Tag Archives: Orlando Thunder

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

CFL, NFL, WLAF

Jones, Myron ‘Iron Myron’

ultwlaf92 mjones psetwlaf91 mjonesCards: Ultimate WLAF 1992, ProSet WLAF 1991
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o Home
Sent:  7/30   Received: 8/27   (28 days)

Myron ran for 863 yards and scored 15 touchdowns as a Senior at Fresno State in 1989.  An 11th round pick of the then Los Angeles Raiders, he’d be cut in camp before the regular season, and join the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL. Released by the Ti-cats, Jones attracted attention of the WLAF and was selected in the first round (4th overall) of the positional draft by the Orlando Thunder.

A Run ‘N Shoot team coached by Don Matthews, the Thunder were predictably reliant on the pass. Although Iron was more of a fullback, he still managed to take the field on opening day and ended up as Orlando’s leading rusher in 1991 with 288 yards. His best games came against San Antonio, rushing for 85 yards on 15 carries. Myron later followed that up with a 14 carry 65 yard effort against the Birmingham Fire.

Myron currently lives in California where he is a Deputy Probation Officer for LA county.  He takes pride in helping juveniles get the help they need and become positive contributing members of society. Myron very much liked these cards and asked for a few extra. He is also friends with the ‘Fresno WLAF Connection’- in particular: Dwight Pickens, Andre Alexander, and Kevin Sweeney.

He inscribed two bible verses along with the autographs.

John 14:6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

Epheisians 6:11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

Awesome. I love testaments. It really says a lot about the character of the former player, who they are, and what they stand for.

WLAF   Rush 68     Yds 288     Avg  4.2   Td  2
Rec  14    Yds 133    Avg 9.5    Td 0

CFL, NFL, WLAF

Tucker, Erroll

psetwlaf91 tucker LL
Card: Pro Set WLAF 1991
Acquired: 2014, EBay. TTM 2015, C/o Home.
Sent: 6/30     Received: 7/27   (27 days)
Failure: TTM 2010, TTM 2013, C/o Home

Well Erroll has been difficult for me to track down and since I had 2 failures, I thought I might as well acquire at least one autograph of him on the cheap through EBay. Anyway, I wasn’t too happy with this seller. After I scanned in the card, and added it into the WLAF book of autographs, I noticed something when it was lined up next to its sister cards: it had been trimmed. Also called shaving, trimming is a frowned upon practice that has gained notoriety as of late because of media attention after a Honus Wagner had its edges removed just ever so slightly to increase the value of the card. In this case a full 2 cm had been removed from the bottom of the card, and as I had doubles of Tucker’s card I could easily see that the height wasn’t consistent with the other cards. Such a pain as I still needed another autograph of him on his ProSet WLAF League Leader card. I decided to give Tucker a final shot in 2015, and it appears my persistence paid off as not only did I get Erroll on another  base card to replace the Ebay card, but also I got him on his league leader card.

psetwlaf91 tuckerA return specialist and speed merchant at Utah, Erroll Tucker led the nation in kick return (29.1) and punt return (24.3) averages in 1985. He was drafted in the 5th round by the Pittsburgh Steelers but did not see any playing time his rookie season. Tucker returned to the NFL in 1988 playing for the Bills (1988-1989)  and Patriots (1989).

Tucker was selected by the Orlando Thunder with the 8th overall pick in the defensive back portion of the WLAF draft in 1991. His 4.6 speed and previous NFL experience fit in well with Don Matthews man to man defense scheme.  Erroll made 2 interceptions in the league’s inaugural season but he was more dangerous on special teams returning 7 kickoffs for 257 yards and a 95 yard TD, in limited duty behind Carl Painter. On punt returns Tucker was equally dangerous returning 18 punts for 373 yards and a 66 yard TD. He earned All-World Honors after the season.

Tucker decided to keep playing and went right over to the CFL signing with the Calgary Stampeders. After winning the 80th Grey Cup, Tucker decided to retire.  He’s been involved with coaching at the college level and currently lives in California.

NFL 18
KR 38     Yds  746     Avg 19.6    TD 0     Lg 37
PR  29    Yds 245      Avg  8.4       TD 0    Lg 26
Tac N/a    Sac N/a     Fum 3
Int 0    Yds 0    Avg -.-   TD 0   Lg -.-

WLAF 10
KR 7      Yds 259    Avg  37.0    TD 1    Lg 95T
PR  18     Yds 373     Avg 20.7    TD 1  Lg 66T
Tac  39     Sac N/a      Fum N/a
Int 2      Yds  1     Avg .5      TD 0    Lg 1

CFL 19
KR   4       Yds 120    Avg 30.0     TD 0   Lg 51
PR 20      Yds 162    Avg 8.1        TD 0   Lg 62
Tac 58    Sac  0    Fum 0
Int  1      Yds 11     Avg 11.0      Td 0    Lg 11