Goodman, Dominick

tntafl14 goodmanCard: TNT AFL 2014
Acquired: 2014, Trade

Dominick has been with the Cleveland Gladiators his entire career in the AFL. In each season, he’s recorded at least 1,200 yards, including a career high 1,782 yards and 170 receptions in 2012. 2014 was nothing less than another blockbuster year for Goodman, who cleared 1,500+ yards and 34 TDs, helping power the Gladiators to their first Arena Bowl game (XXVII).

Previous to his time in the Arena league, Dominick played for the Cincinnati Commandos (CIFL) in 2010, and was on the offseason roster of the Northern Kentucky River Monsters briefly in 2011. Dominick racked up incredible numbers while with the Commandos and earned multiple honors from the CIFL including Offensive Player of the Year Honors, and was the statistical leader both in yards and receiving touchdowns.  Goodman has also played for the Dresden Monarchs (German Football League) and the Kings Comets (Mid-Continental Football League).  In college at Cincinnati, Dominick caught 204 passes for 2,512 yards and 22 touchdowns during his career with the Bearcats.

A fan of my work who was going to the Gladiators season finale contacted me and really wanted to get some cards made and signed. The problem was I hadn’t made any cards of the Gladiators. I had struck strictly to the Talons. I saw this as a challenge, a great marketing opportunity, and a chance to get a few of these signed. I put together the cards as quickly and professionally as possible. I was really pleased with how they turned out, and in the end, my contact was able to get 4 of the 6 players that I had made sent back to me.

Holmes, Darryl

wcwlaf92 dholmesultwlaf92 dholmesCards: Ultimate WLAF 1992, Wild Card WLAF 1992
Acquired: 2015, C/o Home
Sent: 2/9   Received: 2/17   (8 days)

Fort Valley State is a small school pipeline for NFL talent producing over the years such names as Eddie Anderson, Greg Lloyd, Nick Harper, Rayfield Wright, and Tyrone Poole.  Darryl Holmes appeared in between Lloyd and Anderson playing for Wildcats during the mid 80s. Going undrafted, Holmes joined the New England Patriots in 1987 playing in 15 games.  As an extra safety in the formidable Patriots secondary, Holmes made his living as a special teams burner. He played 3 seasons in the NFL recording 1 interception for 4 yards and 2 fumbles.

After sitting out a season, Darryl was drafted by the Montreal Machine of the WLAF in 1991.  During the 1991 season, Holmes recorded 59 tackles and an interception. He returned to the team for the 1992 season and contributed another 2 interceptions for 28 yards.

Holmes has been involved in numerous NFL Play Football initiatives and football camps since retirement around his home town.

NFL G/Gs  44/3   Tac   N/a    Sac 0   Fum 2
Int  1   Yds 4   Avg 4.0   Td 0    Lg 4

WLAF  Tac   N/a   Sac  N/a   Fum N/a
Int 3   Yds  28    Avg 9.3   Td 0   Lg 22

Ware, Andre ‘Air Ware’ (2)

pset90 wareCards: Pro Set 1990, Upper Deck College Legends 2011
Acquired: 4/30/15, Houston Texans Draft Party
See Also: Andre Ware ‘Air Ware’

Lance and I arrived at the 2015 Houston Texans Draft Party with high hopes, but were ultimately disappointed when we didn’t have cards of the Ambassadors who showed up, and the players I did have a card of were only taking photo ops. Queue the Astrodome air raid siren, because Andre Ware came to the rescue.

As Lance and I made our way towards the photo op booth, I heard a familiar voice on TV. Andre Ware was being interviewed on Fox Spots Southwest. Recognizing that the broadcast was taking place in the stadium, I walked over to one of the people working at the stadium and asked them where Andre was. The stadium employees identified it as being at radio row where only the VIP fans were allowed. We got as close as the elevator, and after borrowing a pen and waiting for about 15 minutes, Lance and I decided to locate the ground floor exit of the VIP area to get a better vantage point.  We walked for about 5 minutes, and emerging out of the crowd from the other direction, wasudlgd11 ware Andre Ware. Kudos to Andre for cheerfully signing 2 cards for me and Lance, even though he had his hands full with two kids by his side and all their stuff.

I can’t encourage collectors enough to build out a compact and expanded box of cards that covers the full gamut of players, former players, and sports personalities. With Andre covering the Texans on the radio as a color commentator and also being  a local legend, it made sense to have a few extras on the off chance he did make an appearance.  Otherwise  these are great cards of Ware, and leaves me with only a handful of extras that I would love to have autographed for my collection.

Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.