Double Video Weeks

This is a quick update on the Cincy Fan Zone website. If you are a frequent visitor of my website or my YouTube channel, you know that I publish one video a week. This has been the case ever since I first started Cincy Fan Zone in 2014. I thought having one video a week and one post a week supplied the Cincy Fan Zone website with ample content, and it was easy enough for me to manage. However, there will be a few times this year in which there will be two videos a week. 

I enjoy making wrestling pay-per-vew review videos for WWE shows such as the Royal Rumble and Wrestlemania. Those are published the night of the pay-per-view. Other videos are usually published on Tuesdays. With WWE slowly releasing their pay-per-view schedule this year, I have had to rearrange and reschedule various videos on my website every time a new pay-per-view was announced. For a one-man crew, it is a very time-consuming process. At the time that this post was written, WWE just released the rest of the pay-per-view schedule for 2019, and if I were to keep up with the one video a week schedule, it would have required a massive reshuffling of videos. 

Bobblehead unboxing videos would have been pushed back even more, and the bobblehead collection recap video would most likely not have been published until August or September. That would have thrown 2019 bobblehead unboxing videos further down the schedule as well. To save myself time and to ensure that the 2018 bobblehead recap video actually gets published before 2020, there will be a few weeks in which Cincy Fan Zone will have two videos published. To compensate for that, there might be a few weeks in which no new content is published. This is to provide balance and not overwhelm frequent Cincy Fan Zone visitors, and it is also a way to give myself a break.

Thank you for your understanding and for continuing to visit the Cincy Fan Zone website. 

Los Rojos Eugenio Suarez Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a 2018 Los Rojos Eugenio Suarez bobblehead. 

What Paul Brown Can Learn From Lucas Oil

I love going to Cincinnati Bengals games. Getting to watch professional football live and in person is one of the best sports events that all fans of the National Football League should try to experience. The atmosphere is phenomenal, the action on the field is usually constant, and getting to watch the game with a bunch of fellow football fans is always fun. Until this past season, I have only watched NFL games at Paul Brown Stadium. I always have fun cheering on the Bengals, and Paul Brown Stadium is a fine place to watch a game. However, my eyes were truly opened when I went up to Indianapolis to watch the Bengals take on the Colts in their 2018 season opener at Lucas Oil Stadium.

I have seen Lucas Oil Stadium on television multiple times but being there in person was a breathtaking experience. The Colts have a gorgeous stadium. From the Peyton Manning statue that greets fans outside the main entrance to the championship banners that hang from the ceiling, Lucas Oil Stadium is a palace when compared to Paul Brown Stadium. The stadium pays tribute to the city’s racecar heritage with various NASCAR and Indy Car models and it blends together nicely with the Colts décor that fills Lucas Oil Stadium to the brim. It was a cold and rainy day in Indianapolis so the roof was closed, and I believe that helped make the stadium louder. The retractable roof structure of the stadium also allowed the team to shoot off pyro and fire off streamers every time the Colt scored a touchdown. Lucas Oil Stadium was truly an experience that I wish Paul Brown Stadium could replicate.

I know that stadiums in Cincinnati is a touchy subject considering how the Reds and Bengals stadium deals are regarded as some of the worst of all time, and FC Cincinnati’s bait and switch and three site rotation stadium saga was nauseating. However, should the Bengals decide that they need a new stadium, I would hope they model it after Lucas Oil Stadium. I love Paul Brown Stadium, but Lucas Oil Stadium is without a shadow of a doubt much better. A new Bengals stadium could feature statues of franchise legends and also pay tribute to the city’s heritage. A retractable roof would be nice during the winter and for whenever it rains during a game and having orange fireworks go off whenever the Bengals score would be awesome. 

Those are just some of the things that I think the Bengals could implement into a new stadium should one be built. It would greatly enhance the game day experience, and the franchise could host a lot more events. Final Fours, College Football Championship games, state championship football games, concerts, Super Bowls, and WrestleMania among other events could all emanate from a new Bengals stadium that followed the Lucas Oil Stadium model. Maybe one day a new state of the art Paul Brown Stadium will see the Bengals not only host the Super Bowl but win it as well. 

Who Dey!

Redsfest 2018 Commemorative Ornament Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Redsfest 2018 Commemorative Ornament. 

My Reds and Marvel Bobblehead Wish List

Once again, the Cincinnati Reds and Marvel are joining forces to give away a themed ticket package bobblehead of a super hero. This year's bobble will feature Black Panther. This is the third consecutive year in which the Redlegs and Marvel have teamed up to give out a bobblehead. 2017 saw the Reds give out bobbleheads of Rocket Raccoon and Iron Man, and Captain America was given out last year. With an entire Marvel Universe of characters to feature as bobbleheads, who should the Reds immortalize as a bobble next? Here are my top five choices.

Let's start with the mighty Thor. The Asgardian god of thunder would make for an excellent bobblehead. Have him stand at the plate with his hammer instead of his bat and you've got an awesome crossover bobble that would make Odin proud.

Fourth on my list is Thanos. The ultimate villain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe would look awesome as a Reds bobblehead. One hand could have the infinity gauntlet and the other could feature all five Reds World Series Championship rings.

Third on my list is Wolverine. He has always been my favorite X-Men character and is one of the toughest characters in the history of Marvel. I'd love to see him in either his traditional blue and yellow gear or in a red and white themed Redlegs outfit.

Second is the Incredible Hulk. The big, green rage monster has been one of Marvel's most popular characters and has been featured as a bobblehead by a few different teams already. A bobblehead of him smashing through Great American Ball Park would be epic.

