Tag Archives: houston texans ambassador club

NFL

Wong, Kailee

udht02 kwongCards: Upper Deck Houston Texans Inaugural Season 2002, Topps 2005
Acquired: 2016, Texans Academy Tailgating Kickoff

As I slowly make my way through the team set, I had targeted Kailee Wong when I had heard he was a member of the Texans’ Ambassador Program. It’s usually a shot in the dark showing up at the events so even though I had gotten teammate Seth Payne sometime ago, it was still worth it to go to Katy to nab Kailee on these cards. Like most former Texans, Wong was impressed with his Houston Texans Upper Deck card. While signing he asked how many I had in my collection- a first in all my in person collecting.  He was very impressed that I had 2,500 in the collection. Wong recently left the company he was working for and told me life was treating him well.

tot04 kwongKailee was originally a 2nd  round draft choice of the Minnesota Vikings in 1999 from Stanford.  He tallied 271 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and 5 interceptions for 55 yards and a TD.  Most of his stats came in his final two seasons with the Vikings, when he was slotted at middle linebacker.
I think that Kailee was the first defensive player that the Texans signed as a free agent back in 2002. He’d be part of a 3-4 defense alignment that’d showcase himself, Jaime Sharper, Jay mem16 texansForeman, and Jeff Posey
at linebacker. While with the Texans, Wong put up a respectable stat line at primarily left outside linebacker. Over his career there he tallied 164 tackles and 15 sacks. He was the career leader in sacks for the franchise at the time of his retirement. Highly effective in pass coverage, Wong blanketed defenders to the tune of 25 combined pass deflections in 2003 and 2004.

In the end injuries and age caught up to Wong in 2007. While the flame continued to burn bright for Wong, the Texans wanted to get younger and asked Kailee to accept a backup role and mentor the linebacker corps.  He asked for and was granted his release instead.

G/Gs  123/93         TAC    376       SAC   21.5        FUM   2
INT 6       YDS 55      AVG 9.0     TD 1      LG 27t

 

NFL

Duncan, Curtis (3) ‘CD’

to88 cduncan sco92 cduncan tosc90 cduncan tosc92 cduncan

 

Cards: Topps Stadium Club 1991, Topps Stadium Club 1993, Topps 1989, Score 1992, GameDay 1992, ProSet 1992
Acquired: In Person 9/13/2015, Churrascos Club Pregame Party Texans vs. Chiefs
See Also: Curtis Duncan, Curtis Duncan (2)

Well I was quite the celebrity at the Houston Texans opener against the Kansas City Chiefs this year as I walked through the rows of tailgates and throngs of people wearing my powder blue Houston Oilers jersey. On quite a few occasions I was stopped and asked who it was a jersey of, and I’d quickly respond with, “Wide receiver, Curtis Duncan of the Houston Oilers. You know the least respected of the Fab 4 Run ‘N Shoot during who played during the late 80’s until the mid 90s.”

pset92 duncanPreviously I had met Curtis and liked him so much I busted out this old jeresy for the next time I saw him. When I ran into him outside the Churrascos he was very impressed and flattered that I had a jersey of him. Bubba McDowell laughed that I had it and said that I looked better than Duncan in it. I said, “Only my belly,” and rubbed it to their laughter.

The Churrascos event was a nice set up. There was a last second substitution, but Curtis was already on the docket to appear. I got a feeling of bourgeoisie from the catered all you can eat/all you can drink exorbitantly priced event- which made me feel slightly ill. There were photos and event tables and a lot of things to do. People who plan on attending should be there when it starts at 10AM, and prepare to leave 15 minutes early to reach their seats on time.

gday93 cduncanThe signing went well. Curtis wanted to take a photo with me, and I jabbed him telling him, “What so that you can prove to the world somebody is a fan of yours or has your jersey?” Bubba said it would be even more impressive if I had his jersey. Curtis signed every card I had. I previously got his rookie card signed, but we talked about it briefly joking that it was one of those Topps entries with him on the sidelines looking up into the air.

Overall these cards weren’t bad. There maybe just one or two more of Curtis I’d like to get autographed, but pretty much this does it. Even with these entries so late into the CD race, I was still pulling pretty decent looking cards and action shots of the former Oiler. The Topps entry of him sitting on the sideline is a well framed photo. About the only one I didn’t like was his 1991 Topps Stadium Club entry of him jumping up into the air with a defender draped on him.

 

 

NFL

Weary, Fred (OG)

mem fred weary

Acquired: Houston Texans Kickoff at Kemah 2014, Houston Texans Draft Party 2015.

wearyOddly  Fred Weary does not have any football cards, even though he was drafted in the 3rd round by the Texans in the 2002 draft.  He’d start 12 of 16 games that rough rookie season, blocking up front alongside Chester Pitts for David Carr– who went down an NFL record 76 times.  He’d play in 20 games over the next 2 following seasons before a new regime came in.  Playing in a new offensive system for Gary Kubiak in 2006, Fred started 12 games. In 2007, Fred was putting together a solid campaign when he broke his leg in a contest against the Titans. The Texans opted to place him on IR for the 2008 campaign to continue rehabilitation, but he was released by the Texans in October of that year.  Fred signed with the Browns for 2009, but was released with an undisclosed injury settlement. In 2013 or 2014 Fred joined the Houston Texans Ambassador program, and makes appearances for the team at functions for meet and greet and autographs.

mem weary2I was not prepared for Fred, so I had him sign the team ‘post card’ included in the Upper Deck 2002 Inaugural Texans set.  It was a wet and soggy affair, but still worth it to nab him and a few other players. Since it was pouring rain they completely moved the event inside to the parking lot. It worked out well despite the humidity, and the lines were not too long.

When I saw him later at the 2015 Draft Party, I had him sign the Texans blank that they provided. A cheap alternative to actually having a card or photo, I appreciate it nonetheless.