Tag Archives: Dallas Cowboys

NFL

Ware, DeMarcus “D Ware”

sco09 dwareCard: Score 2009
Acquired: IP 2013, GMC Texas Tour (November)

I was really pleased to see DeMarcus Ware on the list for the GMC Texas Tour for November, -but so was apparently everybody else. As a collector, I think it’s great to see other fans interested in meeting sports stars. It feels like a dying art when I am there all alone. However, the circus can be a bit much though, and I just wish a few of them would go away, especially when experienced autograph seekers get the blame for the inexperienced breaking all the unsaid rules. From bypassing lines to walk straight up to a player that isn’t even seated, to addressing a sensitive topic, players will always scoff at those who collect the most. I was a bit disappointed in my results from the tour in November and I had hoped to get Ware’s autograph on quite a few cards. I earned the right to do so by taking the required amount of drives, earning vouchers from each drive to do so, and with the mixup mash up mistiming by Roy Williams, I was then left holding 8 autograph vouchers just for DeMarcus Ware. The GMC people first attempted to clear us out of the tent, stating that we were notdware allowed to form a line behind the queue for Roy to DeMarcus until 3:30. Instead we could all go outside and form a new ‘unofficial’ line for Ware. A bunch of people, myself included, ignored the woman, since we had already felt jilted by the Williams signing. Finally they let us all into the queue at 2:30. Eventually they limited everybody there to just one item due to the amount of people waiting in line. Autographs were rushed, and with a very efficient handler in the middle, nobody was able to really speak to or approach Ware close enough to do anything else. It was a very artificial and disappointing event. Still, I can’t complain about free, and I did get this Score 2009 signed by him even though I did a custom for him that I wanted to get signed at the event.

A member of the 100 sack club, DeMarcus has already established himself as the Dallas Cowboys’ All-Time leader in sacks, passing up the late Harvey Martin. The Sun Belt defensive player of the year in 2006, Ware recorded 195 tackles, 27.5 sacks, and 10 forced fumbles over his career at Troy. A four time All Pro in the NFL, and the 2008 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, DeMarcus has led the league in sacks in both 2008 (20) and 2010 (15.5).

 

 

NFL, WLAF

Clack, Darryl “Darryl Clackers”

to88 clackCards: Ultimate WLAF 1992, Wild Card WLAF 1992, Topps 1988.
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Texas Autograph Club Promotion*
Sent: 7/1      Received: 9/28  (89 days)
Failure:  TTM 2010, C/o Home

Darryl Clack had an outstanding career for the Arizona Sun Devils. His freshman season he ran for 606 yards on 111 carries and followed it up with 932 yards and 9 touchdowns his sophomore year. Running for 1052 yards his junior year, it looked like everything was on the up and up for Darryl Clackers, but with a broken leg, he’d be sidelined for nearly his entire senior season.

The Dallas Cowboys were looking for an heir apparent to aging runningback Tony Dorsett in 1986. The Cowboys used their second round pick to select the electrifying Clack (who was still rehabbing from that broken leg that he sustained during his senior season). Still things looked great for Clack, until fate intervened -and the USFL imploded. You see the Dallas Cowboys had shrewdly invested a 6th round pick in runningback virtuoso Herschel Walker, hoping that wcwlaf92 clackhe’d become available, so instead of becoming the Cowboys back of the future, Darryl became the kick returner of today with the arrival of Walker in camp. Clack was seldom used during his rookie season. He’d lodge 19 kick returns for 421 yards including a 51 yard long.

In 1987, with Dorsett and Walker firmly entrenched now as starters, Clack didn’t see anytime at runningback but in 1988 with Dorsett signing with Denver, Clack made 17 receptions for 126 yards and his first professional touchdown. Darryl also had 690 yards on kick returns for the Cowboys, marking a career high 870 yards from scrimmage. After the season with Jerry Jones in place as the new owner, longtime coach Tom Landry would be fired after a  3-13 season, and with Jimmy Johnson in as head coach, the Cowboys traded Herschel Walker to the Vikings. While playing only half the season for the team in 1989, Clack did not see any significant playing time, and was cut. Darryl signed with the Browns in 1990, however he did not make the squad.

Out of football for a whole season, Darryl was given a second ult92 thunderchance to play by the WLAF’s Orlando Thunder in 1992, who were retooling after a mediocre 5-5 season under new head coach Galen Hall. Clack put up great numbers for the Thunder and finished as the league’s 3rd leading rusher, helping the team make an appearance in World Bowl II. He’d earn All World League honors for his efforts. As the league reorganized after the season, Darryl officially hung up his cleats and retired.

He’s spent time in the banking industry for a while there at Compass in Arizona. I had tried in vain to get him but had gotten no response. Recently the Texas Autograph Club hosted a signing through the site and I jumped at the chance to get him on 3 cards. I had hoped that Clack would answer my questions for me about his playing time in the WLAF, but all I got back were the autographs.

NFL     G/Gs  51/1     Rush 29    Yds 113     Avg  3.9      Td 2      Lg  17
Rec  22  Yds 213  Avg 9.7   Td 1   Lg 44
Kr 83    Yds 1802   Avg 21.7    Td 0   Lg 51

WLAF  Rush117     Yds 517    Avg 4.4   Td 6    Lg 23t
Rec 27   Yds 250    Avg      Td 0   Lg 22

NFL

Walsh, Steve (2)

pset89 walshCard: Pro Set 89
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Home
Sent: 5/3     Received: 5/13  (10 days)
See Also: Walsh, Steve

Steve Walsh is really fair to the TTM community, -well at least at the moment. He signs exactly one piece of memorabilia for fans, and mails it back out, even if you send 3 or 4, he just signs 1. Still he does sign, and he signs for nearly everybody, which is really nice of him to do. This brings up a great topic: sending multiples. I almost always will send at least 2 with few exceptions. It allows me to compare the autographs, and it makes my stamp go a little further. I try not to send more than 4, unless I include a donation or it’s an extremely special circumstance. I don’t want to be an inconvenience and be that guy who ran the well dry.

When I was at Cowboys’ training camp back, oh now, 20 years ago, that first year, I got Steve Walsh in the first few days I was there on a Score 1990 card. I later got this Pro Set card that I intended to get signed, but by the end of that time, Walsh was already traded to the New Orleans Saints. I had a tough choice in the end. There were many fine cards of Steve printed, from his Action Packed 1990 and 1991 cards, to his Score 1990 Supplemental or Pro Set 1990 card and update. In the end I chose this one, as Steve played for a bevvy of teams over his career, after following in the footsteps quarterback greats such as Vinny Testaverde, Bernie Kosar, and Jim Kelly, I felt he was best represented in his college colors from the University of Miami. Great Pro Set card here. I really liked the touch with the helmet up in the top left and the corner flag indicating that he was a #1 pick.