My number one choice for a Marvel Reds bobblehead is Spider-Man. Not only is he my all time favorite super hero, but he is one of the most popular super heroes in the history of comics. He could also be featured in a variety of styles such as his Venom costume, the Miles Morales outfit, or his traditional red and blue gear. The possibilities are seemingly endless.

That's my list of Marvel characters I'd like to see featured as Reds bobbleheads. I've collected every one the Reds and Marvel have given out so far, and I already have my tickets for the Black Panther game. If this partnership between Marvel and the Reds continues, you can bet that I will be heading to Great American Ball Park to assemble my collection of Marvel and Reds bobbleheads!

Jonny Gomes Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a 2011 SGA Cincinnati Reds Jonny Gomes bobblehead. 

Dak Prescott McFarlane Figure Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Dak Prescott McFarlane figure.

An Unforgettable Night

March 17, 2019, will go down in history as one of the best nights in the history of FC Cincinnati. The team had its inaugural Major League Soccer home opening match in front of a sold crowd at Nippert Stadium. 32,250 people not only witnessed FCC take to the pitch as an MLS team in Cincinnati for the first time, but they also saw the lads in orange and blue shutout the defending MLS Western Conference Champions Portland Timbers 3-0. It was an unforgettable night and truly one of the most exciting and fun sporting events I have ever attended. 

This night truly had a big league feel when compared to previous United Soccer League matches I had attended in the past. The march to the stadium by the Bailey seemingly stretched for miles and miles and was louder than in years past. Skydivers descended upon the stadium with one towing an American flag. Gary the Lion, the team’s mascot, stood on a stone pillar and was pumping up the crowd as FCC’s MLS flag was raised. Fireworks lit up the sky during the National Anthem and once again moments before kickoff. It was as much a spectacle as the actual match.

After being dominated in a week 1 loss to Seattle Sounders FC and seemingly finding their groove in a week 2 draw against Atlanta United FC, FCC came out with a new energy against the Portland Timbers and were in control for a majority of the match. The blue and orange took their first ever lead when captain Kendall Waston headed in a ball in the first half that sent the sold out crowd into a frenzy as chants of “FCC” echoed throughout Nippert Stadium. Allan Cruz extended the lead with one of the best goals in team history as he backfooted a ball into the corner of the net in the second half to give FCC a 2-0 lead over the Timbers. Minutes later, Mathieu Deplagne scored to extend the FCC lead to 3-0. Spencer Richey turned in a brilliant performance as goalkeeper and earned a clean sheet as FCC notched their first ever MLS win.

As a diehard FCC fan, I could not have asked for a better night. The atmosphere was comparable to that of a playoff game, the pregame festivities had a true big league feel, and the performance by the team on the field was nearly flawless. The hype for FCC’s first ever MLS home opener was off the charts high, and the newest franchise in Major League Soccer not only lived up to it but surpassed it by miles in my opinion. I was at the team’s very first home opener during its United Soccer League days in 2016, and I had a blast at the game. Their first ever MLS home opener blew that game out of the water, and I can honestly say it was one of the best sporting events I have ever attended. Well done, FCC. With the eyes of the professional soccer world watching, you showed why Cincinnati is Soccer City, USA, and created a night that will be forever etched in the minds of the FC Cincinnati faithful. 

Big Game Weekends

I love sports. I love weekends. The two seemingly go hand in hand. My free time is limited to weekends, and I enjoy spending my weekends at sporting events. I feel like most sports fans feel this way. So why have big games on Sunday nights and during the work week?

The Super Bowl is on Sunday, and the College Football Playoff National Championship and the NCAA Championship basketball games are on Monday. Why? Most people work Monday through Friday and have to get up early for work. I am one of those people. I try not to stay up too late Sundays through Thursdays, but the sports fan in me requires that I watch these games. As a result, I am more groggy than usual the following day. 

The easy solution is to just record it or read about it the next day, but true sports fans know that is an impossible task as the desire to watch the event to see who will win will keep you up at night and render not watching the event in order to sleep meaningless. It’s not just sports who are guilty of making fans stay up late when they have to work the next day. Professional wrestling does this as well. Every WWE pay-per-view is on a Sunday, and if it is a big show such as Wrestlemania, prepare to make yourself a cup of coffee or chug a soda. You’ll need the caffeine in the morning as most WWE pay-per-views end after 11 pm.

Aside from the lack of sleep, there is also a lack of festivities that come from having these events on non-weekend days. If your team wins, you will want to go crazy and party and celebrate the victory! Party too hard, and you’ll have a rough morning the following day. Party too soft, and you aren’t really celebrating the win. 

The exception to this is championships that are decided by a series. The World Series, the NBA Finals, and the Stanley Cup require winning 4 out of 7 games in order to be crowned champion, so it is necessary to have these games on non-weekend days. The Super Bowl though? It is one game played after a two-week layoff. Just move it to Saturday! In fact, just move all championship games and wrestling pay-per-views to Fridays and Saturdays! Or better yet, make the days of the games as well as the days after national holidays! 

Okay, I’m finished ranting. I apologize for my cranky post. I stayed up to late watching the National Championship.

Wrestlemania 35 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on Wrestlemania 35. 

An NIT Suggestion

The goal of every college basketball team is to play in March Madness and compete for the NCAA National Championship. Out of every college team in the country, only 68 qualify and get to go dancing in what is perhaps the best tournament in college sports. So what about the bubble teams that were left on the outside looking in and the team's from mid major conferences that did not win their conference tournament? They still get to dance, but it will be in a tournament with less national attention and far less people watching watching. Of course, I'm talking about the National Invitational Tournament.

