WLAF

Crossman, Dan

Cards: Wild Card WLAF 1992 #150, Wild Card WLAF World Bowl Champs, Pro Set WLAF 1991 World Bowl Trophy, Proset WLAF 1991 WB Replay
Acquired: TTM 2010 c/o The Detroit Lions
Sent: 4/27  Received: 5/6 (9 days)

I sent Dan Crossman these four cards, and a photo from a game I attended. Responding to me in 9 days, he thanked me for being a fan and wished me luck in getting all the WLAF autographs I could.  This kindness inspires me.

Dan Crossman played for the London Monarchs in the WLAF and won MVP honors for the first World Bowl in 1991 when the Monarchs beat the Dragons 21-0. Crossman was overshadowed all season by the rest of the members of the defense such as Dedrick Dodge and Corris Ervin, but Crossman made it count picking of Scott Erney 3 times in the game and returning one for a touchdown.

After the game ABC caught up with Crossman who explained how they figured out Erney. Dan explained that Erney would look to TE Demetrius Davis frequently on a crossing pattern when Erney saw outside man coverage, so the Monarch secondary would switch from man to zone and slip a guy underneath.

For receiving the MVP honors, Crossman also was given a bonus check and a brand new car. “Danny” would again return to the Monarchs in 1992 but the team would not fare as well, and the league soon after would be suspended for restructuring. In 1993, Crossman began coaching in the college ranks and has since then risen to the NFL where at the time of this post he is coaching with the Detroit Lions.

Games 20         Tac   N/a            Sac  0
Int       3           Yds   116       Lg 87T         TD   1

College Football HoF, NFL, Pro Football HoF

Newsome, Ozzie

Cards: Score 1990, Proset 1990
Acquired: TTM 2010, c/o The Baltimore Ravens
Sent: 1/13/2010    Received 2/11/2010  (29 days)

Ozzie Newsome and the Browns during the late 80’s began to have a more and more contentious relationship with Houston. While the Browns would claim that the Steelers were their true rivals, the Oilers snuck up on them starting in ’88, and under Glanville the two teams (and in fact the whole division for that matter) ignited a hated rivalry.  The Oilers and Browns would face up in the finale of 1988 and lose at Cleveland 28-23, then somehow hold on to win in Cleveland the next week in wildcard weekend 28-23.

Newsome would always manage to keep his streak alive and ended up notching 150 straight games with a catch and retired at the end of 1990 after 13 seasons with the Browns. He was inducted into the HOF in 1999. Newsome moved with the Modell franchise to Baltimore where he has become an extremely successful general manager and the first black GM in the NFL for the Ravens.

Games 198              Rec 668               Yds 7980              Avg 12.1          TD 47

NFL, Pro Football HoF

Largent, Steve

Cards: Score 1989, Action Packed 1990.
Acquired: In Person 1993, CAC conference, Austin, Tx.
See Also: Steve Largent (2)

Josh and I got wind of a Christian Athletes for Christ conference at a hotel in Austin where Largent was the keynote speaker. We went into the hotel and cased the joint like professional paparazzi and then found a spot out of the way but near the event banquet that we could stake out. It was probably the most boring hour and a half we spent in our lives sitting out there, but once the doors kicked open to the hall and people started leaving, Josh and I bum rushed the entrance towards the podium. You could almost put a camera above us as we went into that room full of circular tables with us dodging around them and the people up to the front. I would swear that Largent looked at us both dumbfounded, but to our glee he autographed both of my cards and Josh’s as well. I realized that at this time after that happened, I had passed up Josh in my obsession with the hobby, as I was ecstatic to add such a player of prestige to my collection and he was just… okay.

Steve Largent was originally a 4th round choice of the Houston Oilers in 1976 who found himself traded to the expansion Seattle Seahawks for an 8th round draft choice.  Largent was neither the fastest or biggest receiver in the league but he made up for it with great hands and precision route running.  After retiring in 1989 Largent held many of the league records including career receptions, yards, touchdowns and consecutive games with a catch. A 7 time Pro-bowler, and member of the 1980’s decade team, Steve was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame 1995.  He then began his career in politics serving the State of Oklahoma and then moving onto Congress representing the 1st district.

Games  200        Rec  819          Yds  13,039         Avg  16.0              TD  100

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