I’ve been digging deep into the Topps XFL 2001 set recently, and when I saw that Big Saab was signing TTM all of a sudden, I quickly dropped these cards in the mail to him.
I sometimes send out 5 or 6 requests at a time and I accidentally sent out Big Saab’s envelope without it being prepped. I felt like such an idiot opening up my PO Box and finding the empty envelope inside. Luckily I had only flushed a GameDay 1992 card and had a duplicate on hand to reload with.
CARD: Pro Set 1991 World League Insert ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home SENT: 4/21 RECEIVED: 5/2 (9 days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Played QB for the Mountaineers from 1979-82 setting numerous records at the school.
Selected by the Houston Oilers in the 2nd round of the 1983 NFL Draft.
Played 4 seasons for the Oilers, starting 9 games and winning 3 contests.
Best game perhaps came in 1985, leading the Oilers in a comeback win over the San Diego Chargers 37-35.
Threw for 286 yards on 24 of 42 passes with 1 TD and an INT during that game.
Over NFL career also rushed 44 times for 237 yards and a TD.
From 1984-86, backed up Warren Moon, but in 1987 the Oilers drafted Cody Carlson, so the writing was on the wall for Oliver in H-Town.
After retiring, has had a very successful career as an executive in the sport.
Got first taste as General Manager of the Frankfurt Galaxy from 1991-’92.
After the World League reorganized, returned to be the GM of the Rhein Fire from 1995-’96.
Served as NFL Europe President from 1996-00.
Returned stateside working with the Houston Sports Authority from 2001-05.
Named President and GM of the Houston Dynamo from 2005-10.
Served as Executive VP of Regulatory Affairs from 2014-18.
Poached to lead the XFL20 initiative, as Commissioner and CEO, but the league shut down operations as COVID took hold.
NOTES:
Getting Oliver for the XFL job was a huge, huge media buzz pull for the XFL. It was a savvy move for Vince to hand over the reins and let someone else handle the operations of the league, and Oliver was the most qualified. It really disappointed me how the league treated Luck after everything shut down and I hope he wins every dollar he sued McMahon for in court.
When I met him, Lance and I were at the Houston Roughnecks/ Tampa Vipers scrimmage, and Oliver just sorta meandered down from the stands down near the field where we were. He was, I don’t know, pleasantly amused that I recognized him, and possibly a bit befuddled nobody caught him before me. Oliver came over and we discussed the league and I told him that I was a big World League fan from back in the day and a season ticket holder to the Riders. He gave me the usual talking points that he circulates of his time in Frankfurt and how they didn’t have any desks and how unprepared they were, but it didn’t matter as we had a great conversation.
I meant to send to Oliver sooner but I couldn’t find a card of him. The only thing I could locate was a McDonalds scratch and win trading card from the mid 80s, but nobody had it in stock, or at a reasonable price. Eventually I settled on the Pro Set 1991 World League Galaxy helmet insert, and I can’t figure out why I didn’t start getting these signed sooner as they are perfect for the job. So I dropped this and a photo in, as well as a card of his son (Andrew), hoping that he’d have Oliver sign as well, but unfortunately that plan backfired, and Oliver signed that card as well. Ah well… Very happy with his response, signing the card and the photo for me with a nice note.
CARD: XFL 2020 ACQUIRED: IP 2023, XFL Championship Game
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Ryan Mueller played college ball at LB for the Kansas State Wildcats.
He played in 39 games, posting 116 total tackles, 16.5 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles.
Undrafted in 2015, Mueller spent the offseason with the Chargers (’15) and Eagles (’16).
2017 saw Ryan on and off the roster of the CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
After missing out on the AAF, Ryan was selected by the New York Guardians of the XFL in late 2019 as a Phase 5 selection.
Recorded a pick 6 in a home victory over the Dallas Renegades.
Returned to the XFL in 2022, selected by the Arlington Renegades.
He be cut, but later resigned by the Renegades, who then traded Mueller to the Vegas Vipers for QB Luis Perez.
The Vipers then soon thereafter cut Mueller, who ended up resigning with the Renegades.
NOTES:
I was waiting outside near the team busses. They didn’t have them set up the same way they had previously and had them scattered about the parking lot after the Championship. I got really lucky and overheard someone refer to a player who came over as Ryan. I keyed in on him immediately and he had no problem signing my card.
He loved the XFL 2020 card, and told me that he lamented the XFL 2020s collapse due to COVID. He said that the Guardians had unfinished business and had just started to surge.
I then said that he had the best character arc of all though. He was traded to the Vipers for Perez. The Vipers cut him soon afterwards and he resigned with the Renegades. And now he’s an XFL Champion!
He then joked at me that he’s like 1/2 the XFL Championship MVP for it.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
