A Really Stupid Requirement

If you have been following FC Cincinnati’s attempt to attain a Major League Soccer expansion bid, then you know all about the argument dealing with where to build FCC’s proposed soccer specific stadium and who should pay for it. It is arguably the biggest sports story of the year as FCC’s fate as a potential MLS expansion team could live and die on whether or not the franchise can cement a stadium plan. In my opinion, the fact that MLS prefers soccer specific stadiums is really stupid.

As far as I know, they are the only American professional sports league that has a stadium requirement. Major League Baseball and the National Football League have shared stadiums and the National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League share arenas. I know for a fact that some MLS teams have played in NFL stadiums. For example, Atlanta United FC shares Mercedes-Benz Stadium with the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL and had over 70,000 fans in attendance for a match.

I realize that during the early days of MLS, teams often played in very empty football stadiums which probably prompted MLS to prefer soccer specific stadiums as they are smaller. What I do not think MLS has realized is that the sport of soccer in America has grown. Kids all over the country grow up playing it and both domestic and international matches are shown on television pretty frequently. The world’s game has become a bonafide American sport. So why would MLS want to hamper its rise by containing teams in smaller stadiums?

As a diehard FC Cincinnati fan, I want the team to finalize a soccer specific stadium plan and get an MLS bid. I don’t care how its funded or where it’s built, just as long as a plan is in place and MLS commissioner Don Garber names FC Cincinnati as an MLS expansion club. From a logical standpoint though, I cannot help but think that the requirement of a soccer specific stadium is outdated, does more harm than good, and is really stupid.

Bengal Graphs 2017 Part 1

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shows the autographs he has gotten throughout the 2017 season of Cincinnati Bengals.

Cyclones in a Half Shell, Hockey Power!

 On Friday November 17, 2017, the Cincinnati Cyclones will host the Toledo Walleye on “Nickelodeon Night featuring the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.” If you are a turtles fan, a hockey fan, or a bobblehead fan, then this is one game you definitely do not want to miss.

The game will feature an appearance from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and both the Cyclones and the Walleye will wear TMNT themed jerseys. The Cyclones will have jerseys representing the turtles and the Walleye will wear jerseys representing Shredder. Both teams’ jerseys will be auctioned off later.

They Cyclones will also be giving out a TMNT themed bobblehead of their mascot. Based on the picture the Cyclones have promoted on their site, Twister will be wearing a mix of his Cyclones uniform and Michelangelo’s ninja gear. The base is a sewer lid, and Twister will be armed with a hockey stick.

In conclusion, the Cyclones will play host to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the players will wear TMNT themed jerseys, and a TMNT themed bobblehead of Twister will be given away to the first 3,000 fans in attendance. Pizza slices will also be available for $1 all night long. I already have my tickets for the game, and I cannot wait to add the bobblehead to my collection.

Reds Recap 2017

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

2017 Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum Bobblehead Recap

The Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum bobblehead season has come to a close. Seven bobbleheads were given out throughout 2017, and I managed to add all of them to my bobblehead collection. Below is a brief recap of the bobbleheads that the Reds Hall of Fame gave away in 2017.

First up is Crosley. This is a retro themed bobblehead that has been given out by the Reds Hall of Fame ever since March. The funds received through the sale of the bobbleheads were used to help pay for the Pete Rose statue that the Cincinnati Reds unveiled during the season. It has a vintage bobblehead look and a luster that really makes it stand out from the other bobbleheads given away this year.

The second bobblehead given out was of Leo Cardenas. Given out during April, Cardenas was the first official bobblehead of the 2017 Reds Hall of Fame series. He is featured in the classic pinstripe uniform that the Redlegs sported during the 1960s and is arguably the best looking bobblehead the Reds Hall of Fame gave to fans in 2017.

The third bobblehead of the year was of Tommy Helms. This was given to fans during the month of May and is a relatively simple bobblehead as it features Helms getting set to field a ball. It is a good-looking bobblehead of a player that helped set the foundation for the Big Red Machine.

The bobblehead for June was of the “Hit King,” and it featured Pete Rose batting as a bobblehead for the first time. It is by far the best bobblehead of Pete Rose as a member of the Reds that has ever been given out and it flew out of the Reds Hall of Fame in record time.