After once being regarded as more prestigious than March Madness, the NIT has since declined in popularity and is widely seen as a consolation prize for teams that do not qualify for the NCAA National Championship Tournament. Unless the team you specifically root for is in the NIT, odds are you will not be watching. I can honestly say the only reason I watched any of this year's NIT was to see how the Xavier Musketeers did as they are one of the college basketball teams of which I am a fan. Had Xavier not been in it, I would have not been watching.

So how can the NIT make itself more interesting? Grant the winner of the NIT an automatic bid into next year's NCAA National Championship Tournament. If the two NIT finalists were playing for a shot at dancing in March Madness the following year, you'll have more people watching to see who will be the first to punch their ticket to the big dance. It will make the NIT more meaningful to the players and coaches, and fans will see it as more than a consolation prize. You can even move the NIT Championship game to the Sunday between the Final Four and national title game. Put it in the same arena as the Final Four and championship game and make it a weekend long March Madness event.

That's my idea of how to make the NIT more interesting. As I said earlier, it is now thought of a consolation prize and is the most well known tournament that nobody really cares about unless your school is participating in it. If you put a spot in March Madness the following year up for grabs and move it to the Sunday in between the Final Four and the championship game, then I think more people will watch and help make the NIT feel as prestigious as it did in years past.

Wily Mo Pena Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a 2005 SGA Cincinnati Reds Wily Mo Pena bobblehead.

The 2019 Cincinnati Reds Bobbleheads Are...

With the Cincinnati Reds celebrating their 150th anniversary season this year, the team has announced that they will be giving away seven bobbleheads that represent different eras of Reds baseball. Six of these bobbleheads are of Redlegs legends who have been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. So who is being featured as a bobblehead this year? Let's take a look. 

The first bobblehead that will be given out is a 150th anniversary Mr. Redlegs bobble. This will be given out on May 4 against the San Francisco Giants. This is the bobblehead game I am looking forward to the most as Mr. Redlegs is a timeless mascot who is synonymous with the team, and it makes perfect sense that the franchise wants to incorporate him into their 150th anniversary season celebration. 

The second bobblehead of the season is of Ernie Lombardi. This will be given out to fans when the Redlegs host the Dodgers on May 18. While this is the first time the Reds team is giving out a bobblehead of Lombardi, it is actually the second year in a row in which fans can attain a bobble of the legendary player as the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum gave out a Lombardi bobblehead last season. 

Third on the list of Reds 2019 bobblehead giveaways is Joe Morgan. This bobblehead will be given out when the Washington Nationals come to town on June 1. Considered to be one of the greatest if not the greatest second baseman of all time, it is a little shocking that this is only the second Morgan bobblehead the team has ever given out to fans with the first being distributed in 2004. The Reds Hall of Fame gave out a mini bobblehead of Morgan in 2012. I would expect a big crowd for this game as Morgan is a heavy fan favorite in Cincinnati. 

On June 15 against the Texas Rangers, the Reds will give out a bobblehead of local legend and National Baseball Hall of Famer Barry Larkin. The Reds have previously given out Larkin bobbles three times and the Reds Hall of Fame gave out a bobblehead of Larkin in 2014. The crowd for this game should be large too as Larkin played his entire career with his hometown Redlegs and is a huge fan favorite.

Tony Perez will have his bobblehead given out on July 27 when the Reds play the Colorado Rockies. The Reds gave out a single bobblehead of Perez in 2005, and he was featured as part of a triple bobblehead alongside Sean Casey and Joey Votto in 2017. Considering how scarce Perez bubbleheads are, this could be the hottest giveaway of the season.

On August 17, the Reds will give out a bobblehead of Johnny Bench when the St. Louis Cardinals come to town. I believe that Bench is the player to be featured the most as a bobblehead by both the Reds and the Reds Hall of Fame. Despite that fact, the Big Red Machine is held in high regard in Cincinnati and a bobblehead of Bench is sure to garner a big crowd.

The last bobblehead the Reds will give out in 2018 will be on September 7 when the Reds take on the Arizona Diamondbacks, This bobblehead will feature Ken Griffey Jr. who is not only a popular player in Reds Country but in all of Major League Baseball. The Reds have previously given out bobbles of Griffey Jr. three times with the most recent bobble having been given out in 2016. With Griffey Jr. being inducted into the Hall of Fame a few years ago, this bobblehead could rival the Perez one as most sought after stadium giveaway item for 2019.

Those are the bobbleheads the Reds will give to fans in 2019. All the featured players have already been immortalized as bobbleheads by either the Reds, the Reds Hall of Fame, or both. All of the bobbleheads except for Mr. Redlegs are being given out as two sets of three with each set representing three different eras of Reds history. These eras include the Crosley Field era, the Riverfront Stadium era and the Great American Ball Park era. A cool feature of these sets is that when they are put together, the backdrops will form the 150^thanniversary logo of the Reds.

While I am excited to add these 150^thanniversary bobbleheads to my collection, I am bummed that no current players are being featured. I would have loved to add bobbleheads of Jesse Winker, Amir Garrett, Jose Peraza, and Luis Castillo among others to my collection. The bobblehead I am looking forward to obtaining the most this season is Mr. Redlegs. He is a great mascot, and I love adding different Mr. Redlegs bobblehead variants to my collection. In conclusion, the lineup of Reds legends will make for a highly desirable series of bobbleheads that will make Reds fans happy.

