Tag Archives: atomic 2001

NFL

Dyson, Kevin

Upper Deck MVP 2002, #240
Atomic 2001, #140

CARDS: Upper Deck MVP 2002, Atomic 2001, SP Authentic 2001
ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home
SENT: 7/8 RECEIVED: 12/5 (150 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Played WR for the University of Utah from 1993-’97.
  • Caught 192 passes for 2,726 yards and 18 touchdowns.
  • First round pick of the Tennessee Titans in 1998.
  • Caught 21 passes for 263 yards and 2 TDs his rookie season.
  • Had a career high 54 catches in 1999.
  • Caught the lateral from Frank Wycheck in the Music City Miracle.
  • Then was stopped one yard short of the goal line in the closing moments of Super Bowl XXIV.
  • After an injury in 2000 limited him to two games, returned to form in 2001 and tied his career high with 54 receptions, along with 825 yards and 7 TDs.
  • Joined the Panthers in 2003, but spent most of the season on IR.
  • Spent the off season with the Chargers (’04) and Redskins (’05).
  • Went back to school, obtaining his doctorate, spending time in coaching, and education.
SP 2001, #85

NOTES:

Every once in a while I’m just surprised by an older card set I’ve discovered. Case in point- SP 2001. Simple, elegant, lots of space to work with.. it’s just great design, and the landscape format helps make autographs pop and look more cinematic.

NFL

McCardell, Keenan ‘Thunder’ (2)

Playoff Contenders 2001, #40
Upper Deck 1997, #65

CARDS: Atomic 2001, Playoff Contenders 2001, Upper Deck 1997
ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o The Minnesota Vikings
FAILURE: TTM 2022, C/o Home

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

NOTES:

I had been wanting to get a few more Jaguars’ players autographs, and with very few of them who signed I thought I’d loop back and get Keenan, since I’d never gotten him TTM. Since I met him way back in 2012 or 2013 at Houston Fan Fest, I had developed a passing interest in Atomic and Playoff Contenders sets. The die cut gimmick with the large logo really got me, and the autographs look great on it so, it’s slowly become my 2001 favorite.

The Unknown Commodity card from Upper Deck was selected because it’s very much a card that emulated the zeitgeist of the era. Over the top large lettering as the background with an image on top of it. I mean, it’s not bad. Certainly catches the eye, but at the same time, feels dated and makes you smirk a bit.

McCardell has been enjoying a surge through the coaching ranks. After a stop at Maryland as the WR coach, as of 2022 he’s with the Minnesota Vikings in the same capacity.

AAF, NFL, Super Bowl MVP

Ward, Hines (2)

Pro Set 1990 Super Bowl MVP, #45 (HACK)
Topps AAF 2019, #84

CARDS: Atomic 2001, Pro Set 1990 Super Bowl MVP Hack, Topps AAF 2019
ACQUIRED: IP, 2022
FAILURE: TTM 2016, 2019, 2021 C/o Work

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

Well as you can see here, I racked up quite a few misses TTM on Hines. After his time in the AAF, I had wanted to get him on a few more cards- especially his Topps AAF card itself, but no such luck. When the XFL reemerged in 2022 (for its 3rd iteration) the league was quick to announce that Hines was going to be a coach in the league.

He’d become quite the hot coaching commodity clutching at coaching pearls with the Jets as an offensive assistant, and then to the college ranks with Florida Atlantic as a WRs coach. The Houston Texans even had Ward in for a head coaching interview in 2021. He’d later be one of the big splash names the XFL 2023 announced. When he was announced for the San Antonio franchise, I was very excited.

Atomic 2001, #116

I finally got an invite for the XFL Town House about a week before the event back in late October. I went ahead and invited a local collector and new friend of mine, Brandon, to the event. He got there a bit earlier than me, as I went to the wrong side of town, but eventually I got there about 15 minutes before it began. I was wearing my Greg Ward Commanders jersey.

We had a really good time. Hines once I told him that I had met him previously on the front row of the Commanders inaugural game, had a good chuckle with me. He signed 3 cards for me and posed for a photo. I got lots of love from not only the other fans there that recognized my jersey, but also from news and sports personalities that wanted to come over and talk to me about the Commanders. It was great and I felt like was back in my element.

This Pro Set Super Bowl MVP Hack I did looks great! I am so glad that he was kind enough to autograph it for me. I am looking forward to getting more of this set printed and signed.