July’s bobblehead was of Ron Oester. The longtime Redleg debuted on the main roster in 1978 before retiring at the end of the 1990 World Series Championship season. The bobblehead features Oester stepping on a base and getting ready to throw a ball.

 

The sixth bobblehead of the year was Dave Parker. Known as, “The Cobra,” Parker was a huge fan favorite among Reds fans, and this was the first bobblehead of Parker that the Reds and the Reds Hall of Fame have ever given out to fans. It was long overdue and was the bobblehead I was most excited for from the Reds Hall of Fame.

 

The seventh and final bobblehead of 2017 was of George Foster. This was the second bobblehead of Foster that the Reds Hall of Fame has given to fans as they gave a mini Foster bobblehead to fans in 2012. The 2017 version is a regular sized bobblehead though and features Foster with his 1977 MVP award.

 

In conclusion, the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum gave out a very good line of bobbleheads in 2017. The quality is top of the line, and the players featured are all very memorable figures in Reds history. Hopefully the 2018 series is just as good.

Go Redlegs

Save the Derby

Early last week, it was reported that Columbus Crew SC might be leaving the state of Ohio for Austin, Texas, at the end of the 2018 season. This stunning announcement not only affects the Crew and their fans, but it may also affect FC Cincinnati and their bid to become a Major League Soccer expansion team. In some ways it can benefit the franchise, but the Crew’s potential exodus may also hurt FC Cincinnati.

The obvious reason that the Crew heading for Austin would hurt FC Cincinnati is that the budding instate rivalry between the two Ohio teams would be no more. The “Hell is Real Derby” had its first installment this past year during the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Fans of both franchises packed Nippert Stadium and created an atmosphere that was nothing short of electric. The action on the field was intense, fans were talking trash in the stands, players were jawing backing and forth on the field, and the first match of the “Hell is Real Derby” became an instant classic. FC Cincinnati fans celebrated the 1-0 victory, and Crew fans dreamt of vengeance on the pitch. With the Crew possibly leaving Ohio, the first chapter in the rivalry might be the only chapter. Due to that lack of an instate rivalry and the amazing atmosphere it created, MLS might pass on accepting FC Cincinnati’s expansion bid.

Just as obvious as the Crew’s possible Ohio exit could hurt FC Cincinnati’s MLS chances, it is also very obvious how it could be beneficial to the Cincinnati soccer squad. Should the Crew leave, MLS would not have a team in the state of Ohio. Many people think that this would clear the way for FC Cincinnati to join the league. Sports Illustrated and Fox Sports soccer expert Grant Wahl thinks the Crew’s exit all but assures that FC Cincinnati and Detroit attain MLS bids.

Personally, I want the Crew to stay in Ohio. The first match of the “Hell is Real Derby” was one of the best sporting events I have ever attended. The atmosphere was electric, and the sports hate between the two opposing Ohio soccer teams was pure and full of vitriol. It was an incredible way to introduce a possible flagship MLS rivalry to the soccer world. If FC Cincinnati does get into MLS, I do not want it to be because Columbus lost their team. It sucks when sports franchises leave a city and essentially desert their fan base. Even though FC Cincinnati and the Crew are rivals, I do not want Crew fans to have to lose their team. Hopefully the Crew can sort out their stadium situation and stay in Ohio allowing the “Hell is Real Derby” to continue should FC Cincinnati attain an MLS expansion slot.

WWE TLC 2017 Thoughts

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

Ickey Woods Bobblehead Review

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone reviews an unofficial Cincinnati Bengals Ickey Woods bobblehead.

Release the Hounds

Sierra

Hotel

India

Echo

Lima

Delta

SHIELD.

Three years ago, the most dominant faction in WWE history imploded as Seth Rollins slammed a chair into the backs of Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose. The Shield was destroyed and each man embarked on a successful singles career. All have been WWE World Heavyweight Champion and all became triple crown champions with Amrbose being the only member so far to become a grand slam champion. Despite that success, many people felt that that the “Hounds of Justice” broke up too soon. They were easily one of the hottest factions in professional wrestling and were coming off an epic rivalry with Evolution. Instead, they went their separate ways and had off and on battles with each other over the next three years.