1/29/19 Update:
Today the Cincinnati Reds announced that they will be giving out a bobblehead of newly acquired outfielder Yasiel Puig. Aside from the Mr. Redlegs bobblehead, the Puig bobble is the one I am looking forward to the most. Puig came to the Reds via a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is one of the most popular players in baseball and considering how the Reds currently only have him under contract for one season, having a Puig bobblehead game is a no brainer.

Reds 2019 Season Outlook

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone previews the 2019 Cincinnati Reds season. 

The Norse are Dancing

March is here and that means spring has sprung and the madness is about to start! I love March Madness and try to watch every game that I can by using a combination of various screens. I fill out a few brackets and root for teams that I'm a fan of and also ones that I have going deep into the tournament. This year will be a little different though as for only the second time in history, I will be cheering for my Alma mater.

Last Tuesday, the Northern Kentucky University Norse won the Horizon League Conference Tournament and earned an automatic bid to the big dance. I couldn't be happier. After seemingly coming from out of nowhere to win the conference tournament two years ago to make their first March Madness appearance, the team was upset in last year's Horizon League Tournament and had to settle for the National Invitation Tournament despite being crowned Horizon League Regular Season Champions. For those of you who do not know, the Horizon League is a small mid major conference and only the conference tournament champs get to go dancing in March. That is why winning the conference championship is so important for schools in smaller leagues.

For NKU, the 2018-19 season has easily been the best in school history. The team won a share of the Horizon League Regular Season Championship, Drew McDonald was named Horizon League Player of the Year, and the Norse defeated the Oakland Golden Grizzlies in thrilling fashion when McDonald drilled a game winning three pointer 1.6 seconds left in the game before cruising past the Wright State Raiders to win the Horizon League Conference Tournament Championship. Hopefully the momentum the Norse have captured continues into the NCAA tournament. Cinderella teams usually make their mark in March, and the Norse just might be wearing some glass slippers.

Norse up!

Aaron Harang Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a 2007 SGA Cincinnati Reds Aaron Harang bobblehead.

2018 Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum Bobbleheads Review

2018 featured some pretty cool Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum bobbleheads. The Reds Hall of Fame continued its tradition of distributing bobbleheads to fans on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays of each month during the season with the purchase of an admission ticket. I did not get every bobblehead that the Reds Hall of Fame handed out this season as some were of repeat players. In this post, I will review the bobbleheads I added to my collection courtesy of the Reds Hall of Fame.

The first bobblehead I received from the Reds Hall of Fame this year was a members’ exclusive bobblehead of Chuck Harmon. In order to obtain the bobblehead, you had to be a Reds Hall of Fame and Museum member. This is the first ever Reds bobblehead of Chuck Harmon and the reason why I became a member. The membership also included some other perks, but the Harmon bobblehead is the best benefit of being a member in my opinion.

The second bobblehead from the Reds Hall of Fame that was added to my collection was a 1988 Rookie of the Year Chris Sabo bobble. Sabo is a bigtime fan favorite among Reds Country, and this particular bobble honors his Rookie of the Year award. I do not actively try to get repeat players unless the bobblehead is significantly different. I have the 2010 Sabo bobblehead that the Reds gave out when he was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame. The 2018 bobblehead came free with my Reds Hall of Fame membership, and even though I already have a Sabo bobble, the Rookie of the Year version is a pretty cool addition to my collection.

Third on the list of Reds Hall of Fame bobbleheads that I received was a bobblehead of Ernie Lombardi. He is a Reds legend, and I had been wanting either the team or the Reds Hall of Fame to give out a bobblehead of him for what seemed like an eternity. This bobblehead looks great and came free with my membership.

Fourth was a double bobblehead of Johnny Vander Meer. Like Lombardi, I had been wanting the Reds Hall of Fame or the team to give a bobblehead of Vander Meer for a very long time. He was on the 1940 World Series Championship team and became the first player in history to throw back to back no hitters. As such, his bobblehead is a double bobble and it might be one of the best that the Reds Hall of Fame has ever produced.

The fifth Reds Hall of Fame bobblehead for my collection in 2018 is a Tom Browning on a Building bobblehead. This bobblehead commemorates his famous 1993 stunt in which he left Wrigley Field during a game and perched himself on a roof across the street from the stadium. This is a fantastic bobblehead of Browning, and I consider it significantly different from other Browning bobblehead in my collection. 

The final bobblehead of 2018 that the Reds Hall of Fame gave out was of Harry Wright. This bobblehead was given out in exchange for a donation to the Reds Hall of Fame "150th Anniversary Legacy Campaign" to help cover the costs of renovating the actual Reds Hall of Fame and Museum building. Wright is the "Father of Professional Baseball" as he paid every player on the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings making them the first professional baseball team. This is by far my favorite Reds Hall of Fame bobblehead of 2018. 

Those are all the bobbleheads that I added to my collection courtesy of the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum in 2018. They all look great and do an excellent job of representing different generations of Reds history. My favorite from this batch might be Ernie Lombardi. It’s hard to beat a bobblehead of a Reds legend and National Baseball Hall of Famer which is what Lombardi is. The only bobbleheads from the 2018 Reds Hall of Fame lineup that I did not get were Adam Dunn and Johnny Bench as I already have bobbles of them in my collection, and I felt that the 2018 versions were not significantly different enough. 2018 was a solid year for Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum bobbleheads, and I cannot wait to see what the Reds Hall of Fame unveils for 2019.

