Category Archives: WLAF

NFL, WLAF

Cadore, Mike “Jet”

Cards: Proset WLAF 1991, ProSet WLAF 1991 HC
Acquired: TTM 2012, C/o home
Sent: 1/10    Received: 2/5  (27 days)

Mike Cadore was a fleet footed wide receiver/ returner from the University of Eastern Kentucky, who’d be drafted in the 12th round of the super deep 1989 draft by the New Orleans Saints. At Eastern Kentucky Cadore would set university marks surpassing the 1,000 yard mark in kick off returns, and his average was a gaudy 30 yards per pop, earning Mike Division I-AA honors. Playing behind Eric Martin, Lonzell Hill, Brett Perriman, and Floyd Turner, didn’t provide Cadore many reps, in the NO receiving corps, and at 5-8, 169, Mike was one of the smallest receivers in the league. He would not make the squad due to injury.

In 1991 the Montreal Machine of the WLAF drafted Cadore in the 2nd round of the WLAF draft. Breathtakingly fast, he’d claim the team’s primary return duties, returning 14 kickoffs for 327 yards and make 7 receptions for 89 yards. During the team’s premiere against the Birmingham Fire on USA Network in 1991, Jet returned a kickoff 56 yards to help key the Machine’s 23-10 victory. His 23.7 YPR on kickoffs ranked second in the WLAF. He would not return to the Machine for the 1992 season.

After football Michael was blessed to land on his feet. Utlizing his degree in Criminal Sciences from Eastern Kentucky, he completed his Masters in Management and Leadership from Webster University. He’s been a pillar of the Brevard County community, working in Law Enforcement, in a variety of areas from corrections, probation, patrol and media relations, to youth mentoring and crime prevention.  Mike has raised a wonderful family with 3 children and a great wife. He also enjoys coaching little league football and mentoring young children. He and his wife are the founders of Magnus Solutions- A company that provides quality solutions to needs such as: Keynote speaking, policy management review, security services, and leadership/mentoring assistance.

Mike lives his life by the motto: “If you don’t serve your community now don’t expect to serve your community later”.  Many of the young adults who have participated in his”GOT SKILLZ” football clinic have ironically gone on to play for Jacksonville University, where former WLAF alum Kerwin Bell is now head coach at.

With such a unique name, Mike proved to be an easy player to locate for me utilizing Google. Digging only a page or two down in searching, I was able to email him where he graciously offered to sign a few cards for me. A member of the Montreal Machine- (one of the 3 international clubs I’ve had difficulty contacting members of,) I was glad to add Mike’s autograph to the hall, especially on this really nice player card of his. Recently he sent me a kind and touching note thanking me for the site and the good job I am doing. – It is the little things like Mike’s note that make my week. You may visit his company at: www.magnussolutions.com.

WLAF  KR  14   Yds 327   Avg 23.7 Td 0  Lg 56
Rec 7    Yds  89   Avg 12.7   Td 0   Lg 24

Update: In 2014, Mike was inducted into the Florida Space Coast Hall of Fame.

NFL, WLAF

Mandley, Pete

Card: ProSet 1989
Acquired: In Person 1992, San Antonio Riders v. Montreal Machine
See Also: Pete Mandley (2)

Northern Arizona’s very own Pete Mandley stood at 5’10”, 190, setting all sorts of receiving and returning records for the school, parlaying it into an NFL career. Pete heard his name called in the second round of the 1984 draft, and initially was utilized by the Lions as a kick returner. In 1985 he’d switch primarily to punt returns where he found his niche.

One of the more formidable returners in the league, Pete had 403 yards on 38 returns and a touchdown. Mandley nearly duplicated those numbers again in 1986, with 43 returns for 420 yards and a touchdown. He then became the team’s primary receiver in 1987 pulling in 58 receptions for 720 yards and 7 touchdowns (- the most for a Lions receiver since 1968,) and again had similar numbers leading the team in catches with 44 for 617 yards and 4 TDs. For Pete’s efforts in 1987 he was named a Pro Bowl alternate.  With Plan B in full swing, Mandley signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in 1989. In 12 games he had 35 catches for 476 yards and a TD, before a largely forgettable 1990.

Sitting out a season, Pete attempted to reinvigorate his career by signing with the WLAF. Picked up by the Montreal Machine in 1992, Pete would put on a clinic for the young franchise setting marks across the board in receiving, punt returning, and yards from scrimmage. His presence certainly helped stabilize young quarterback Michael Proctor, as Pete had 45 receptions for 605 yards and 4 touchdowns. Mandley would almost spoil the Riders 1992 season opener with a devastating punt return for a touchdown in the 4th quarter, but the Riders managed to pull the game out. He’d finish the season with 16 returns for 150 yards, a 9.4 average and a TD. Despite accounting for the majority of the Machine’s offensive firepower, Pete did not find himself on the All World squad.

I only had Mandley’s ProSet 1989 card, but Ultimate and Wild Card aggressively made cards of his that were not released until after the season opener. Still Pete recognized me as a fan, smiled, and signed my Lions card. After retiring from pro football, Mandley struggled with leaving it behind and even resented the sport, but over the years has rekindled the fire and interest he’s had in it.

In 1993, Pete was inducted into the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks Hall of Fame. He is also an entrepreneur, and owns numerous businesses in the Phoenix area.  Mandley’s family is notable as they avoided tragedy when one of their young children took ill and prevented them from boarding Northwest plane flight 255, which crashed and killed all but one, in 1987.

NFL
Rec 172    Yds 2370       Avg 13.8        Td 12       Lg 56
Kr 35   Yds  630   Avg 18.0   Td 0   Lg 37  |      
Pr 162   Yds 1511  Avg 9.3    Td 2    Lg 81t

WL
Rec 45     Yds  605     Avg 13.4    Td 4    Lg 61
Kr 7    Yds 103    Avg 14.7   Td 0    Lg  22  |    
Pr 16     Yds  150    Avg 9.4   Td  1   Lg 73t

Arena, NFL, WLAF

Simmons, Stacey (2)

 Cards: Pacific 1991, Wild Card WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2010, C/o Stacey Simmons Sports Training
Sent: 6/11/10   Received: 1/11/12  (579 days)
See Also: Simmons, Stacey

A track man, Stacey was part of a team at Florida that set the nation’s fastest time in the 4×200 relay with 1:26:31.  The first pick of the Colts in the 4th round of 1990 that played both receiver and punt returner, Stacey saw playing time also with the Buccaneers, before heading over to the Orlando Thunder in 1992.  After a short off-season with the 49ers, Stacey found a home for 8 seasons in the Arena Football League playing for the Tampa Bay Storm, winning two AFL Championships.

I have to give credit to Sotl for this find, as I had given up on this one some time ago. Seeing his name on the website, I easily recognized him as a member of the Orlando Thunder and nudged him a bit for those autographs and amazingly they arrived a bit over a year and a half later setting a new record at a fat 579 days.
He also included a nice note for it taking so long and welcomed me to check out his site at www.staceysimmons.com. It’s amazing looking at these autographs from the two posts gotten some 20 years apart, and realizing that the autograph is authentic, because the signature is still the same.