However, WWE always dropped hints of a potential Shield reunion. Ambrose in Reigns teamed together quite often, Rollins and Reigns worked together toward the end of 2016, and all three briefly reunited at Survivor Series 2016 for an epic triple power bomb. A reunion finally began to take shape when Ambrose and Rollins, bitter enemies during the post Shield era, reunited in time for SummerSlam 2017 in route to capturing the Raw Tag Team Championships. Fast forward two months and Roman Reigns is having issues with the both the Miztourage and the Bar, two factions that played a key role in reuniting Ambrose and Rollins. The tag champs were having a problem with Braun Strowman, a huge rival to Reigns during the early months of 2017. Their paths finally crossed and on October 9, 2017, in the same city where they were destroyed form within, they reunited and sent wrestling fans around the world into a frenzy.

It didn’t take them long to find their old footing as a unit as they crushed the Miztoruage, the Bar, and Strowman in the same night. This led to a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match at the TLC pay-per-view between the Shield and the team of the Miz, Strowman, and the Bar. I cannot wait to watch this match as Ambrose, Rollins, and Reigns have tremendous chemistry together and routinely put on fantastic matches during the Shield’s first run. I expect them to continue that trend during their second reincarnation.

I just have one question about this reunion. How long will it last?  I initially thought that the Shield would not get back together for a long time as I thought that Ambrose would turn heel on Rollins which would lead to a Wrestlemania 34 bout and that Reigns would challenge Lesnar for the Universal title. That could still happen, but would it be worth reuniting the Shield? Wrestlemania is about 6 months away and if the Shield were to break up before then, why have them reunite for such a short period of time? I also thought the reunion was going to be a one night only event at TLC, but with WWE selling brand new Shield shirts, it appears that is not the case either. Hopefully WWE allows the Shield to have a lengthy run together. They are my favorite faction and I would love to see them destroy everything in their path once again. It felt like they had unfinished business and now that the hounds are together again, nobody in WWE is safe from their wrath.

Believe that.

My Terrible Bengals Pro Shop Expereince

This past Saturday, I attended an autograph signing featuring Bengals legends at the Cincinnati Bengals Pro Shop. It was by far the worst autograph signing I have ever attended. I wrote an email to the Pro Shop that voiced my displeasure with the signing and overall terrible experience. Below is that email.

Good Afternoon,

I am writing to you about an unpleasant experience I had at the Cincinnati Bengals Pro Shop today. I arrived at the Pro Shop around 11:20 AM for the 12:00 PM autograph signing featuring the Bengals legends. My girlfriend and I were walking to the back of the line when a man who I later learned was the manager stopped us and told us to “stand here.” We stood there as more people arrived at the store and another long line formed behind us.

We patiently waited for our line to join with the back of the other line for the autograph signing. A security guard was at the end of the first line, and eventually the lines merged as the security guard left the end of the first line. We thought we were going to get autographs from the Bengals legends as the two separate lines had finally become one. A few minutes later, the security guard came back and said that my line was not allowed to get autographs and cut off the line splitting it back into two separate lines. An employee, not the manager, came back to tell us that we would not be getting autographs, and that the line had been cut off when it reached the wall at the end of the clearance section. Needless to say, this made the entire line mad as we were essentially told to wait for autographs when the manager knew that we would not be getting autographs.

I am not mad that I was cut off from receiving autographs. I am mad that we were not told from the beginning that we would not be getting autographs and wasted over an hour of our time standing in line for nothing. As I said earlier, the manager told us to “stand here.” He did not once say that the line had already been cut off. He did not even have the decency to come tell us himself that the line was cut off after the two lines had already merged. On top of that, the signing started late.

So to recap, the manager told us to “stand here” despite knowing the line was already cut off. The lines merged and a security guard and an employee, not the manager, told us that we would not be allowed to get autographs because of the cut off. The manager did not even attempt to talk to us or explain the situation to us at all.

I would like to know why we were told by the manager to “stand here” when he clearly knew we would not be getting autographs. This was easily the WORST autograph signing I have ever attended. There was little to no communication from the staff or manager to the attendees, no explanation as to why we were told to wait for no reason, and it started late. Needless to say this was a terrible experience. Please explain to me how this is considered acceptable by the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cincinnati Bengals Pro Shop.