Alexander Global Promotions Prize Pack Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes an Alexander Global Promotions prize pack.

Follow Alexander Global Promotions on Twitter: @AgpBobbleheads

Fastlane 2019 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on WWE Fastlane 2019.

2019 Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum Bobblehead Preview

The Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum is a great way to learn about the history of professional baseball's oldest franchise. With the team celebrating its 150th anniversary season this year along with the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum building undergoing a renovation this offseason, 2019 will be a year in which visiting the Reds Hall of Fame at least once is a must. Need another reason to check it out this year? The Reds Hall of Fame will be giving out a total of six bobbleheads with five of them being distributed on Saturdays and Sundays with price of admission from May through September.

The first bobblehead announced by the Reds Hall of Fame is if George Wright. George is the brother of Harry, the man credited with establishing the Cincinnati Red Stockings as the world's first professional baseball team in 1869. George played shortstop for the Red Stockings and was awarded the Clipper Medal in 1868 for being selected as baseball's best shortstop. He is a member of both the Reds Hall of Fame and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and his bobblehead is exclusively being given out to 2019 Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum members. I believe this will be the first bobblehead to feature Wright.

The series of Reds Hall of Fame bobblehead giveaways officially kicks off in May with a 100th anniversary celebration of the Reds' first World Series Championship when a bobblehead of Pat Moran will be given to fans. Moran was the manager of the Reds from 1919-1923 and guided the team to their first ever World Series Championship in 1919. As far as I know, this will be the first Reds bobblehead of Moran.

The second bobblehead will be given away in June and will celebrate the 75th anniversary Joe Nuxhall making his major league debut at the age of 15. Nuxhall was a fan favorite if Reds Country both on the field and in the radio booth as the longtime broadcast partner of Marty Brennaman. With Marty retiring at the end of the season, this bobblehead of "the Ol' Left-hander" should be a popular one with fans. This will be the third giveaway bobblehead of Nuxhall as the Reds gave out a dual bobble of Marty and Joe in 2003 and a bobblehead of Nuxhall as a player in 2004.

The July bobblehead will be the third of the series and will feature Gus Bell. He played for the Reds from 1953-61 and was a four time All-Star. He was later inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 1964. Bell is the father of Buddy who was a former big leaguer who played for the Reds from 1985-88, and is the grandfather of current Reds manager David. This is the first Reds bobblehead of Gus that will be distributed to fans.

Vada Pinson is the fourth bobblehead of the series and will be given away in August. He played for the Redlegs from 1958-68 and helped the team capture the National League Championship Series in 1961. He was also named to the National League All-Star team in 1959 and in 1960 and won a Gold Glove Award in 1961. Pinson was inducted into he Reds Hall of Fame in 1977 and will have his first Reds bobblehead distributed this year.

The Reds Hall of Fame and Museum's final bobblehead giveaway of 2019 will happen in August, and in my opinion, they saved the best for last. The fifth bobblehead of the series is of Reds legend Ted Kluszewski. Known as "Big Klu," and for cutting the sleeves of his uniform because they were too tight around his massive arms, Kluszewski belted 279 homers and drove in 1,028 runs. He also helped lead the Big Red Machine to back to back World Series Championships as the team's hitting coach. Without a shadow of a doubt, the 1962 Reds Hall of Fame inductee is one of the most popular Reds players of all time and will finally be immortalized as a bobblehead for the first time ever this year.

Those are all the bobbleheads scheduled to be given out by the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum in 2019. The lineup is loaded with Reds legends and aside from Nuxhall, features guys who have never been immortalized as Reds bobbles. I am very excited for the "Big Klu" bobblehead and cannot wait to get my hands on it. If you are a Reds fan, a bobblehead fan, or both, make you sure you visit the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum this season to add these bobbleheads to your collection.

Bronson Arroyo Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a 2007 SGA Cincinnati Reds Bronson Arroyo bobblehead. 

Major League Crest

Earlier in November, FC Cincinnati unveiled their new team crest in preparation for their 2019 Major League Soccer debut. The new logo has an updated appearance from its United Soccer League counterpart and features a few details that pay tribute to the city of Cincinnati. 

The overall shape of the crest is inspired from the West End which is where the team’s stadium will be built. The font used on the crest for “FC Cincinnati” is said to be both German and modern and the way Cincinnati is displayed symbolizes how the city is on the rise. The winged lion has been given an updated look and is holding a sword to show how the club is ready for battle. The crown on the lion’s head is for the Queen City, and the three tiered wing commemorates the team’s USL seasons prior to joining MLS. It’s tail is in the shape of a capital “C” for Cincinnati, and the winged lion logo was retained to showcase the franchise’s winning spirit. 

I the crest was leaked a few days before the it was officially unveiled, and it received mixed reviews from fans. Personally, I love it. It looks sleek and much more professional than the USL logo. It also features Cincinnati much more prominently than the hold crest. I think as time goes on, more people will appreciate the new crest. I will always have a soft spot for the original USL crest as that is the symbol of the team that captured the attention of the soccer world and helped propel the franchise to MLS. I will continue to wear and obtain merchandise with both logos and support the team no matter what.

Go FCC!

FC Cincinnati 2019 Season Outlook

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone previews the 2019 Major League Soccer debut season of FC Cincinnati. 

