Tag Archives: Seattle Seahawks

Arena, NFL, WLAF

Hunter, Arthur ‘ART’

Card: ProSet WLAF 1991
Acquired: In Person 1992, San Antonio Riders v. Birmingham Fire

Signed as a free agent by the Seattle Seahawks in 1990, Arthur Hunter didn’t make the final roster. Undeterred from playing football, he was drafted by the Birmingham Fire of the WLAF in the 10th round of the league’s initial positional draft. Art ended up leading the secondary with his aggressive play, pulling down 6 interceptions and scoring a touchdown. (The Fire ended up finishing second in the league in interceptions.) Despite Hunter’s impressive stats, including 61 tackles and two fumbles, he was not selected to the league’s All-World Team. In 1992, he’d add another 2 picks (and a second touchdown) to bring his career total to 8 interceptions before the league suspended operations.

In both seasons, Hunter was an unheralded member of the Birmingham Fire’s staunch defense, that formed the backbone of those playoff teams.

When I found Arthur that evening, he and the other defensive backs were leaving through the stands after the game. They all patiently stopped and signed my cards and laughed at their photos on the back.

Since then Hunter played some time in the Arena Football and lives in Ohio.

G/Gs 20/20     Tac N/a     Sac N/a     Fum N/a
Int 8    Yds 115    Avg 14.4     Td 2    Lg 37T

College Football HoF, NFL

Marinaro, Ed

Card: Topps 1976
Acquired: In person, CGA Youth Golf Tournament 1993

Dick Anderson, Ed Marinaro, and Steve Spurrier (now that’s a group) were making the early rounds on the links at Barton Creek Country Club that morning when I found them. I was not really familiar with Ed as an actor, rather his playing career at Cornell and being a runner up to Pat Sullivan in 1971 as a Heisman Trophy candidate. A workhorse at the college level Ed still holds the NCAA records for most rushes per game in a season at an astonishing 39.6, and for a career at 34.  Drafted in the second round by the Minnesota Vikings as a fullback, he’d play the majority of his career for the Vikings from 1972-1975 and then one season a piece for the Jets (1976) and Seahawks (1977) before retiring. During Ed’s career he’d appear in Superbowl’s VIII and IX for the Vikings, and was inducted into the College Hall of Fame in 1991.

Since retiring Marinaro has gone into acting, playing in a variety of television roles including  “Laverne & Shirley” as Sonny St. Jacques, “Hill Street Blues” as Joe Coffey, and Mitch Margolis in “Sisters”. He also has been in quite a few movies as well, but most recently in 2010 was cast in the TV series “Blue Mountain State” as Coach Daniels on Spike TV seen in this clip below.

http://www.spike.com/video/coachs-corner-week-3/3469445

Games 58     Att 383   Yds  1319     Avg 3.4     Td 6     Lg 27
Rec 146    Yds 1176     Avg 8.1     Td 7      Lg 35

NFL, Super Bowl MVP

Rypien, Mark

Cards: Score 1990, GameDay 1992
Acquired: In Person 1993, CGA Youth Golf Tournament

Mark Rypien gets less credit than he’s deserved. The first Canadian born quarterback to start in the NFL, Rypien was a traditional drop back passer with a cannon arm and a touch for the deep ball. Selected in the 6th round by the Washington Redskins in 1986 by Charlie Casserly, Rypien would sit on injured reserve for roughly two seasons, while Jay Schroeder and Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams slugged it out. When the dust settled Jay was in Los Angeles and Doug was ailing from back injuries.

Making the best of his limited starting assignment, Mark became the fulltime starter and was named to the ProBowl in both 1989 and 1991. In 1991 Mark led the Redskins to a victory in Super Bowl XXVI and was named the MVP after throwing for 292 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Plan B, free agency, and the salary cap, eventually took their toll on the Redskins. With the retirement of Joe Gibbs, the Redskins went through a transitional period and by 1994 the team was already looking in another direction for a quarterback and drafted Heath Shuler, essentially ending Mark’s tenure with the team. He’d then go on to become the true definition of a journeyman quarterback spending no more than 1 season at any location over the next 5 teams playing for the Rams, Browns, and Eagles. Signed by the Falcons in 1998 he retired briefly after the tragic passing of his son.  He’d emerge again 3 years later in 2001 with the Colts, and then be cut after playing briefly in the preaseason for the Seattle Seahawks in 2002.

In 2006 Mark would play briefly as a promotional appearance for the GLIFL for the Rochester Raiders and is an avid golfer and fan of NASCAR. After losing a son in 1998 to cancer, Rypien would establish the Mark Rypien Foundation, to which he devotes a significant amount of his time.

( www.markrypienfoundation.org )

I met Mark Rypien at the CGA Youth Golf Tournament in 1992. At the time I’d give players each a 13×19 drawing I did of them as thanks for their autograph. Mark was the first player who didn’t want his and I was confused by his ‘modesty’ but he was still nice enough to sign 2 cards for me.

Games 104      Att 1466     Comp 2613     Pct  56.1    Yds 18473
Td 115     Int 88