Sincerely,

Ryan Cahill

I want to clarify that I am not mad that I was cut off. I am mad that the manager did not tell myself, my girlfriend, or the massive line behind us that we had been cut off and would not be receiving any autographs from the beginning and had us wait over an hour for nothing. It was a huge waste of time. If you plan on attending a Bengals Legends autograph signing, be prepared for a very unpleasant experience if the Bengals Pro Shop does fix this problem.

WWE Hell in a Cell 2017 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on WWE Hell in a Cell 2017.

Kazuhiro Hatakeyama Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Kazurhiro Hatakeyama bobblehead.

KO vs. HHH?

Kevin Owens is the latest wrestler to enter a feud with a McMahon as he is set to do battle against Shane McMahon at the Hell in a Cell event in October. While Owens currently has his sights set on Shane O’Mac, is a future match with the Game on the horizon?

If I’m not mistaken, the last two times an attack on Vince McMahon was a major factor in a WWE storyline Triple H got involved. When Randy Orton targeted the entire McMahon family, Triple H defeated him at Wrestlemania 25. When Brock Lesnar dropped Vince with an F5, Triple H pinned the beast at Wrestlemania 29. Kevin Owens just Vince’s head open and squashed him with a frog splash on SmackDown after which Stephanie McMahon came to the ring to both help her father and show her anger toward Owens.

While the feud could end at Hell in a Cell between Owens and Shane McMahon, there is the possibility that it will continue and evolve in to Owens vs. the McMahons as opposed to Ownes vs Shane. Should it turn into a family affair Triple H will likely get involved, and the story would seemingly make no sense. Here’s why.

When Shane returned in 2016, Vince was not happy and had him face the Undertaker at Wrestlemania 32 in a hell in a cell match. So why is Vince all of a sudden on Shane’s side? Stephanie and Shane also feuded for control of WWE with Shane being granted control of SmackDown and Stephanie being granted control of Raw. So why was Stephanie at SmackDown when Vince was hurt? The last time Stephanie was on television, she was a heel. By going up against Owens, does that make her a face?

Perhaps I am looking to far into the storyline, but it does not make sense form a logical standpoint. Things will be even more illogical if Triple H gets involved as he essentially handed Owens the Universal Championship last year. Are fans supposed to forget that happened? Also, Owens and Samoa Joe teamed up for a little bit during Wrestlemania 33 season to do some of Triple H’s dirty work making a possible Owens vs. Triple H feud is a head scratcher.

Hopefully Owens just sticks to Shane O’Mac. The storyline would be simpler, less contradicting and a win over the SmackDown general manger at Hell in a Cell could cement Owens as the biggest heel on the blue brand. A battle with Triple H would not be needed in order to establish that. I understand that wrestling is fake, but I do not want my intelligence insulted when I watch it. A Kevin Owens vs. Triple H feud would do just that.

Meet the Legends

With this year being the 50^th anniversary of the Cincinnati Bengals, the team will be bringing back several legends for each home game for a special halftime ceremony. These legends will also be available for autographs for 30 minutes the day before the game as well as the day of the game. Legends who have signed already include Chad Johnson, Ken Anderson, and Max Montoya among others.

When the autograph sessions are the day before the game, the legends will be at tables inside Paul Brown Stadium by the entrance to the Pro Shop. There will be several lines for the different tables and once you get the autographs of players at one table, you have to exit the stadium through the Pro Shop before reentering the stadium through the gates by the ticket windows in order to get more autographs.

When the autograph sessions are the day of the game, the players will be featured under a tent in the Jungle Zone outside of the stadium. There is one line, and it is a first come first serve basis for autographs with every legend that is signing sitting at one big table. If you want autographs at this session, get there early as the crowd is huge due to the game.

I went to the autograph session the day before the home opener and got to have the legends sign my Bengals banner. The sessions are a great way to add some autographs to your Bengals memorabilia collection and meet some of the grid iron greats that wore black and orange stripes.

Who Dey!

WWE No Nercy 2017 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on WWE No Mercy 2017.

