Category Archives: Arena

Arena

Weivoda, Mark

tntafl14 weivodaCard: Top Notch Talons 2014
Acquired: 2014 IP, San Antonio Talons vs. New Orleans Voodoo

Mark Weivoda played collegiately at Idaho State, where he tied an NCAA record blocking 6 kicks in 2001, and 2nd in history with 8 overall. He joined the Memphis Xplorers (AF2) in 2006, and later in 2007 the Boise Burn. Mark moved to the AFL in 2010, starting for the Chicago Rush, and recorded 22.5 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles. He signed with the Talons in 2012, where he’s anchored the line ever since recording 5 tackles, 5 sacks, and a fumble recovery.

I tracked down the heavily tatooed Weivoda after the game, and he couldn’t have been nicer. When I gave him his card he said, “Wow! A card of me? I’ve got a whole box of trading cards sitting at my place. I loved these things as a kid!” Mark gleefully signed his card and thanked me for my time.

Weivoda finished his 2014 season with 7 tackles, 3 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries. None of his plays was more important than the fumble recovery that he made in the Talons season finale  against the Voodoo.  New Orleans was going to kneel the ball to set up the FG on the next down, but Weivoda slipped in and recovered the fumble at the 2 yard line.  Initially he rumbled and stumbled all the way back for a TD, but it was called back. Still, his play allowed the Talons to force overtime, and from there they beat the Voodoo 38-35. It was one of the most exciting games that I have ever witnessed.

With the suspension of the San Antonio Talons franchise in 2014, the much traveled Weivoda was assigned to the Las Vegas Outlaws expansion franchise for the 2015 season.

Arena

Breen, Shannon

tnt14 sbreenCard: TNT AFL 2014
Acquired: TTM 2014, C/o Home
Sent:  9/10   Received: 9/22  (12 days)

I had made a few cards for a client of mine who was a big Cleveland Gladiators friend, and decided to continue building out the AFL set on Twitter after the season had concluded. I expanded out most of the teams to at least 2 cards per set, and if I found the player I’d tweet them my art. Shannon saw what I had posted on one of the other player’s accounts and immediately hit me up for a copy of his own.  I always feel that the big men on the line get no love from card companies anymore. They are just not glamorous highlight reel stat building positions. Plus with the limited number of cards typically in sets, most of them rarely get around to the o-line.

Shannon was an All-Star tackle while playing for tiny West Virginia Wesleyan. Joining the ranks of the AFL in 2011 he played for the Green Bay Blizzard, and then in 2012, the Milwaukee Mustangs. He was a hotly pursued signee by no less than 4 AFL teams before choosing the Cleveland Gladiators. Since then he’s started 39 contests in 2 seasons for the club, and won Second Team All-Arena Honors in 2014 at Center.

A strong and well-conditioned lineman, he enjoys his offseason working and coaching at his Alma Mater.

Arena

Wilson, Jomo

TNTAFL11 JWilsonCard: TNT AFL 2011, TNT AFL 2014
Acquired: Acquired: In person, 3/1/14  Talons Season Ticket Party, 2014 Talons versus Sharks.

At Eastern Oregon, Jomo Wilson caught 61 passes for 869 yards and 8 TDs in 19 games. After graduating Jomo played in the AFL2 for the Central California Coyotes in 2007 and the Idaho Burn in 2009. An offseason workout partner of Aaron Garcia, Garcia lobbied hard to get Wilson a tryout with the Sharks after Jomo was cut by the Rush. It paid off, as not only would Jomo become a member of the squad, he’d go on to record 81 catches for 964 yards and 19 touchdowns along with 60 kick returns for 862 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2010.  In 2011, he’d have his best year to date with 131 receptions for 1,737 yards and 44 touchdowns.

tnttal14 wilsonJomo signed with the San Antonio Talons  where he continued to step it up as a  #1 receiver/ returner for the team.  In 2012, he had 83 receptions, 1,284 yards, and 36 TDs and 26 kick returns for 537 yards and 3 touchdowns. In 2013 Wilson followed up his first season with 1,206 yards on 98 catches and another 24 touchdowns.

Jomo was the last of the Talons I was looking for at the season ticket holders party. He snuck behind the ground that I was talking to in the back before I finally cornered him to sign his card. He liked the look of the Sharks card but was hoping it was a Talons one instead. Still even though I wasn’t able to get Rohan Davey (rehabbing) or ‘Tank’ Cook (taking a season off for fatherhood)  like I had hoped, it was nice to get all the receivers I wanted.

Ironically during the 2014 season, Jomo found himself traded back to the Jacksonville Sharks by the San Antonio Talons for ‘future considerations’.  He signed this card before the game against the Talons. Having our seats upgraded to near the front row, I was in Wilson’s ear hole all day, but he still burned the Talons’ secondary for 2 or 3 TDs. I think once or twice during the game he winked at me before he scored.