An Elite Challenger

Without question, professional wrestling reached its peak in popularity during the late 1990s and early 2000s. The World Wrestling Federation was engaged in a ruthless battle for ratings supremacy and company survival with World Championship Wrestling. Extreme Championship Wrestling grew from a small renegade promotion in Philadelphia and became a national phenomenon and formidable challenger to both WCW and the WWF. All three companies were putting on excellent matches and pay-per-view worthy television shows with an unbelievably deep roster. Ratings for pro wrestling television programs skyrocketed as quality programming became the weekly standard. That changed when ECW folded and WCW was bought by the WWF.

The battlefield became quiet as Vince McMahon's pro wrestling juggernaut emerged as the sole survivor. The WWF eventually became World Wrestling Entertainment and with no real threat to ratings or profits, the quality of WWE programming began to decline as did pro wrestling's popularity. It seemed as if the company began to rest on its laurels. Ring of Honor and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling have since emerged from the rubble left from the Monday Night Wars between WCW and WWE, but they do. It have the financial backing or popularity to really be contenders to WWE's throne. New Japan Pro Wrestling has made strides in garnering the interest of American wrestling fans, but the time zone difference and lack of a real television deal is a tough obstacle to overcome for the Japanese wrestling promotion. The reign of WWE over the professional wrestling world looked like it would last forever. If a pro wrestling company were to challenge WWE for the crown, it would need to be an elite challenger. Enter All Elite Wrestling.

Following the success of the independent "All In" wrestling event that featured wrestlers from promotions such as ROH, TNA, NJPW, and the National Wrestling Alliance among others, speculation on if top ROH stars and "All In" masterminds Cody Rhodes and the Young Bucks would start their own promotion ran rampant. Trademarks for "All Elite Wrestling" were filed for in November and Rhodes, the Young Bucks, and several other of ROH's top wrestler left the promotion in December. On January 1, 2019, All Elite Wrestling's creation was officially announced. The next day, the father and son duo of Shahid Khan and Tony Khan were announced as company investors with Tony also serving as company president. The Khans are billionaires as well as part owners of the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League and Fulham Football Club of the Premier League and are reportedly backing the new wrestling promotion with a $100 million investment.

The first shots of what could be a new wrestling war were fired on January 8 when AEW held its inaugural press conference at TIAA Bank Field which is the home of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Wrestling fans packed the conference as WWE's SmackDown television program was airing live from Jacksonville later that night. At the conference, AEW announced a working relationship with Chinese professional wrestling company Oriental Wrestling Entertainment as well as some of the wrestlers signed to the AEW roster. Notable wrestlers already under the AEW brand include Christopher Daniela, Frankie Kazarian, Scorpio Sky, Pac (who competed in WWE as Neville), and Chris Jericho.

While it is still early and AEW has yet to produce an official show or announce any sort of television deal at the time that this lost was written, many wrestling reporters and fans, including myself, see AEW as a legitimate competitor to WWE. Apparently WWE might be feeling the same way. The company was reportedly turning away people from the SmackDown airing in Jacksonville who were wearing AEW merchandise. The company's inaugural event, "Double or Nothing," is set for May 25, 2019. There is still plenty of time for AEW to not only announce a television deal and build toward the event but also sign more wrestlers to its roster. The Revival and Mike Bennett have recently requested their release from WWE. I wouldn't be shocked if they wind up in AEW, and if they are first of a number of WWE defections.

As a wrestling fan, I am very excited for AEW. Having another legitimate professional wrestling company that has both the talent and the financial backing to compete with WWE is a fantastic development for the wrestling industry as a whole. Not only does it give fans another option to get their pro wrestling fix, but it can also bring about a surge in wrestling popularity and quality. The Monday Night Wars took professional wrestling a to unprecedented heights. Maybe AEW can be the catalyst to launch another wrestling boom.

Elimination Chamber 2019 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on the 2019 WWE Elimination Chamber event.

Cincinnati Reds Quadruple Mascot Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds Quadruple Mascot bobblehead from the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum. 

National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum Cincinnati Reds Quadruple Mascot Bobblehead: https://store.bobbleheadhall.com/products/redsmascots

The Taylor Era Has Begun

After weeks of speculation, the worst kept secret in the National Football League of Zac Taylor becoming the next head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals was made official last Monday. Taylor will become the tenth head coach in the history of the franchise and is considered to be a breath of fresh air for the team as his offensive mindset is the total opposite of the defensive atmosphere that was created under the Marvin Lewis regime. Despite being only 35 years old, Taylor has a plethora of coaching experience.

He started his coaching career at Texas A&M University in 2008 as a graduate assistant and tight ends coach before joining the Miami Dolphins in 2012 as assistant quarterbacks coach. In 2013, he became the team’s quarterbacks coach and served as interim offensive coordinator in 2015. Taylor had his first stint in the Queen City as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator for the University of Cincinnati Bearcats in 2016. He then joined the Los Angeles Rams staff in 2017 as assistant wide receivers coach before taking over as quarterbacks coach in 2018. 

I am very excited to see what the Bengals can do with Zac Taylor as the new head coach. The team had become very stale and the fanbase had become beyond frustrated with Marvin Lewis and his style of coaching. With offensive innovation becoming the growing trend in the NFL, the Bengals wanted to hire somebody with a connection to one of the coaches leading that change, and I believe they did that by hiring a former protégé of Sean McVay in Zac Taylor. Hopefully Taylor can take what he learned from under McVay, make it his own, and turn the Cincinnati Bengals into Super Bowl Champions.

Who Dey!

Corey Dillon Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Bengals bobblehead of Corey Dillon.

Adios Ambrose?