Frosty Frog Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Frosty Frog Cafe bobblehead from Hilton Head Island. 

Bengal Shows 2017

With the 2017 NFL season officially underway, the opportunities for fans of the Cincinnati Bengals to get autographs are popping up each and every week in the form of Bengal shows. Bengal shows are shows where fans can get autographs from Cincinnati Bengals players, and I attend at least one show a week in hopes of snagging a signature for my Bengals autograph collection. In this post, I will discuss three of the Bengal shows that take place each week.

The first show of the week is “Benagls Line.” It is held at the Holy Grail on the banks in Cincinnati the day after Bengals games and can be heard on ESPN 1530. The show features radio personality Lance McAllister and former Bengals player Dave Lapham as the hosts and goes from 6 pm to 9 pm. There are usually two guest players who are interviewed during the first two hours of the show. One player is interviewed from 6 pm to 7 pm and the other is interviewed from 7 pm to 8 pm with the final hour being mainly discussion between McAllister and Lapham. Players sign autographs during commercials and there are raffles throughout the night with the prizes ranging from Bengals apparel to Bengals tickets.

The second show of the week is “Beyond the Stripes.” This show is presented by the Cincinnati Enquirer and is held at the Holy Grail. The show is streamed live on the Enquirer’s Facebook page from 7 pm to 8 pm and features a panel of four reporters interviewing the guest player before playing a game with the player to end the show. The interviews are always entertaining and usually feature a few laughs as some of the questions asked by the panel and answers given by the players are over the top. Once the show is finished, fans can line up and have one item signed by the player.

The third show of the week is “Bengals Nation.” This show is held at the Moerlein Lager House on Wednesdays from 6 pm to 8 pm and is presented by television station Local 12. It is filmed in segments and is broadcasted on Saturdays. The show has gotten worse in my opinion as its move from the Holy Grail has really cut back on the interaction that the show used to have with the fans. The area in the Moerlein Lager House where the show is filmed is a lot smaller than the Holy Grail, so some of the segments, such as fans asking the guest player questions and some of the games, have been eliminated. Once the show is finished, fans can get an item signed by the guest player only if they have an autograph pass. The autograph passes are handed out in the beginning of the show, and if you do not get there early enough to get an autograph pass, you will not be able to receive an autograph.

Those are the three different Bengal shows that are held throughout the week. They are a great way to not only get autographs but to also interact with fellow Bengals fans. “Beyond the Stripes” is my favorite show as it is easily the most entertaining of the three. I would say that “Bengals Line” is next with “Bengals Nation” being the least enjoyable show. They are all still fun to attend though, and I highly recommend checking out a few for yourself.

Who Dey!

Raisel Iglesias Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds Raisel Iglesias bobblehead. 

One Hell of a Run

FC Cincinnati’s magical run in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup came to an end after a 3-2 defeat at the hands of the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer. Even though the loss was disappointing, the game was full of drama and excitement as FCC’s magic ran out with about 15 minutes left to go in the game. Leading 2-0 over the Red Bulls, FCC appeared to have locked up a trip to the finals. The Red Bulls had other ideas as they scored two quick goals to force the game into extra time where they found the net once more to officially end FCC’s run in the Open Cup.

When the final whistle blew, players dressed in blue and orange fell to the field in exhaustion as a sold out crowd at Nippert Stadium applauded them and thanked them for their efforts. The lads had nothing to be ashamed about as their incredible journey in the Open Cup established Cincinnati as the best soccer city in America. All eyes were on the Queen City as soccer fans from around the world eagerly waited to see what FC Cincinnati would do against the best competition the country had to offer on a national stage. They made their claim for instate supremacy by stunning MLS’s Columbus Crew SC 1-0. They followed that match with an epic nail biter that saw them defeat the Chicago Fire, an MLS powerhouse, 3-1 on penalty kicks in a match that was broadcasted nationally on ESPN. The United Soccer League franchise that was established in the summer of 2015 upset two teams that are in the very league they are trying to join.

It is clear that the entire soccer world took notice. MLS commissioner Don Garber and United States Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati were in attendance for the Open Cup semifinal match against the Red Bulls. After the match, Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch said that FCC would be a “feather in the cap of MLS.” He also called Cincinnati the best American soccer city in a recent interview with ESPN.

