Tag Archives: proset world league 1991

NFL, WLAF

Davis, Demetrius ‘Truck’ (1967-2013)

ProSet World League 1991, #34

CARD: Pro Set World League 1991
ACQUIRED: EBay, 2022

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Played college ball at Nevada-Reno and was a talented TE, and big man (6’5″, 235) in basketball.
  • Switched from wingback to tight end, and as a Senior in 1990 caught 33 passes for 539 yards and 7 TDs, earning second team All-Big Sky Honors.
  • Finished career for the Wolfpack with 83 catches for 1296 yards and 13 TDs.
  • 12th round pick of the Los Angeles Raiders, became Mr. Irrelevant, as the last pick of the 1990 NFL Draft.
  • Cut in preseason, but later drafted by the World League Barcelona Dragons in 1991.
  • Finished second on the team in receptions with 34 receptions for 461 yards and 3 TDs.
  • Had monster game, catching 8 passes for 120 yards and 2 TDs, to help beat previously unbeaten London in final week of season.
  • Caught 34 passes for 374 yards in 1992.
  • Returned to World League, and the Dragons in 1995 after league hiatus.
  • Caught 40 passes for 544 yards and 2 TDs that season.
  • Played final season in 1996 with the Dragons, catching a career high 43 passes (376 yards and 2 TDs).
  • At time of retirement, was World League’s all time receptions leader.

ACCOLADES:

  • Vallejo Sports Hall of Fame
  • 1990 Mr. Irrelevant
  • WLAF 1991 Week 10 Player of the Week
  • Barcelona Dragons’ All-Time Career Leading Receiver

NOTES:

A lot of people are looking out for me, and again a special shout out to my friend CFLfaninPhilly for pointing out this auction on EBay to me. I was able to drop in and snipe it out at the last second at a very cheap price. I searched for a very long time for Demetrius, before learning of his passing only a few days after finding a working address. (It was eye opening to discover how many Demetrius Davis’ exist in this world.) As he is covered in all 3 sets, just finding one autographed was a major coup. The seller of the card indicated that he was old and done with collecting and loved going to training camps, through the mail, and spring training, so I figured this one was a low risk/ high reward situation.

EPITAPH:

Demetrius passed away of a heart attack (enlarged heart) in December of 2012 at the age of 45, following a pickup basketball game.  Truck touched a lot of people’s lives with his positivity, humor, and inspiration. CC Sabathia, (Davis’ cousin) a pitcher for the Yankees, renovated a North Vallejo basketball court at 1601 Fairgrounds Drive and named it after Demetrius.

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151175511.6746
Arena, CFL, NFL, WLAF

Nittmo, Bjorn

Pro Set World League 1991, #91

Cards: Pro Set World League 1991, Ultimate World League 1992
Acquired: TTM 2021, C/o Home
Sent: 6/21 Received: 7/24 (33 days)
Failure: TTM 2010, C/o Home

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • At time of graduation, was Appalachian State’s all-time leading scorer with 277 points, and field goals made (62).

  • Undrafted in 1989, tasted first NFL action later that year with the New York Giants. 

  • Scored 39 points in 6 games, converting 9 of 12 field goals as injury replacement for Raul Allegre.

  • After failing to beat out Nick Lowery in camp in 1990 with the Chiefs, was the #1 overall pick amongst kickers in the WLAF positional draft by the Montreal Machine in 1991.

  • Paired with punter Chris Mohr to form the best special teams duo in the World League.

  • Scored 51 points on 13 of 18 field goals for the Machine in 1991, setting numerous league records along the way including most field goals in a game (4, Orlando), and longest field goal (50 yards, SA).
     
  • After season concluded, signed alongside Mohr to the Buffalo Bills, but failed to unseat incumbent kicker Scott Norwood.

  • Joined the Cleveland Thunderbolts of the Arena Football League in 1993 playing one season with the franchise.

  • Hopped over to the CFL, kicking for the Shreveport Pirates in 1994 and 95.

  • After two more attempts at making an NFL roster in 1996 (Chiefs) and 1997 (Bucs), returned to the Arena Football League in 1998.
  • Played for the Tampa Bay Storm (1998), Buffalo Destroyers (1999), Arizona Rattlers (2000), and Carolina Cobras (2001).

  • Briefly reemerged for a comeback attempt in 2005 and was an offseason addition for the Ottawa Renegades, retiring soon thereafter. 

ACCOLADES:

  • All World League 1991 Second Team
Ultimate World League 1992, #85

NFL

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131292.391275.03939

WLAF

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272488.9282071.45084

CFL

XPAXPMPCTFGAFGMPCTLGPTS
7272100.0917481.3N/A306

ARENA

XPAXPMPCTFGAFGMPCTLGPTS
29827391.61626037.0N/A453

NOTES:

Bjorn Nittmo was the first Swede to play professional gridiron football and is considered an ambassador of the sport. While playing for the Giants, late night host David Letterman fell in love with his name and made jokes about it, leading to two appearances by Nittmo on Letterman’s show in late 1989 and early 1990. In 1999, Bjorn also appeared in the movie Any Given Sunday and was the placekicker for the Sharks.

Nittmo is unfortunately a long study in concussions and CTE. After taking a bone crunching hit during the preseason with the Bucs, he was never the same again. His short term memory was severely damaged by the injury and he apparently has dealt mood swings. Estranged from his family, he became a nomad of sorts, moving around the country, picking up jobs here and there. Over the years, multiple articles have been written about his case, so after failing out in 2010 on him- not knowing he was estranged from his family, I tracked him down in Northern Arizona of all places.

It’s a small world really. Back in 2007 I drove through Northern Arizona, and passed through the town he was living in. The only reason I remember it was because it was in the middle of nowhere, and it was just a blip on the radar, so I honed in on his location and wrote him a letter.

I was shocked to get a response from this ‘white whale’ in less than 30 days. It was nice hearing from him. I know his life has been… hard- over the last few years, but I hope that he is making the best of it and trying to better himself.

As a final note, I’d like to thank those out there who have collaborated with me over the years to find World League players. I have been at this for many years now. This is a success, for me personally, a triumph of singularity that others can only claim to have found, but more than likely got from me. – There is no reason I shouldn’t toot my horn about this one.

Nonetheless, I hope that this information finds its way into the right hands, and reunites some more players with each other and brings back fond memories of their time in the World League.