Tag Archives: topps total 2005

NFL

McKinney, Steve

totot05 mckinneyCard: Topps Total 2005
Acquired: 2014, Albany Acquisition

Seth McKinney was the Texans first free agent signee in the history of the franchise.  The Texans had a very poor offensive line in those early years, and outside of Steve McKinney and Chester Pitts, the team could find no consistency from their other starters.  From 2002-2006, Steve started every game at center for the franchise, but in 2007 suffered a torn ACL ending his season. With new head coach Gary Kubiak installing a ZBS system, he pulled the trigger on a trade to bring Chris Myers to Houston, effectively ending McKinney’s tenure in Houston.

Originally an All-Big 12 selection from Texas A&M, Seth was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the 3rd round of the 1998 draft. An All-Rookie selection, Seth played guard most of his time in Indianapolis before joining Houston in 2002. After his time in Houston, McKinney played for the Miami Dolphins and Seattle Seahawks, retiring in 2009.

A savvy businessman Seth has an eye for investments in the fast fast food industry. He was an investor with Freebirds Burritos, and owns a string of McDonalds restaurants.

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!”