The day after the 2019 Royal Rumble, rumors started swirling around the internet that Dean Ambrose was set to leave World Wrestling Entertainment after Wrestlemania 35. Those rumors seemingly turned to fact as WWE released a statement confirming that Ambrose would not be renewing his contract once it expired in April. Reports indicated that Ambrose had grown frustrated with the creative direction of his character and had reached his breaking point with the company.  

Ambrose first debuted with the company in late 2012 as part of the faction known as the Shield along with Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins with Ambrose capturing the United States Championship in 2013. The trio ran roughshod in WWE before embarking on singles careers after Wrestlemania 30 in 2014. Ambrose would go on to capture the Intercontinental Championship in 2015 and the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in 2016 before winning the Tag Team Championship with Seth Rollins in 2017 making him the first member of the Shield to become a Grand Slam Champion. He missed most of 2018 with an injury and when he returned around SummerSlam, the Shield briefly reunited before Reigns had to leave the company due to cancer. Ambrose later turned heel on Rollins, but the feud between the two and Ambrose’s heel turn never gained any real traction.

With WWE confirming that Ambrose will not be renewing his contract, the top wrestling promotion in the world will be without one of its biggest stars following Wrestlemania 35. This could be beneficial for both sides as Ambrose leaving the company will allow somebody to take his place in the company. For Ambrose, there might be no better time than now to be a free agent in the wrestling industry. New Japan Pro Wrestling is growing in popularity outside of Japan and Ring of Honor has been a nice alternative to WWE for wrestlers looking for a new home. Impact Wrestling is seemingly rising back up the ranks, and the National Wrestling Alliance is starting to make waves in the pro wrestling world once again. There is also All Elite Wrestling which is a very real threat to WWE. It has legitimate big-name stars with Cody Rhodes, the Young Bucks, and Chris Jericho already signed to its roster, and it is backed by the Khan family. The Khans are billionaires and are providing the financial support for AEW. I would not be surprised if Ambrose winds up in AEW as he will undoubtedly become the hottest free agent on the market. 

This could also be a work by WWE. Their confirmation of Ambrose leaving the company was uncharacteristically addressed months in advance and was also very pleasant when compared to the statements that WWE released when they parted ways with other wrestlers. I would not be shocked if this all part of a storyline, but I would also not be surprised if Ambrose is truly leaving the company. Either way, it has definitely created a buzz for the WWE and Ambrose. Combine that with the upcoming Wrestlemania 35 pay-per-view, and you have must see TV for wrestling fans.

If Ambrose really is leaving though, it will be a sad day for Cincinnati wrestling fans. Ambrose is the most popular wrestler to come from the Queen City since Brian Pillman. He became the last undisputed WWE World Heavyweight Champion in company history and is also the first member of the Shield to become a Grand Slam Champion. More importantly, he made me heavily invested in pro wrestling again which is something that has not happened since I was a kid during the Attitude Era. Having a hometown favorite to root for in WWE is fun, and I will never forget where I was or how I reacted when Ambrose cashed in his Money in the Bank contract to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. I am and will always be a Dean Ambrose fan, and whether or not he returns to the WWE as Dean Ambrose or wrestles for another company as Jon Moxley, I will always be in his corner.

Anthony Munoz Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Bengals Anthony Munoz bobblehead. 

The Real Super Bowl Halftime Show

The Super Bowl Halftime Show has almost become as big as the actual game. Over the years, the biggest musical acts in the industry have performed mini concerts on a global stage while the AFC and NFC champions catch their breath before the start of the second half of the game. This year’s musical act is pop rock band Maroon 5. I am not a fan of the band and was most likely going to use the halftime show as a bathroom break and to restock my plate with food. That plan changed when World Wrestling Entertainment announced that they will bring back Halftime Heat this Sunday.

Halftime Heat is a wrestling match that occurs during the halftime show of the Super Bowl. It originated in 1999 when the Rock and Mankind battled for the WWE Championship in a very entertaining “Empty Arena” match. The match was fun to watch, and it allowed football fans to get their wrestling fix on Super Bowl Sunday. With the advent of the WWE Network as well as WWE’s various social media platforms, Halftime Heat is making its glorious return with a six man tag team match that features some of the best that NXT has to offer. The team of Aleister Black, Ricochet and Velveteen Dream will take on NXT Champ Tommaso Ciampa, NXT North American Champ Johnny Gargano and Adam Cole. These are some of the best wrestlers that NXT has to offer and some of the most athletic guys in professional wrestling. 

If you are a wrestling fan like myself, make sure you check out Halftime Heat. The 1999 edition was a fun alternative to the halftime show, and this year’s battle between some of NXT’s best is sure to be very entertaining. Hopefully Halftime Heat does well and draws a big enough audience to convince WWE to keep it going for future Super Bowls. 

Royal Rumble 2019 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on the 2019 Royal Rumble event.

Sam Wyche Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Bengals Sam Wyche bobblehead.

Way Too Early Wrestlemania Prediction

Please note this was written before Reigns relinquished the Universal Championship and before Ambrose turned heel.

It's a little early to predict the main event of Wrestlemania, but I'm thinking the Shield will have a triple threat match with the Universal Championship on the line. Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns have previously faced off in a triple threat match at Battleground 2016 in which Ambrose retained his WWE Championship over his Shield brothers in an exciting main event. That match was worthy of headlining Wrestlemania. It was odd for WWE to relegate it to smaller pay-per-view in the middle of the summer. Wrestlemania 35 will be the stage for the battle of the Shield round two. Here's how.

