Ultimate World League 1992 Montreal Machine Team Checklist, #93
Pro Set 1991, WL Helmet Collectible #5. Pro Set 1991, World League Insert Collectible #15.
Cards: Ultimate World League 1992, Pro Set World League Montreal Machine 1991, Pro Set World League 1991 Acquired: TTM 2020, C/o Home Sent: 9/26 Received: 11/10 (45 days)
In general, members of the Montreal Machine of the World League have been somewhat elusive for me to track down. Jacques was no exception, but after having recent successes through Facebook, I thought why not and gave it a shot. He responded kindly to me and thanked me for writing and provided me his address. I made sure to use correct postage and dropped these 3 cards in for him to sign. I figured since most of my Montreal Machine cards have languished, it wouldn’t be a problem for him to fill out the team helmet and the checklist card.
For the letter, I even used a Google translate script to write him in Canadian- French, which he found quite amusing in his short response letter. A class act, Jacques wrote me back in English, using his own postage thanking me for being a fan of the World League for all these years.
Travis Feeney played college ball at Washington. He saw action in 51 games for the Huskies over 4 years at linebacker. His best year arguably came in 2015, when he notched 56 total tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 2 pass deflections, and 1 fumble recovery. Sometimes deployed in coverage, Feeney recorded 11 career pass deflections, and 4 interceptions for 148 yards and a TD.
He was a 6th round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and spent most of the season on their practice squad, before ending the year on the roster of the New Orleans Saints. Cut in mid 2017, Feeney kept in playing shape, and signed with the San Diego Fleet in 2018. He had a solid year during the AAF‘s short 8 game season, posting 28 tackles, and a pick.
Travis spent the next year in the CFL, first briefly with the Alouettes, and then the Argonauts- but with COVID striking down the CFL, Feeney opted out of his contract and decided to give The Spring League a shot, playing for the Jousters.
Bill Polian has a long and storied career as a football executive that spans across 4 leagues: The NFL, CFL, USFL, and the AAF.
After graduating from NYU in 1964, Polian began his careeer as a scout for the Chiefs in 1978. He also spent time with the Blue Bombers and Alouettes in the CFL as well working his way up to Personnel Director. A one year stint in the USFL Chicago Blitz in 1984, led Polian back to the NFL. He’d then begin a long and storied career with the Buffalo Bills later that year as the Pro Personnel Director. He’d help transform the Bills into an NFL powerhouse laying the foundation for the franchise to appear in 3 consecutive Super Bowls. He was released by the team after they lost their 3rd Super Bowl in 92.
A 3 year hiatus saw Polian return to the NFL with a vengeance as GM of the expansion Carolina Panthers. He was able to assemble enough talent that the franchise posted a expansion record 7 wins in 1995, and an even more impressive 12 wins in 1996. After a down year in 97, Bill joined the Indianapolis Colts as General Manager.
His first move was a no brainer: Selecting Peyton Manning with the first overall pick of the 1998 NFL Draft. Later he’d hire Tony Dungy to coach the franchise, and the rest is history. After the reorganization of the divisions in 2002, the Colts would dominate the South- winning 7 divisional titles under his watch. Indianapolis appeared in two Superbowls winning XLI. He’d not be retained after the 2011 season.
In the meantime he began to roll in the accolades, being inducted into the Buffalo Wall of Fame in 2012, the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015, and the Colts Ring of Honor in 2017.
Bill felt the siren’s lure and resurfaced again in 2018, where he signed up to be Head of Football of the upstart Alliance of American Football, co founding it alongside Charlie Ebersol. The league was able to pull off 8 weeks of football before it collapsed due to financial strain. Bill Polian was greatly disappointed in the failure of the AAF and in chief financial cow Tom Dundon who pulled the plug.
I wrote to Bill after creating a dead on custom of the Topps AAF certified card. Thanks to COVID I had to find a new custom printer. The card quality was outstanding, but I didn’t prep the high gloss card, so the autograph didn’t stick properly to the card. He also signed this Panini HOF card for me as well.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
