Tag Archives: buffalo destroyers

Arena, CFL, NFL, WLAF

Burse, Tony

Wild Card World League 1992, #46

CARD: Wild Card World League 1992
ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home
SENT: 5/10 RECEIVED: 5/20 (10 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Fullback who played at Middle Tennessee State from 1983-86.
  • Led the way for the Blue Raiders’ rushing attack, paving the way for 3 1,000 yard rushers.
  • Led the team in receptions with 27 for 266 yards in 1985.
  • Was selected in the 12th round of the NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks in 1987.
  • Made the squad and saw time on special teams and sparingly on offense.
  • Was on and off the rosters of the Seahawks and Dolphins through the end of 1989.
  • Joined the WLAF in 1991 with the Sacramento Surge.
  • Paved the way in 1992 for Mike Pringle at RB, while catching 22 passes.
  • Played for the Arena Football League in 1993 and 94 (Detroit Drive/Massachusetts Marauders.
  • Then joined the CFL Sacramento Gold Miners during the 94 season.
  • When the franchise moved to San Antonio and became the Texans- Tony came along too.
  • Rushed for 304 yards (60 carries) and caught 30 passes for 291 yards.
  • Played the next three seasons for the Edmonton Eskimos.
  • Had a career high 59 yard gallop in 95, and a career high 11 rushing TDs in 96.
  • Split time the next three years, literally playing football fulltime between the Arena Football League and the CFL.
  • Joined the Arena Buffalo Destroyers franchise in the Spring of ’99, while playing for the Toronto Argonauts in the Fall.
  • Had a career high 431 yards rushing for the Argos that year.
  • Retired after the 2001 season.

NOTES:

Tony had a long and illustrious tapestry of different football leagues woven into the fabric of his career. I had been looking for him for a very long time but after retracing my steps I was finally able to locate him and add him on his Wild Card ’92 entry.

NFL

RUSHYDSAVGTDLG
7365.1016

WLAF

RUSHYDSAVGTDLG
471372.9017
RECYDSAVGTDLG
352878.2034

CFL

RUSHYDSAVGTDLG
34414434.22959
RECYDSAVGTDLG
114113810.0352

ARENA

RUSHYDSAVGTDLG
1233472.820N/a
RECYDSAVGTDLG
89812.21N/a
Arena, CFL, NFL, WLAF

Dixon, Titus

Ultimate World League 1992, #161

CARD: Ultimate World League 1992
ACQUIRED: 2021, EBay
FAILURE: TTM 2014, C/o Home

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Played WR for Troy University totaling 1,554 yards, and 24 TDs on 86 receptions, and tied an NCAA record with a 99  yard TD reception.
  • Also spent time as a kick returner returning 74 kicks for a 24.3 yards per return and a TD.
  • 6th round pick of the New York Jets in 1989.
  • Returned 4 kicks for 67 yards in 3 contests, before landing on the roster of the Colts for a game.
  • Saw preseason action with the Falcons and Chiefs, and then later signed with the San Antonio Riders of the World League in 1992.
  • A dangerous deep threat for the Riders, totaled 20 catches for 296 yards and a TD, while returning 14 kickoffs.
  • Hopped over to the CFL in 1993 and after a tryout with Ottawa, ended up on the roster of the Sacramento Gold Miners.
  • Had most solid season to date, with 61 catches for 1074 yards, and 5 TDs- including a 90 yarder.
  • Spent 1994 between the rosters of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Toronto Argonauts.
  • Played the next 3 years with the San Jose Sabre Cats of the Arena Football League.
  • Recorded 86 catches for 1012 yards and 15 TDs in 1996.
  • After a brief hiatus, reemerged for one final season with the Buffalo Destroyers in 2000.

ACCOLADES:

  • Arena All-Arena 1995 (Second Team)

NOTES:

Since my lowball offer stuck, I went ahead and took an Ebay flyer on this one after previously failing on Titus back in 2014. I mean, who would fake his autograph? I Immediately figured out his address and resent the other card I need (Wild Card) to Dixon again to try to get him to sign.

