Tag Archives: rod babers

NFL, University of Texas

Babers, Rod (4)

Card: TNT UT Legends
Acquired: IP, 2014
See Also: Rod Babers

Over the years I’ve pretty much tapped out the complete card collection of Rod Babers. He’s a great local radio personality, and a really big fan and student of sports. It seems that whenever I run into him- we pick up where we left off, promise to hang out, and never get around to it. I mean maybe its the unsaid rule I follow that is basically even if a person is a D-list celebrity you should give them a lot of space. We tried to network for a Texans game in 2017, but that fell through. In the meantime he had a fallout with 1300 the Zone, but thankfully picked up right where he was at with ESPN doing what he does best.

I decided to pop in and say hi in 2018- A year after the last time I saw him at the Texans draft party when I had accurately predicted the Texans would trade up to take Deshawn Watson. We again picked up where we left off, and just started talking sport. His team thanked me for coming by and hanging out and we chatted for a bit. It was good times. We talked briefly about the AAF and the Texans but really weren’t able to get into details since he was pretty busy.

We catch up from time to time and he’s always very personable and friendly and loves to sign autographs.

Arena, CFL, NFL, University of Texas

Babers, Rod “Black Caesar” (3)

Card: Whataburger AM1300 The Zone, Memorabilia
Acquired: Whataburger Signing 3/12, Texans Draft Party 2012
See Also: Rod Babers, Rod Babers (2)

So I ambushed Rod at a local Whataburger restaurant- that was literally a few miles from me. Being that it was in the boondocks and they just weren’t expecting anybody to show up, having me walk through the door must have humored him and his sound guy greatly as I they are beginning to recognize me when I show up for their events. I printed out a photo I found online of Rod for him to sign. Whataburger also provided him with a card as well (which was nothing compared to my Upper Deck UT doppelganger). I sat around and ate dinner while I talked to Rod and Chuck about sports. It was nice to see the inner workings of how radio works. Rod again was quite flattered by the memorabilia, and also told people on the radio that I was a true fan because I had a James Brown jersey on from not UT- but the Texas Terminators indoor football team.  I am honesty running out of photos of Rod and am hoping to get my paws on one of him in his Tiger-Cats uniform.

Later I got this photo of Rod making the play against Raushaun Woods keeping him from scoring the 2 point conversion and allowing the Longhorns to win the game when he was at the Texans Draft Party that had Danieal Manning and James Casey at it.

Rod’s a very personable fan of fans. I think that’s great, and exactly what 1300 the Zone’s lineup needs. Guys who’ve played who like talking about football, while educating and embracing fans. I’m not so sure of some of the latest additions to the station’s lineup, as I think Rod pushes the boundaries of taste sometimes as it is. Rod is also known by a few names to fans: Kool Aid, and Stonehands, are two of my favorites, but on the radio he frequently is known as Black Caesar. He’s said some things on the radio that have surprised me, from convincing me that as Longhorn fans we should wish anybody- even A&M the best in the SEC, to the idea that Longhorn fans should not be happy with ‘just playing well in a loss’. Currently he’s the host of UT’s Afternoon Buffet on 1300 the Zone.  He also spends his time giving back to the community working with the Neighborhood Longhorn Foundation.

CFL, NFL, University of Texas

Babers, Rod “Kool Aid” (2)

Cards: Topps Total 2005, UD UT 2011 CC
Acquired: In Person 2012, 1300 The Zone’s Houston Texans Playoff Viewing Party 1/7/12
Previous Post: Babers, Rod “Kool Aid”, Rod Babers (3)

At the University of Texas release party for the Upper Deck University of Texas cards last year, I met Rod who is a host of 1300 The Zone’s “The Afternoon Buffet”. He lamented to the people at UD about them not producing a card of him over the radio, – so I took it upon myself to produce a card for Rod. Off the cuff I had made a front, but had not produced a back due to time and printing constraints, and completely ripped off the UD design, just so that Rod could say he was part of the set.

When I met up with him at the Houston Texans’ Viewing Playoff Party at the Alamo Drafthouse, I asked for his autograph on a few more cards, which he had no problem doing. When I presented him with the custom fake I had made, he beamed and gave me a giant hug. Rod loved the shot from him versus Oklahoma, especially the fact that he was ‘Tebowing’ before it was cool.  Graciously, Rod told me the card truly made his afternoon even if the Texans didn’t win, and I told him that next time we’d meet up I hoped to have his trading card completed with a front and back for him to keep, which he told me I didn’t have to do.

After the Texans’ victory I talked to him a bit more, ribbing him for a few minutes and telling him that defensive lineman JJ Watt‘s interception for a touchdown, was already 1/4th Rod’s total number of picks at UT.  He laughed and stated that Watt was already one up on him in the pros, but he wouldn’t hold it against me since I gave him the custom.

Rod in his playboy way, also jokingly intimated that the card was so nice he was going to carry it around in his wallet, and use it to pick up women, to which I quipped to him, “That I was sure he had no problem with that!”