Arena

Reece, Brett

tnt15 breeceCards: TNT Talons 2014, TNT Limited 2015
Acquired: TTM, 2014 & 2015, C/o Home
Sent: 7/24/14 , 6/2/15
Received: 9/8/14 (42 days) , 10/8/15  (128 days)

Brett Reece Jr. is a great example of why leagues like the AFL and CIF need to exist.  Playing for a school like Ouachita Baptist out of Arkadelphia, Arkansas shouldn’t prevent you from realizing your dreams as a football player, and Reece has continued to play at every opportunity that has been afforded to him.

During his sophomore season, Brett recorded a team high 825 receiving yards and 6 TDs on 46 receptions. In 2011, he led the Tigers in receiving with 30 receptions for 489 yards and 3 TDs en route to an All-GAC Second Team Selection.

tntafl14 reeceBrett has continued to play in different Arena style leagues since then. He made 5 receptions for 43 yards for the San Antonio Talons, before being reassigned back to the Texas Revolution. In 2015, he was off to a fast start before suffering a season ending foot injury. Still he finished as the Revs leading receiver in 2015 with 34 receptions for 424 yards and 9 TDs in just 6 games- earning CIF Offensive Player of the Week Honors in Week 6.

I had created Reece’s card shortly before he was reassigned by the Talons. Since I didn’t have a good photo of Reece, I worked over an old photo of his from Ouachita. Pretty darn good if I say so, and Reece loved it. Brett contacted me again in 2015 and told me that he liked the Talons card so much, he wanted me to do one of him in his Revs uniform. I literally cranked this Revs design out in a day or two, and it too looks amazing.

NFL

Sikahema, Vai

pset89 sikahemaCards: ProSet 1989, ProSet 1990, Action Packed 1990
Acquired:  Paid Signing, 2015

Vai Sikahema does not sign through the mail. Although his jobs in public service arenas and the media would lead one to believe so, he boasts a 0% success rate through many websites. Many of his cards, especially when the big football card explosion of the late 80’s appeared, were very slick action shots. I had him on a shortlist for quite sometime, but due to his inaccessibility, I went ahead and did a paid signing for Sikahema.

pset90 sikahemaVai Sikahema was part of the early 80s pipeline of Tonga football players. In fact he was the first Tongan drafted to the NFL, taken in the 10th round by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1986.   He played his college ball at BYU. There he was an electrifying kick returner, setting the college punt return record with 153 career returns.

Sikahema played at a time when the league afforded the additional luxury of roster spots for dedicated return men, thus he rarely saw the field beyond kick and punt returning.  In his first two years in the NFL, he was named to the Pro Bowl, and in 1987 was named All-Pro. He led the league in yards both seasons cracking the 500 yard barrier in both seasons, and in TDs in 1986 (2), and returns in 1987 (44). Over his 8 seasons in the NFL, Sikahema never failed to return less than 26 punts a season.

ap90 sikahemaAfter 5 seasons playing for the Cardinals, Sikahema signed with Green Bay via Plan B.  He played one season for the franchise before he joined the Philadelphia Eagles, enjoying a brief renaissance to his career. During the 1992 season,  Vai became a part of history when he blew past the New York Giants punt coverage crew. He’d score a TD and then infamously box the Giants’ padded goal post, and make highlight films everywhere for years to come.  Sikahema retired after the 1993 season deciding to shift gears in his life towards sports journalism.

At the time of his retirement, Vai was less than 150 yards from the NFL career punt return yardage record held by White Shoes Johnson, and held the career record for most punt returns in a career.  He is also immortalized in Tecmo Super Bowl where he makes a great jack of all trades back.

NFL G/Gs 118/1    Rush 59     Yds 217    Avg 3.7    Td 0     Lg 27
Rec  53     Yds 537     Avg  10.7      Td 1      Lg 37
Kr  235     Yds 4933      Avg 21.0    Td 0    Lg 52
Pr 292      Yds 3169    Avg 10.9      Td  4     Lg 87t

NFL

Baxter, Jarrod

bow02 jbaxter
Cards: Bowman 2002
Acquired: 2014, Albany Acquisition

When the expansion Texans were making their moves in 2002, it was plainly obvious to me that the Texans were going to draft Baxter (- the highest rated fullback that year) coming out of college from New Mexico at the top of round 5. Why? Because back then when the NFL conducted its annual draft, (that it continually tinkers with,) day 1 were rounds 1-4, and day 2 were rounds 5-7.  Baxter clocked in at an impressive 6′ 1″, 245, and in Chris Palmer’s offense, he liked a traditional strong fullback leading the way. He’d play in the Texans’ 19-10 opening victory over the Dallas Cowboys, and start an additional 9 games that season. Baxter was held back by the team to protect quarterback David Carr, with the team’s anemic offensive line situation. He’d score his first – and only professional touchdown in a 17-10 loss to the Tennessee Titans, on a 14 yard reception. 2003 was wiped due to injury, but Jarrod came back for 2004, suiting up for 8 contests. Baxter signed with the Arizona Cardinals in 2005 and again saw action in 8 contests, retiring after the season. Baxter has found his way into coaching since then and as of 2014, is a coach in the Houston area school district.

G/Gs 32/13     Rush 9      Yds 15       Avg  1.7      Td   0     Lg 6         |    Rec  7    Yds 40    Avg 5.7      Td   1       Lg  14t

Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.