As I write this, WWE is building the card for Crown Jewel and teasing a Dean Ambrose heel turn. He most recently left Rollins and Reigns in the ring after being pinned by Drew McIntyre in a six-man tag team match that also featured Braun Strowman and Dolph Ziggler. I think Ambrose will turn into a full-fledged heel by the Royal Rumble but no earlier than Survivor Series. 

If it happens at Survivor Series, I can see him snapping should the Shield lose a match or perhaps he costs his team and is the reason they come up short. Either way, he will be the one to break the Shield. He will then battle mainly Seth Rollins through the Royal Rumble while also having a few encounters with Reigns. I think Reigns will be Universal Champion at Wrestlemania, but how will both Ambrose and Rollins join him in the main event? I have two scenarios. 

Option one has Rollins winning the Royal Rumble and putting his main event title shot on the line against Ambrose. The Lunatic Fringe will win the match via nefarious means and steal away Rollins' title match. Rollins will then be added to the match because of how Ambrose won and the Shield will be set up for a triple threat at Wrestlemania. Option two has both Ambrose and Rollins winning the Royal Rumble via a double elimination. Reigns, being the fighting champion that he is, will agree to face both of them at Wrestlemania and the Shield will headline WWE's biggest event of the year.  

The question everybody will be asking is who will win this potential Wrestlemania 35 Shield triple threat match for the Universal Championship? We all know how the crowd reacts to Reigns as an individual star. While I wouldn't put it past WWE to have Reigns walk out with the belt, I feel like WWE will continue to push Reigns as an unstoppable underdog and having him lose the title will allow the company to continue to position Reigns in that role. Rollins has arguably been WWE's best in ring performer throughout 2018, and the crowd adores him. He gets one of the best pops in the company, and he will undoubtedly garner a huge reaction should he win. He's already done that however, as he walked out of Wrestlemania 31 with the WWE Championship. That leaves Ambrose. While all three have been World champs, Ambrose is the only one who has not won the title in a Wrestlemania main event and there would be no better way to solidify Ambrose as the top heel in the business by having him defeat his two former Shield brothers for the Universal Championship in the main event of Wrestlemania 35. 

That's what I think will happen at Wrestlemania. The Shield will implode, Ambrose and Rollins will somehow both get a title shot at Wrestlemania against Reigns, and Ambrose will walk away with the belt. In my option, WWE has been doing a good job on teasing Ambrose's heel turn. It has been a slow build and hopefully the payoff is memorable. Should it lead to a Shield triple threat at the showcase of the immortals, then it could result in some of the best storytelling WWE has ever produced. If this is the route WWE is heading, I cannot wait to watch it play out on television. 

Reds Caravan 2019

With the cold winter season officially upon us and the Cincinnati Bengals missing the playoffs for the third year in a row, there is no better way to get your mind off of the cold or the Bengals blues than the Reds Caravan. The annual event is a great way for members of Reds Country to meet some of their favorite Cincinnati Reds players, broadcasters, front office members, and alumni. Happening from January 17 through January 20, the Reds Caravan will feature four different tours spread across five different states. 

The North Tour will travel across Ohio and feature current players Sal Romano and Cody Reed. The South Tour will travel through Kentucky and Tennessee. The featured players on this tour are Tucker Barnhart and Curt Casali as well as highly touted prospect Taylor Trammell. The East Tour will travel across Ohio and West Virginia and feature Philip Ervin and Jesse Winker. The West Tour will travel across Indiana and feature Eugenio Suarez and newly acquired pitcher Tanner Roark. All four tours will conclude at the Florence Mall on January 20 with a special “Caravan Finale” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In conclusion, the Reds Caravan is great way for Reds fans who live outside of the greater Cincinnati area to meet Reds players and personnel. The caravan tour features autographs, photos, a question and answer session, and a raffle to win tickets to Opening Day. Best of all, the event is free and open to the public. If you love the Redlegs, then I highly recommend you attend one of the stops on the Reds Caravan tour.

Go Redlegs!

Loyola University Ramblers Sister Jean Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Loyola University Ramblers Sister Jean bobblehead.

The Royal Rumble Winner Is...

The Royal Rumble is a few weeks away and the road to Wrestlemania has officially started. The buildup to WWE's biggest event of the year is usually a fun ride as surprise returns are mixed in with some of the biggest wrestlers being involved in some of the best storylines. One of the storylines that WWE produces every year is who the Royal Rumble winner will challenge at Wrestlemania in a world championship main event match. In my opinion, there is only one person who will outlast 29 other wrestlers and punch his ticket to the main event of the showcase of the immortals. That man is Seth Rollins. 

The architect had a fantastic 2018. Every time he stepped between the ropes, magic seemingly happened. He had excellent match after excellent match and became Monday Night Raw's resident highlight reel. He also became the biggest face on the red brand, garnering huge cheers from the audience whenever he entered the arena. After dropping the Intercontinental Championship to Dean Ambrose, Rollins has been calling out WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar and the two seemed destined to collide at the biggest wrestling event of the year. They briefly crossed paths in 2015, and I think that a full and fleshed out storyline between the two would make for interesting television. 

That is why I think Seth Rollins will win the Royal Rumble. He had an amazing 2018 and showed that he can be the face of Raw and the company flag bearer in Roman Reigns' absence. The fan support he has his genuine, and the reaction he will receive should he win the Royal Rumble match will blow the roof off the place. Get ready WWE Universe. Rollins is going to burn it down in the main event of Wrestlemania 35.

Bengals Recap 2018

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone recaps the 2018 season of the Cincinnati Bengals.