Tag Archives: Los Angeles Raiders

NFL, XFL

Golic, Bob

Card: Action Packed 1990
Acquired: In Person, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp 1991

After an All American career in 1977 and 1978, big Bob Golic was originally drafted by the New England Patriots in the 2nd round of the 1979 draft from Notre Dame. At 6-2, 264, during some points he played right inside linebacker in the Patriots’ 3-4 defense. After a not so spectacular 3 seasons- where he started only 12 games, Bob would sign with Cleveland where he’d find his home amazingly as a space eating nose tackle. Golic would play the majority of his career in Cleveland making 14 sacks over 7 seasons.  Bob would be named to the ProBowl from 1985-1987 and AP in 1985 and 1986. He’d start 97 games for them before leaving Plan B for the Los Angeles Raiders in 1989.  The Raiders would move Bob to defensive tackle where he’d start for another 2 seasons before an injury plagued finale in 1992.

Bob after retirement went into acting and broadcasting. He’d play a stint on the TV show “Saved By the Bell”, was into talk radio as well as did commentary for the XFL and recently, opened a sports bar and grille in Cleveland. Bob Golic also is the older brother of former Philadelphia Eagle and host of “Mike & Mike in the Morning”, Mike Golic.

Nice, big broad strokes on the signature with a full press on the autograph the whole way through. They say sometimes you can tell things about a personality by their handwriting and Bob has a gigantic ‘G’ for ‘Golic’. The lower zone of the ‘G’ (the huge lower part of the letter,) and the straight line are indicative of his confidence and his independence. The  shape of his ‘o’ in his first and last name are indicative of his openness and willingness to talk. Interesting stuff.

G/Gs 187/160   Tac N/a    Sac  22.5    Fum 5    Int  1   Yds 7    Avg  7.0   Td  1   Lg 7T

Arena, CFL, NFL

Marinovich, Todd

Cards: Action Packed 1992, Score Supplemental 1992
Acquired: In Person, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp 1991, 1992

Todd Marinovich is a tragic story of a person who could not live up to the expectations and accolades that were heaped upon him. I remember the first time I had heard about Todd. It was the cover of a Sports Illustrated magazine with him in his USC uniform proclaiming him as “Robovich”, that I became perplexed by this young athlete. I read the article and how he was born and bred to become a superstar at the next level, and even I myself after reading this magazine thought that Marinovich was destined to be the next Dan Marino. What I didn’t understand like many others was the complexity of problems that were being created for Todd because of his lifestyle. It is no fault of his parents. They wanted the best for him and went of their way to provide the best for him. A divorce however didn’t help things, and Marinovich had begun to experiment in drugs such as marijuana, alcohol and cocaine. Regardless after a relatively impressive college career at USC, the Los Angeles Raiders would elect to select Todd with their first round choice in 1991. Despite a few games in which Marinovich would flash talent, his drug use escalated as he began using other drugs such as LSD. His 1992 season, while again improving statistically resulted in him striking out of the NFL’s drug rehabilitation program before the 1993 season.  Marinovich would shift over to the CFL in 1995 to revive his career playing with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers but this time injury would end his career there before he ever begun. He’d take more time off and receive serious intrest from the NFL in 1999, but would end up with the British Columbia Lions. In 2000, Todd would join the Los Angeles Avengers in the Arena league, where he’d have the best moments of his football career leading the Avengers and being named to various rookie teams, but with his drug use never being curtailed, Marinovich spiraled back out of control and out of football for good by the end of 2001. (He’d finish his career in the Arena leagues with 472 attempts, 249 completions, 3214 yards, 62 touchdowns, 21 interceptions, and an 88.5 qb rating.) Truly a tragic sports name, Marinovich has been named as one of the NFL’s greatest draft busts of all time.  Marinovich has continued to be in and out of drug treatment and in trouble with the law. He sometimes could be found at some points down on the beaches near LA skateboarding or clearing barnacles from boats. I’d get Todd’s autograph on his Action Packed Rookies card in training camp in 1991 but by his second year his autograph had radically changed to just ‘Todd’.

G/Gs  8/8    Att 205    Comp 104     Yds 1345  Pct 50.7%    Td 8   Int 9   Rat 66.4

NFL

Harrison, Nolan

Card: GameDay 1992
Acquired: In Person, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp 1993

Indiana University is not really known as a hotbed of football talent- but the Raiders took a chance on Nolan Harrison in the 6th round of the 1991 draft as a possible replacement for star defensive end Howie Long or Greg Townsend. In the meantime the Raiders would utilize him also at defensive tackle, until 1994 when he’d get a career high 5 sacks at left defensive end. Nolan would sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1997, and play there through 1999 making 7.5 sacks and then close out his career with the Washington Redskins in 2000. As a player, Nolan’s strength would be his high motor and flexibility along the defensive line providing invaluable depth for 10 seasons.

Since retiring Harrison has remained extremely active in NFLPA activities, serving on a variety of boards, financial management, and being a motivational speaker. In 2010, Nolan was named Senior Director of Former Player Affairs and he and former Raider Dave Pear have also squared off on disability and retirement benefits over the last few months.

On top of the possible 2011 NFL strike, there’s actually another party involved in the labor dispute that must not be ignored- those retired players that paved the way for the rest of the league’s success. Many former players who did not live on the ballooned million dollar contracts and on a pittance of severance sacrificed their bodies for our entertainment and now their pain and problems are largely ignored by the league. While Nolan has made some contact with Dave Pear- it remains to be seen whether or not our former greats are treated with the respect they deserve.  You can follow Nolan on twitter at: http://twitter.com/NolanHarrison74.

G/Gs  128/83      Tac 199      Sac 22.0     Fum 5      Int 0     Yds 0     Avg  -.-      Td 0      Lg 0