Tag Archives: shreveport pirates

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

XPAXPMPCTFGAFGMPCTLGPTS
131292.391275.03939

WLAF

XPAXPMPCTFGAFGMPCTLGPTS
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.

Arena, CFL, NFL, NFLE, XFL

Puleri, Charles

Cards: Topps XFL 2001 Promo, Topps XFL 2001
Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o Home
Sent: 8/6 Received: 8/16 (10 days)

Charles Puleri played ball at New Mexico State and saw action in both 1991 and 1992. Playing in 17 contests Puleri completed 257 of 456 passes for 3634 yards, and 21 touchdowns to 17 interceptions as a traditional dropback passer.

He joined the CFL in 1993 and played briefly for the Sacramento Gold Miners- attempting 2 passes, and then riding the bench for the Shreveport Pirates in 94. In 1995 Puleri joined Arena Football League. He played for the Miami Hooters that year and then the Texas Terror in 1996 throwing 3 TDs. Charles then went overseas and played in the NFLE for the London Monarchs. Seeing more mop up duty he threw for 488 yards and 2 TDs. Afterwards he again tried his hand at Arena football playing for the Iowa Barnstormers in 98. He saw his best season as a pro throwing 11 TDs on 67 attempts that season. In 1999 he played sparingly as a backup for the New Jersey Red Dogs, and then was in the camp of the Dallas Cowboys in 2000 but did not make the squad.

Charles is perhaps best known for his time in the XFL in 2001. Selected by the New York/ New Jersey Hitmen, Puleri was the starter for the squad entering the season, but was benched in favor of Wally Richardson during week 2. The league was… different than the NFL. They scripted some of their events including a fake controversy between Puleri and Richardson.

After the end of the XFL, Charlie returned to the Arena Football League, playing two more seasons for the Detroit Fury (2002) and the Buffalo Destroyers (2003).

Since football, Puleri has worked his way into mortgage finance. He signed these two cards for me, wrote me a nice note and included a few business cards.

WLAFATTCOMPYDSPCTTDINTRAT
944248844.724
ARENAATTCOMPYDSPCTTDINTRAT
257128160449.82014
CFLATTCOMPYDSPCTTDINTRAT
200-.-00-.-
XFLATTCOMPYDSPCTTDINTRAT
642941145.322-.-

CFL, NFL, WLAF

Savage, Ray (2)

Card: Wild Card WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o Home
Sent: 7/29 Received: 8/20 (22 days)
Failure: 2010, 2011 C/o Work
See Also: Ray Savage

The photo of this card of Ray was taken during the San Antonio Riders victory over the Machine in the opening game of the 1992 season. As such- these cards were not in production until near the end or after the season concluded- when there was still a belief that there’d be a season 3 in 1993. I had struggled over the years to get Ray’s autograph on his remaining cards, so I just decided to put it on the back burner for many years.

As I have begun to really go after the AAF, it renewed my appetite for the WLAF set, so I decided to check out some dead ends again, with the help of new technology. A few weeks after I sent this out I was genuinely surprised to get this autograph back from Ray with a sticky note attached to it.

He thanked me for truly putting a smile on his face that week, as he has fond memories of the WLAF and thinks about that time and those games often.

Ray loves coaching and was the head coach at Menchville High School, where he had a rich history of discovering and developing college football talent. He stepped down recently in 2018.