bank 2016 and was suspended for a month for violating the WWE wellness policy. However, his first match back from his suspension was a WWE title match and although he lost, he was inserted into the United States Championship picture. He proceeded to win the United States title and was again back in world title contention.

As you can see, Reigns has had arguably the best booking of any WWE wrestler since 2012. However, it has not been well received by fans. Despite being a face, he gets mixed reactions at best as the boos and jeers generally drown out the little amount of cheers he gets in wrestling arenas. Every time he takes on a heel, it is as if the roles are reversed. The heel gets the face reaction while Reigns is the target of the heel reaction. Why is this?

I believe it stems from the booking. With Reigns being positioned as the unstoppable underdog and next big megastar of the company, he rarely loses cleanly which can have negative effects on the other wrestlers on the roster as they generally come out of a match with Reigns looking weaker than they did heading into it. His booking has also prevented other wrestles from reaching the next level of superstardom in the WWE. In 2015, Daniel Bryan was the clear choice of the fans to main event Wrestlemania 31, but instead the nod went to Reigns. In 2016, Dean Ambrose was white hot in terms of popularity and should have been in the main event of Wrestlemania 32 but was cast aside by WWE in favor of Reigns again. Both Bryan and Ambrose were still popular, but Bryan had to retire due to injury and never reached that next level of superstardom, and Ambrose cooled off significantly over the course of the past year.

So here we are in 2017 and Reigns is still being booked the same way and is having the same type of fan reactions. He was the 30^th and final entrant in the 2017 Royal Rumble match and was greeted with a chorus of boos from the Alamodome crowd. Chants of “this is bull sh*t” could also be heard and only grew louder when Reigns eliminated the massively popular and respected Undertaker from the match. It was at this point in time I began to wonder if WWE is using Roman Reigns to mess with the fans. He is one of the most hated wrestlers on the roster, and WWE clearly knows it. They have done everything possible to get Reigns over and have even edited videos of fan reactions to Reigns to make it seem like the fans support him. The lengths WWE is willing to go to protect Reigns is laughable. At the same time, they are still irking fans with how they book him. This is the most stubborn booking by WWE I have ever seen. It is not working at all, but WWE keeps pushing it.

So how do you fix this situation? It is cliché for people to call for a wrestler to have a heel turn in order get over with the crowd. It doesn’t always work, but it could actually be beneficial for Reigns. He already gets a heel reaction so WWE should heavily consider turning the “big dog” heel. It may delay their plans to have Reigns as the next big face of the company, but the boos will at least match the character being portrayed. A potential Wrestlemania feud with the Undertaker could finally lead Reigns to the dark side, but until that happens expect the WWE to continue trolling the fans with the nonsensical booking of Roman Reigns.