None of that would have happened though had it not been for the lads in orange and blue playing their best soccer when the lights were shinning brightest. They defeated some of the best soccer teams in America and took the city of Cincinnati on an incredible ride. They became the talk of the town in a city that is known for Cincinnati Reds baseball. They overshadowed the hype surrounding the start of the 50^th season of the Cincinnati Bengals. They became THE sports team of Cincinnati. Hopefully there are many more exciting Open Cup runs for FCC that end with them being crowned as champions. For now though, FCC fans will look back at the 2017 Open Cup as the stage that cemented Cincinnati as America’s soccer city.

Dave Parker Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum Dave Parker bobblehead.

Honoring the Legends

With the Cincinnati Bengals celebrating their 50^th anniversary, the team will be honoring some of the legends that helped make the franchise what it is today. There will be halftime ceremonies during the first two games of the year, and the list of former Bengals being honored is quite impressive.

Players being honored at the home opener against the Baltimore Ravens on September 10 include Ken Anderson, Isaac Curtis, Ken Riley, Lemar Parrish, Louis Breeden, Mike Reid, Ross Browner, Ken Avery, Al Beauchamp, Solomon Brannan, Gary Burley, Turk Schonert, and John Stofa. The next ceremony will take place four days later during the Septpember 14 Thursday night game against the Houston Texans. Players being honored include Chad Johnson, Cris Collinsworth, Max Montoya, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Bill Bergey, Rich Braham, Ken Blackman, Neal Craig, Jonathan Fanene, Corey Mays, and Shaun Smith.

This is the first time that the Bengals are really acknowledging the past and thanking the players of yesteryear. I grew up watching guys like Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and it is awesome that they will be honored by the Bengals. Hopefully the team takes the next step by creating a team hall of fame or a ring of honor so that the contributions these players made to the franchise will never be forgotten.

Who Dey!

Bobblehead Page Update

#Bobblehead Page Update @ https://t.co/f6kg2Fon2e with a new Bobblehead#FrostyFrog #bobblehof #BobbleheAddicts pic.twitter.com/8bIqiWdiVI

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) September 4, 2017

Cincinnati Bengals 2017 Season Outlook

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

The Grand Slam Champ

SummerSlam 2017 saw numerous titles change hands. One of those titles was the Raw Tag Team Championship. The team of Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins defeated Cesaro and Sheamus and were crowned as the new kings of the tag team division. For Seth Rollins, the win marked the second time he was part of a tag team championship team as he previously held the belts with Roman Reigns. For Ambrose, this is the first time he has held tag team championship gold, and it also granted him access to a very exclusive club in WWE: the grand slam champion’s club.

In WWE, a grand slam champion is a wrestler who has won the tag team championships, two secondary titles, and the world title. It is a very short list that is filled with some of the most elite wrestlers in history. Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Jeff Hardy, Kurt Angle, Eddie Guerrero, Daniel Bryan, and Chris Jericho are some of the wrestlers who have accomplished the feat. While these wrestlers are current and future hall of famers, not every legend and big name wrestler can call themselves a grand slam champ. As of the writing of this post, there have only been 16 grand slam champions, and guys The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Hulk Hogan, Randy Orton, and John Cena are not on that list of grand slam champions.

As I said earlier, a grand slam champion must win two secondary titles, the tag team titles and the world title. Dean Ambrose has won the United States Championship, the Intercontinental Championship, the Raw Tag Team Championship, and the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. The last jewel in his grand slam crown was the Raw Tag Team championship which he won at SummerSlam. The win not only made him the 16^th grand slam champion, but it also made him the youngest grand slam champion in history. Congrats to Dean Amrbose on the accomplishment!