NFL

KRYDSAVGTDLG
46716.8021

WLAF

RECYDSAVGTDLG
2029614.8148
KRYDSAVGTDLG
1429621.1037

CFL

RECYDSAVGTDLG
73123016.8590t
KRYDSAVGTDLG
4691820.0044

ARENA

RECYDSAVGTDLG
209247711.940N/a
KRYDSAVGTDLG
164316519.39N/a
Arena, CFL, NFL, WLAF

Nittmo, Bjorn

Pro Set World League 1991, #91

Cards: Pro Set World League 1991, Ultimate World League 1992
Acquired: TTM 2021, C/o Home
Sent: 6/21 Received: 7/24 (33 days)
Failure: TTM 2010, C/o Home

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • At time of graduation, was Appalachian State’s all-time leading scorer with 277 points, and field goals made (62).

  • Undrafted in 1989, tasted first NFL action later that year with the New York Giants. 

  • Scored 39 points in 6 games, converting 9 of 12 field goals as injury replacement for Raul Allegre.

  • After failing to beat out Nick Lowery in camp in 1990 with the Chiefs, was the #1 overall pick amongst kickers in the WLAF positional draft by the Montreal Machine in 1991.

  • Paired with punter Chris Mohr to form the best special teams duo in the World League.

  • Scored 51 points on 13 of 18 field goals for the Machine in 1991, setting numerous league records along the way including most field goals in a game (4, Orlando), and longest field goal (50 yards, SA).
     
  • After season concluded, signed alongside Mohr to the Buffalo Bills, but failed to unseat incumbent kicker Scott Norwood.

  • Joined the Cleveland Thunderbolts of the Arena Football League in 1993 playing one season with the franchise.

  • Hopped over to the CFL, kicking for the Shreveport Pirates in 1994 and 95.

  • After two more attempts at making an NFL roster in 1996 (Chiefs) and 1997 (Bucs), returned to the Arena Football League in 1998.
  • Played for the Tampa Bay Storm (1998), Buffalo Destroyers (1999), Arizona Rattlers (2000), and Carolina Cobras (2001).

  • Briefly reemerged for a comeback attempt in 2005 and was an offseason addition for the Ottawa Renegades, retiring soon thereafter. 

ACCOLADES:

  • All World League 1991 Second Team
Ultimate World League 1992, #85

NFL

XPAXPMPCTFGAFGMPCTLGPTS
131292.391275.03939

WLAF

XPAXPMPCTFGAFGMPCTLGPTS
272488.9282071.45084

CFL

XPAXPMPCTFGAFGMPCTLGPTS
7272100.0917481.3N/A306

ARENA

XPAXPMPCTFGAFGMPCTLGPTS
29827391.61626037.0N/A453

NOTES:

Bjorn Nittmo was the first Swede to play professional gridiron football and is considered an ambassador of the sport. While playing for the Giants, late night host David Letterman fell in love with his name and made jokes about it, leading to two appearances by Nittmo on Letterman’s show in late 1989 and early 1990. In 1999, Bjorn also appeared in the movie Any Given Sunday and was the placekicker for the Sharks.

Nittmo is unfortunately a long study in concussions and CTE. After taking a bone crunching hit during the preseason with the Bucs, he was never the same again. His short term memory was severely damaged by the injury and he apparently has dealt mood swings. Estranged from his family, he became a nomad of sorts, moving around the country, picking up jobs here and there. Over the years, multiple articles have been written about his case, so after failing out in 2010 on him- not knowing he was estranged from his family, I tracked him down in Northern Arizona of all places.

It’s a small world really. Back in 2007 I drove through Northern Arizona, and passed through the town he was living in. The only reason I remember it was because it was in the middle of nowhere, and it was just a blip on the radar, so I honed in on his location and wrote him a letter.

I was shocked to get a response from this ‘white whale’ in less than 30 days. It was nice hearing from him. I know his life has been… hard- over the last few years, but I hope that he is making the best of it and trying to better himself.

As a final note, I’d like to thank those out there who have collaborated with me over the years to find World League players. I have been at this for many years now. This is a success, for me personally, a triumph of singularity that others can only claim to have found, but more than likely got from me. – There is no reason I shouldn’t toot my horn about this one.

Nonetheless, I hope that this information finds its way into the right hands, and reunites some more players with each other and brings back fond memories of their time in the World League.