Tag Archives: Los Angeles Raiders

Wisniewski, Steve “The Wiz”

Card: Action Packed All Madden Team 1991
Acquired: In Person, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp 1991

Originally drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the stacked 1989 draft, Wisniewski’s rights were immediately traded to the Los Angeles Raiders.  A two time All-American out of Penn State, “The Wiz” as he was affectionately known was one of the last great moves of the Raiders organization during the 1980s.  Wisniewski would play in 8 Pro Bowls over his 13 seasons and was named to the All-Decade Team of the 1990s. A fine technician, Steve had great feet and was well coordinated athlete -which allowed him to compete at the upper echelon of the league and handle bull rushing defensive tackles with ease. Steve was also considered in many circles to be one of the dirtiest players in the league and in 1997 topped the rankings list.  He retired in 2001 as a member of the Oakland Raider organization after starting 175 games.

I got Steve’s autograph at Dallas Cowboys training camp, where he personalized the card with a passage from the bible. Philippians 1:13. “As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.” An interesting passage. Steve since football has continued his quest for Christ. As a born again Christian he works with fellow ex-Raider Napoleon Kaufman’s church, and sells software for CIMA systems to the automotive industry. His fondest memory was being selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time in 1990, and most enjoyed playing against the arch rival Chiefs. Offensive linemen- specifically Guards rarely if ever get selected for the NFL HoF, and Steve is one amongst many that should have more fair consideration.

Gault, Willie

Card: ProSet 1991
Acquired: In person, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp 1990

So Josh and I by the time the Raiders came to town were quite adept at finding ways to get autographs and Willie Gault is a great example of this. We had heard rumors while at camp that the Raiders stayed at a hotel just across the highway from St. Edwards. (Right across the highway meant a 45 minute walk.) Josh and I had a choice: Keep the primo spot in autograph alley and get some autographs from Cowboys and Raiders, or take a dice roll on the Raiders hotel and rake it in. We took a shot at the latter and started walking. Josh and I would arrive a few minutes before the bus would and stood out front salivating to get signatures. The streamliner pulled into the parking lot, but instead of pulling around front- it passed us to go to the back. In a panic, we started chasing the bus like little kids after school trying to get to the ice cream man. I managed to pull in front of the group surprisingly keeping up with the bus. Players looked out the tinted windows with amazement – pointed and laughed. When they pulled around back they dropped the players off at a shed in the parking lot to change. Willie didn’t bother. He got off the bus and walked straight up to me and proclaimed,”Wow man! We kept telling the bus driver to go faster and almost got it up to 30 before you started falling behind! You looked like a full on sprinter at the Olympics, with arms up and everything!” He signed our cards with a beaming smile and humorous zeal and truly this is one of my favorite football memories of all time.

A track and field speedster beast that  (NFL teams tried to duplicate the luck the Cowboys had with Bob Hayes-) the closest anybody got over the last 30 years was Willie Gault. In 1980 during the height of the Cold War, the United States boycotted the Olympics being hosted by the USSR. Instead the USA Olympic Committee decided to hold their own ‘Boycott Olympics’ in Philadelphia. Willie Gault would win a Gold in the 100 M and a Bronze 4×100 M relay. He would also win at the Helsinki Championships for hurdling (Bronze) and  the 4×100 again (Gold).  Drafted in the first round of the 1983 draft by the Chicago Bears, Willie would primarily be utilized to stretch defenses with his incredible speed.  In 1985, he would be a part of the “Super Bowl Shuffle” helping the team dominate the New England Patriots winning SuperBowl XX with 129 yards on 4 catches. After a successful career with the Bears, averaging a breathtaking 19.8 yards on 184 catches, Willie would be traded to the Los Angeles Raiders and Al Davis who loves that speed. Gault would have perhaps his best seasons there, averaging over 24.5 yards a catch his first two seasons in LA, and a career high 985 yards in 1990.

In 1993, Willie would retire and pursue his dream of acting. As of 2010 he’s been in 31 different productions both TV and film, and also been a producer and even a costume designer. Recently he also appeared in the 25th anniversary of the “Super Bowl Shuffle” hosted by Boost Mobile on the most recent SuperBowl half-time show. He remains incredibly in shape and has set numerous records at the Masters athletics championship.

G/Gs  170/141       Rec 333        Yds 6635        Avg  19.9      Td 44      Lg 87T

Brown, Ron

Card: Score 1989 Speedburner
Acquired: In Person 1990, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp

Al Davis loves himself some speed and this is always evident in the fleet wide receivers he signs. A prime example was Plan B signee Ron Brown from the then across town Los Angeles Rams. A world class speedster that won the gold medal in the Olympics as part of a 4×100 relay that set the record with Carl Lewis, Ron would also finish fourth in the 100 meters.

Originally drafted by the Cleveland Browns, Brown ended up on the Rams in 1984, basically replacing speedster Drew Hill. He worked primarily at receiver until the following year when his skills were applied at kick returning,- a position he’d excel at averaging an incredible 32.8 yards per return and 3 touchdowns. He’d tie an NFL record with 2 kick off returns for touchdowns against Green Bay. Ron was named All Pro that season and to the Pro Bowl following the season in 1985. He continued to see success primarily as a returner from there on for the rest of his time,  and had a career high 521 yards receiving in 1987. He’d retire momentarily again in 1988 to train for the Olympics, but quickly returned to the Rams that season. Over his career he’d be an all purpose man for the Rams finishing with a bit over 5800 yards from scrimmage. He’d play one season with Al Davis and the Raiders, where they tried to convert his speed to defensive back, but again returned to the Rams in 1991, retiring at the age of 30.

G/Gs 100/32   Rec 98    Yds  1791    Avg   18.3   Td  13   Lg 65  |
Rt  199     Yds 4439     Avg 22.6       Td 4     Lg 89T