Category Archives: NFL

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

Gibson, Dennis

Card: Topps 1988
Acquired: Canton Acquisition 2012

Dennis Gibson is best remembered by Charger fans as being the savior of the team in the 1994 AFC Championship Game, when he blocked a TD pass from Steelers’ QB Neil O’Donnell in the endzone to win the game. The play propelled the Cinderella Chargers of 1994 into the SuperBowl- their only SuperBowl appearance to date.

A home grown Iowa product who went to school at none other than Iowa, Gibson went to the bright lights of the city of cars and industry, as Detroit took him in the 8th round of the 1987 draft. Considered a budget find, Gibson stepped right in and contributed almost immediately, and later went on to play beside both Michael Cofer and Chris Spielman at right inside linebacker for the Lions 3-4 alignment. Gibson also appears alongside his teammates in the classic football game Tecmo Super Bowl. He saw some of the better glory days of the reborn Lions under Wayne Fontes and started 7 seasons for the Lions defense. In 1988 Gibson had a career high 116 tackles, and in an injury shortened 6 games in 1989 he recovered 3 fumbles. He’d sign with the Chargers in 1994 and play there through the 1995 season before retiring. At last glance in 2013, Gibson runs Encore Pizza in near obscurity outside of Des Moines, Iowa.

G/Gs 121/120    Tac 582    Sac 2.5   Fum 6     Int 3     Yds  15   Avg 5.0   Td 0    Lg 10

NFL

Biakabutuka, Tshimanga “Tim”

poff96 biakabutukaCards: Playoff Contenders 2001, Press Pass 1996
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Home
Sent: 10/14    Received: 10/23   (9 days)

Tim’s name was etched into the Michigan Wolverine’s record books after he rushed for 313 yards on 37 carries, destroying the Buckeyes singlehandedly during the 1996 season. He set school marks for rushing in a single season with 1,818 yards. After his incredible Junior season he declared for the NFL draft.  Biakabutuka finished his career at Michigan with 2,810 yards on 472 carries, and 24 touchdowns- despite fighting Michigan star Tyrone Wheatley for playing time.

The Carolina Panthers had been searching for an identity at runningback since their inception the previous year in 1995. With the 8th overall pick that year Carolina took Biakabutuka, two slots after Lawrence Phillips. Tim then quickly became the team’s first extended holdout, but eventually signed a 4 year deal where he was immediately crowned the unquestioned starter at runningbackpoff01 biakabutuka. His rookie season did not turn out as well as he expected, as after 4 games Tim blew out his knee and was out the rest of the season. In the meantime Anthony Johnson ran for over a thousand yards in his stead and took over the starting role in 1996. Tim quickly got buried on the depth chart behind Fred Lane as the injuries limited Tshimanga to just 2 starts in 1997, and 3 starts in 1998. Biakabutuka’s best season came in 1999, as he ran for a career high 718 yards and 6 touchdowns. He’d follow up his breakthrough year with another 627 yards rushing, and a career high 341 yards on 34 receptions. Tim’s career came to a grizzly end in 2001 though, where in a game against the Redskins he ripped every ligament in his foot. The injury was so gruesome that doctors considered amputating his foot. He luckily survived without the amputation, but his career was over.  Despite never starting a full slate of games over his 6 seasons and 35 starts, Tim finished as the Panthers’ career leading rusher, (since surpassed). After retirement he has gone into business as a restaurant entrepreneur, primarily in North Carolina.

G/Gs  50/35      Rush 611   Yds  2530    Avg  4.1    Td 14      Lg  67    |
Rec  77    Yds  789     Avg 10.2   Td 3    Lg 47