Tag Archives: Orlando Thunder

Arena, NFL, WLAF

Sterling, Rob (1966-2019)

Card: ProSet WLAF 1991
Acquired: TTM 2018, C/o Home
Sent: 12/7 Received: 12/21 (14 days)

A 5th round pick of the Orlando Thunder during the WLAFs inaugural positional draft in 1991, Rob Sterling played college ball at Maine. After graduating in 1988, he’d be selected by the Eagles, but spent the entire year on IR. Acquired via plan B by the Jets the following season, he didn’t make the squad, but returned to the Eagles where he saw time on the team’s developmental squad.

Still hungry to play football, Rob signed up with the fledgling Arena Football League, and played for both the Albany Firebirds and the Washington Commandos in 1990. In limited action, Rob had 5 receptions for 50 yards and a TD, and 8 total tackles- playing both ways.

A rangy playmaker with good speed, Rob finished 3rd on the Thunder in Tackles with 43 stops and 9 pass deflections- after sitting out the final game with a knee injury. Rob’s biggest highlight came when he took a lateraled interception 33 yards for a TD against the Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks. He did not return to the league for the 1992 season.

I collaborate with fellow collector Mark (of Marks Signing Bonus) on a semi-regular basis through Sportscollectors.com. He and I send WLAF addresses back and forth of players we have gotten lucky on and while he claims that I am regularly on point, he comes up with some killer finds- including Rob Sterling. Rob originally hails from Jamaica, has got a pretty common name, and went to Maine (of all places), so I pretty much gave up on this one some time ago after doing a ton of research. Thankfully Mark passed this one along to me and Rob autographed this one in roughly 2 weeks.

G –WLAFTACSACFUMINTYDSAVGTDLG
9/10430.0103333.0133T
G- ARENATACSACFUMINTYDSAVGTDLG
80.0000-.-0-.-

**UPDATE**- Upon retiring from football, Robert join the private sector working for Jackson & Tull Aerospace in Greenbelt, Maryland. In the late 1990’s he accepted a job with Ball Aerospace and relocated to Denver, Colorado. He received numerous awards and recognition program awards for his outstanding work in the aeronautics field. While working at Ball, he attended graduate school and obtained an MBA at the University of Denver in Technology Management. He also obtained a Certificate for Corporate Entrepreneurship. Robert also had a passion for coaching. During his time living in Denver he coached football for several youth teams at the Boy’s Club in Denver.

In 2010, he later moved to California to pursue his other passion, fitness. He started Sterling Fitness & Wellness 4U, where he trained clients to reach their optimum fitness and health goals. He found his new business to be very rewarding and was excited about changing people’s lives.

Due to health reasons he relocated back to Maryland to be closer to his family. On August 23rd, 2019 Rob passed away at the Lorine Rehabilitation Center in Columbia, Maryland.

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/silver-spring-md/robert-noel-sterling-8831719

NFL, WLAF

Painter, Carl


Cards: ProSet WLAF 1991, ProSet WLAF 1991 League Leader
Acquired: TTM 2017, C/o Home
Sent: 11/4     Received: 11/13  (9 days)
Failure: 2011, 2017, C/o Home

The Orlando Thunder had a stacked offense. At runningback they featured a variety of styles of runners including former Detroit Lion track man Carl Painter. Carl earned his keep primarily on kick off return duties, averaging a league leading 24.9 yards on 24 returns. He set a league single game record when he had 6 kickoff returns for 178 yards against the Knights. Carl sprained his shoulder in a week 8 contest against Sacramento, and finished the season with 15 carries for 47 yards to go along with 13 receptions for 157 yards.

Painter played two seasons for the Detroit Lions, after being selected by them during the 6th round of the 1988 draft. Over two seasons, he had 106 yards on 32 carries and 4 catches for 42 yards. He also chipped in 18 kick returns for 361 yards and a 20.1 yard average.

A sensational runningback at Hampton, Carl rushed for 3,223 yards from 1983 to 1987, and led the team in scoring in both 1985 and 1987, netting him all-conference honors with the Pirates. In 2009, he was inducted into Hampton University’s inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame.

Being that Carl had 2 cards in the vaunted ProSet WLAF 1991 set, I had tried multiple times to get Carl but had lucked out. I have been collaborating with Mark of Mark’s Signing Bonus for some time on tracking down players from the league. Luckily he got a nice hit on Carl, so I sent out to him immediately the next day. Carl wrote me a really nice note, thanking me for remembering him along with the two autographs. As of 2017 he works in management for a city Parks and Recreation department in Virginia.

NFL   27/0         RUSH 32       YDS 106       AVG 3.3        TD 0        LG 13
REC  3                  YDS 42          AVG 10.5         TD 0             LG 27

WLAF   RUSH 15      YDS   47      AVG  3.1           TD 0         LG 18
REC    13                    YDS 157        AVG 12.1          TD 0         LG 26

KR    24       YDS    597          AVG 24.9          TD 0             LG 48

CFL, NFL, WLAF

Lossow, Rodney

ultwlaf92 rlossow

Card: Ultimate WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o Work
Sent:  12/28/15     Received: 1/14/16    (17 days)

Originally a  10th round selection of the New England Patriots during the 1988 draft, Rodney Lossow earned All Big 10 Honorable Mention as a Junior while at Wisconsin. He’d bounce around with the Los Angeles Rams and Calgary Stampeders, before being selected with the 4th pick of the 4th round during the WLAF offensive lineman draft. He’d anchor the Orlando Thunder‘s  offensive line at Center through their appearance in World Bowl II in 1992.

Rodney loves teaching and has been a coach at Roosevelt High School in Minnesota for many years. He responded in under a month and included a nice note. Apparently his kids were blown away that he got a TTM request. He also inscribed the card with a bible verse:

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.