Bobblehead Page Update

#Bobblehead Page Update @ https://t.co/f6kg2Fon2e with a new #Reds Bobblehead#LetsGoReds #bobblehof #ATOBTTR #MLB #BobbleheAddicts #sports pic.twitter.com/dwVaBvb6Wy

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) August 22, 2017

Plight of the Cruiserweights

When WWE announced that they were bringing back the cruiserweight division, I was excited. The Cruiserweight Classic on the WWE Networks was producing unbelievable matches, and it was arguably the best cruiserweight action on television since the days of WCW Monday Nitro. The cruiserweight division that WCW had during the Monday Night Wars featured some of the finest wrestling on television at the time and helped propel guys like Eddie Guerrero, Rey Mysterio, Dean Malenko, and Chris Jericho into superstardom. The bouts were often fast paced and filled with high flying action. People were tuning into WCW for the big name wrestlers and New World Order storyline, but they were staying because of the action that the cruiserweights brought to the ring.

I thought a similar style would be replicated on WWE television. I was wrong. The cruiserweight division is struggling. Instead of being presented as an athletic showcase for wrestlers who meet the 205 pound weight limit, the division barely gets any television time on Monday Night Raw, and the 205 Live show on the WWE network generally features two matches with an in ring segment in between. The action is not as quick or as dazzling despite the fact that many of the cruiserweights are some of the most athletically gifted on the roster. Cedric Alexander is a perfect example of this. He is arguably the most athletic wrestler in the division but was involved in a horrendous storyline with Noam Dar and Alicia Fox and really has no direction that enables him to show off his wrestling skill.

If WWE stripped the division down, gave the wrestlers more television time, and focused more on the actual wrestling, I think it would improve. The Cruiserweight Classic proved that fans were invested in matches because of the action in the ring. Short video packages highlighted each wrestler before the match, but the wrestlers did not cut promos or have an in ring segment to get over with the fans. They let their abilities do the talking, and it spoke volumes. If WWE can make the cruiserweight division more like the cruiserweight classic, I think the plight of the cruiserweights will finally come to an end.

SummerSlam 2017 Thoughts

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

Cincinnati Reds Replica Pete Rose Statue Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds replica statue of Pete Rose.

Who Will Walk Out as Champ?

SummerSlam 2017 will boast a huge main event as Brock Lesnar will defend his WWE Universal Championship in a Fatal 4 Way match against Braun Strowman, Samoa Joe, and Roman Reigns. The match should be a war as four of WWE’s most over wrestlers battle it out to determine who is the top guy on Monday Night Raw. So will a new champ be crowned?

Nope. Not at SummerSlam 2017 at least. I predict Brock Lesnar will walk into SummerSlam as champion and walk out as champion. That is not to say he won’t have a tough match ahead of him. Strowman has become the resident monster for the red brand, Samoa Joe was seconds away from choking out the landlord of Suplex City at Great Balls of Fire, and Reigns is the only other guy aside from Lesnar to defeat the Undertaker at Wrestlemania.

Despite the threat that each of the challengers pose to the champ, they will not take the Universal Championship for themselves. I think that Lesnar will win and hold onto the title until Wrestlemania 34 before dropping the belt to Reigns. The seeds for that match will be planted at SummerSlam as Lesnar successfully retains his title.

Ron Oester Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum Ron Oester bobblehead.

The Run Continues

FC Cincinnati’s legendary run in the 2017 U.S. Lamar Hunt Open Cup will continue after they defeated Miami FC of the NASL in the quarterfinals last Wednesday. After the first half ended with both teams scoreless, FCC took a 1-0 lead when Djiby Fall scored off a pass from Justin Hoyte. It was the only goal of the game and the only goal the team needed as FCC managed to hold off Miami FC’s offensive onslaught late in the game to move onto a semifinal matchup with the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer on August 15.

For FCC, the Red Bulls will be the third MLS team they have face in their last four Open Cup matches. They previously defeated Columbus Crew SC 1-0 and the Chicago Fire 3-1 on penalty kicks. Both games were in front of raucous crowds of over 30,000 at Nippert Stadium. Their win against Miami has given them the chance for another monumental victory in front of the hometown crowd. Not only is a trip to the Open Cup Finals on the line, but a third straight win over an MLS team would amplify the already thunderous buzz FCC has created for themselves in American soccer and further strengthen their case to be selected as an MLS expansion team.

I love this team and have been following them since they were established in the summer of 2015. Aside from seeing the Reds win the World Series and the Bengals win the Super Bowl, there is nothing I want more when it comes to sports than for FCC to join MLS. They have been hitting all the right buttons as a franchise, and the Open Cup has given them a national stage to prove that they are MLS ready. Hopefully they can muster up some more Open Cup magic on the 15^th and continue this incredible ride.

