Tag Archives: orlando predators

Arena, NFL, WLAF

LaSane, Bruce ‘Toon’

ultwlaf92 lasaneCard: Ultimate WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Home
Sent: 7/20/11     Received: 12/10/15    (1604 days)

Bruce LaSane hauled in 46 receptions for 731 yards and 6 touchdowns in 3 years for the Seminoles.  After graduating from Florida State, the fleet footed LaSane signed with his homestate Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent in 1990.

The Orlando Thunder of the WLAF selected LaSane with the 3rd pick of the 7th round during the wide receiver pool of the league draft in 1991.  He fit in well with the Thunder’s Run ‘N Shoot offense, pulling in 23 receptions for 333 yards and 3 TDs in 1991. In one of the more amazing plays in league history Lasane caught a Statue of Liberty touchdown pass from Eric Mitchel -after the runningback had fumbled the ball.

Bruce joined the Arena Football League in 1992. He played for the Cincinnati Rockers posting 38 receptions for 369 yards and 3 TDs over two seasons. As players went both ways back then in Arena ball, LaSane was slotted in at linebacker and posted 23 tackles.  In 1994 he moved on to the Miami Hooters, where he’d post a career high with 58 receptions for 653 yards and 10 TDs to go along with 33 tackles and an interception. -This would earn him All Arena Honors. After the 1995 season, LaSane played for the Minnesota Fighting Pike and Milwaukee Mustangs before landing on the Orlando Predators in 1997. He’d help the team win Arena Bowl XIX alongside fellow WLAF veterans Corris Ervin and Pat O’Hara. In 2000, LaSane signed with the New Jersey Red Dogs, but was traded to the Los Angeles Avengers finally retiring after the season.

I never thought I’d get this one back. A Spokeo find, I sent to Bruce way, way back in 2011, but the current resident of my old address found me and forwarded this one my way.

ARENA  REC 190      YDS  2014          AVG  10.6         TD 33
TAC  125       SAC 1.0       FUM  6       INT 1      YDS 6      AVG 6.0      TD 0

Arena, CFL, NFL, NFLE

Johnson, Lee

tntafl14 lee johnsonCard: TNT AFL 2014
Acquired: IP 5/17/14, San Antonio Talons vs. New Orleans Voodoo

Coach Johnson is a veteran of many leagues as both a player and a coach. He’s spent time in the NFL, CFL, NFLE, and AFL. Among his highlights, Johnson coached the defensive line of the Berlin Thunder to two consecutive World Bowl Championships in both 2001 and 2002. He then coached the Denver Crush to the Arena Football Championship in 2004. After taking the reins of the Talons, he coached them to a 14-4 record and a division title, in 2012.

After the San Antonio Talons game against the Iowa Barnstormers I gave out my custom cards to many players on the field. It created such a stir that Coach Johnson came over and asked me where his was. After I joked with him a few seconds about sharing the same first name, he quickly extracted a promise from me to make a custom for him as well.

I arrived at the Talons game versus the Voodoo early as usual. After talking to the COO of the Talons and giving him a copy of the set, he went over to Lee to show him what I had done. Coach immediately came over and talked to me with a broad smile, signed the card and thanked me for the extras. He asked me what I wanted for the cards I made and gave to him, but as usual the most important thing for me is the autograph gracing the card for my own collection, and their enduring happiness and willingness to chase their dreams. You know, on that note, I have always subscribed to the ultimate belief that a true gift is one that is not expected, and for purposes of what I had given to each of these players I know it meant a lot to them.

 

Arena

Jones, Dominic

tntafl14 djonesCard: Top Notch Arena 2014
Acquired: Future Considerations, 2014

Dominic Jones played two seasons at the University of Minnesota before transferring to Otterbein University in 2010. He had 137 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and two interceptions as a Golden Gopher. He made an immediate impact at Otterbein where he was First-Team All-OAC, All-Region and All-America in his only season there.
A dangerous return man and defensive back, Dominic earned Second Team All-Arena Honors as a kick returner after setting a single season franchise record with 1,795 yards in 2013 for the Predators. He also collected 91.5 tackles and two interceptions. Rejoining the Gladiators in 2014 Dominic had a career high 4 interceptions and 27 pass breakups as he helped platoon Cleveland’s secondary.

Dominic along with a few other Gladiators were nice enough to sign a few cards for me this season through a contact of mine up in Cleveland who went to one of their playoff games. Jones liked the card so much he posted it to Twitter.