Bobblehead Page Update

#Bobblehead Page Update @ https://t.co/f6kg2Fon2e with a new #Reds Bobblehead#LetsGoReds #bobblehof #ATOBTTR #MLB #BobbleheAddicts #sports pic.twitter.com/UPnWY9AzwZ

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) August 8, 2017

Hey U Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a bobblehead of the former mascot of the Northern Kentucky University Norse, Hey U.

Double Bobble Weekend

What’s better than getting a bobblehead at a baseball game? Getting two bobbleheads at a baseball game! This Saturday, August 5, fans of the Cincinnati Reds will have the opportunity to attain two bobbleheads when they head to Great American Ball Park.

The Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum will be giving away a bobblehead of Dave Parker. The bobblehead of  “the Cobra” will be given away to fans who purchased a general admission ticket to the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum on Friday, Saturdays, and Sundays in August. There are only 6,000 bobbleheads available and with Parker being a fan favorite, this bobble could sell out pretty fast.

The Cincinnati Reds are giving away a bobblehead of star relief pitcher Raisel Iglesias to the first 20,000 fans on August 5. Iglesias has been the best pitcher of the Reds bullpen this year, and his excellent pitching has allowed him to secure the spot of team closer. Based on his popularity among Reds fans, I would expect a big turnout for this game despite the lackluster record the Reds have.

If you plan your day correctly on August 5, you will be able to add bobbleheads of Dave Parker and Raisel Iglesias to your collection. Parker is a Reds legend and Iglesias is becoming a bigger star every time he takes to the mound. I have tickets to the game and plan stopping by the Reds Hall of Fame to get the Parker bobble before heading into the stadium to get the Iglesias bobble. The only thing that would the weekend better is a win for the Reds!

Go Redlegs!

No Shield Reunion...Yet

For those of you who do not follow professional wrestling, a faction is a group of wrestlers that stick together like a team. The New World Order, the Four Horsemen, and D-Generation X are perhaps the most well factions in wrestling history, but a group that was composed of Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns made their case a few years ago to be mentioned in the same breath as the factions previously mentioned. They were known as the Shield and dominated the wrestling landscape from the end of 2012 to the summer of 2014. The pop they got when they entered arenas was deafening and their attitude and in ring work was a perfect recipe for success. They acted as the best and were perceived by fans as the best. However, as quick as they skyrocketed in popularity, they were disbanded and set their sights on solo careers after Rollins ended the Shield with a couple of chair shots to his former “brothers.”

They all captured the WWE World Heavyweight Championship and competed in a triple threat match at Battleground 2016. Since then, Rollins has turned face while Ambrose and Reigns have been faces ever since the group disbanded. Ambrose and Reigns have teamed up in the past as have Rollins and Reigns, but Ambrose and Rollins have not teamed together and are scheduled to join forces for the first time since 2014 on the July 24, 2017, episode of Raw. The seeds have been planted for a Shield reunion and reactions for each hint WWE drops have been great, but will it happen? Not yet.

Reason number one the Shield will not regroup anytime soon is Roman Reigns. WWE is still trying to position him as the next big superstar of the company. Despite the negative fan reaction he receives, Reigns is still considered a face, and WWE will not put their attempt to launch him into the stratosphere as a solo start on the backburner in order to reunite the Shield.

Reason number two, and the reason I am most interest in, is that Ambrose and Rollins appear to have a rivalry brewing. The storyline of Ambrose having a hard time trusting Rollins has been simmering with tension and has the potential to be one of the best rivalries of the year. As good as Ambrose and Rollins were as a team, they were even better as enemies and brought the best out of each other during their feuds in 2014 and in 2016. Their promos and matches are always some of the best on the show and the fact that Ambrose could turn heel during this storyline adds a dynamic layer to the Ambrose versus Rollins saga.

In conclusion, that is why the Shield will not reunite yet. Roman Reigns is in the midst of a meteoric push and Rollins and Ambrose appear to be coming close to igniting their rivalry once again. I am not saying the Shield will never reunite. I’m just saying it wont happen now. Believe that.