Tag Archives: skybox 1992

NFL, Pro Football HoF

Irvin, Michael

Cards: Score 1989, SkyBox 1992
Acquired: In Person Dallas Cowboys Training Camp 1990, Berger Stadium 1997.

Let’s face it, Michael Irvin’s public relations man for the Cowboys should have gotten into the Hall of Fame on the first ballot and certainly Michael Irvin shouldn’t have gotten in sniffing distance within his first 10 tries. Michael Irvin was another player from the productive University of Miami under Jimmy Johnson. Irvin was drafted by Tom Landry‘s Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the 1988 draft.  His impact was not amazing and his first three seasons were injury plagued starting only 27 games. (In 1991, it was even rumored Irvin was on the bubble to even make the team.) He’d respond in 1991 by leading the league in receiving yards with over 1500 yards receiving en route to 5 straight 1200+ yard seasons only interrupted by a drug suspension in 1996 where he had only 962 yards. In 1997 he’d rebound for 2 more 1000 yard seasons before retiring in 1999 after a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Veteran’s Stadium where Michael suffered a devastating concussion. As Irvin laid motionless on the turf and when he was brought off the field- the fans actually cheered. During his time as a member of the ‘Dallas Triplets’ (Irvin,Aikman,Smith) the team won 3 Superbowls and Irvin was named to 5 straight ProBowls being named 1st team All-Pro in 1991.

After a comical incident with the Austin Police department where he was busted speeding and evaded arrest by parking his car in a lot- that turned out to be the Austin Police Department’s car lot back in the early 90s- Irvin’s legacy was tarnished by his controversial off the field record. You see, Michael Irvin had some…. ‘issues’ as a cocaine user.While never being officially busted under the league’s drug rules, Michael was busted in 1996 throwing a stripper filled, cocaine fueled 30th birthday party bash by the cops. In 1998 Irvin attacked teammate Everett McIver with a pair of scissors slashing the player’s neck. Michael also was caught in a drug sting by Dallas Police exchanging a lamp for a bag- ‘of something’. Michael then was busted in 2000 on drug paraphernalia charges and in 2005 was also pulled over for speeding, cited for more paraphernalia, and then arrested for outstanding warrants. He was fired from ESPN in 2007. In 2010 he was facing a civil lawsuit from a sexual assault allegation but still managed to be hired by the NFL Network as a commentator. (I’ve never been impressed by his commentary either and recently they allowed him to bring his ‘insight’ to the table for the 2011 NFL draft.)

Despite all these things, Michael was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on his third try in 2007 with other more deserving wide receivers and players left waiting at least another year. In receiving yardage, Irvin is currently ranked 17th. In receptions, Irvin is tied for 27th and in touchdowns, he fares even worse ranking 47th in this category. Such names as Irving Fryar, Cris Carter, Henry Ellard and Andre Reed dominate him across the board. Apparently his SuperBowl victories and mouth meant more to the voting committee than either the other quieter players of the eras numbers or Irvin’s immense rap sheet.

Michael had an infamous run-in with me. After the Oilers left- in a time of temptation before I quit the sport for a few years, I went to an autograph appearance by the Cowboys at Berger Stadium in Austin. Irvin and Walker were set up at the same table that I was at, and when I got to the front- I humbly expressed my happiness that, “The last two Landry era Cowboys were there.” Michael brushed me off stating, “Sure, we hear that all the time and then laughed at me.” Herschel looked awkwardly my way after he and Irvin signed my cards. I then told Irvin, “He could use my other card to cut his drugs with,” and promptly left to his angry cat-calls. I still think he’s a jerk.

G/Gs 159/147      Rec  750     Yds 11904   Avg 15.9     Td 65   Lg 87T

NFL

Townsend, Greg (2)



Cards: Fleer 1990, SkyBox 1992, Pacific 1992
Acquired: In Person 2011, @ “Raider Image” 8/27 (signing fee)
Previous Posting:  http://n8d.flywheelsites.com/2010/townsend-greg/

Thanks to my autograph colleague Edgar over at myautographsignings.com for the tip on this one -as I had been really baffled as to the lack of autograph signings locally by players. I found out that Greg was appearing  at the local “Raider Image” in Montebello Mall a few weeks back and I had hoped to have caught him at Ontario instead, but was busy that week with family. On a hot August day we trekked to the mall to see him. Cards and photos with Greg were reasonably priced at 5.00 a piece, so I dropped a 20 and grabbed 3 cards and a photo. I talked to Greg for a bit where he told me that the blocker he had the most trouble with was Lomas Brown (Lions) who with his long wingspan kept him regularly at bay. He comically remarked about that it seemed that many of the best blocking offensive linemen all had the last name Brown.

After talking at lengths with him I offered my remaining cards for him to keep. He glowed when he looked at the cards. He remembered the Upper Deck 1991 Team MVP card specifically- because of what he had to do to get to Chicago Bears quarterback Jim Harbaugh who he posthumously suplexed. Townsend also mentioned how he specifically loved the Action Packed cards because of the embossed profile and edges.  I had this photo below in mind to take with Greg. Always great with fans, he was more than happy to accommodate me with a manly arm clasp which really got the crowd going.

NFL

Sharpe, Sterling

Cards: SkyBox 1992, Action Packed 1992, Score 1990 HC, ProSet 1989, ProSet 1990 LL
Acquired: TTM 1993, 2011, C/o The Green Bay Packers, C/o The NFL Network
Sent: 5/27   Received: 6/7  (11 days)
Address:   c/o NFL Network  10950 Washington Blvd.  #100  Culver City, CA 90232*

I was pretty disappointed in the SkyBox and Action Packed autographs I got back in 1993. I thought they were fakes and added them to the collection; However after further study this years it appears that Sterling Sharpe perhaps had a very boring autograph or a ghost signer at the time. Recent success through the NFL Network shows a grandiose signature, while earlier in his career it looks like… a signature on the dotted line.

After attending South Carolina, Sterling Sharpe would be drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 1988 draft. Overall he went 7th and was the highest rated wide receiver off the board. Sharpe’s first season would be respectable. He’d have 55 receptions for 875 yards and 5 touchdowns working with primarily Don Majkowski. In 1990 Sterling would lead the league in receptions with 90 and be named to his first of 5 Pro Bowls and 5 APs. In 1992 he’d form a great bond with quarterback Brett Favre, and record a season for the ages leading the league in all receiving categories and lodging 107 receptions, becoming of only 7 players to do so. 1993 would see him break his own record, and he’d become the first player to record back to back 100+ receiving seasons. 1994 would see Sharpe lead the league in touchdown receptions with a career high 18. and Sterling appeared to be on his way to another great season for 1995 but he suffered a career ending neck stinger.  Sterling has become a successful commentator after his retirement working for NBC, CBS, ESPN and the NFL Network.

I sent off for his autograph in late May of 2011. Recent successes that I’d seen on the web had indicated as many as 5 signatures per attempt, but I didn’t want to pester him, so I went with the two Pro Set 1990 cards and this rare Score 1990 Hot Card. (The Hot Cards were only packaged in blister packs sold for retail in places like Target and Toys ‘R Us.) Even though the Hot Card does not have the most amazing looking pose of Sterling, it was still a really nice design. I got the additional autographed cards back in 11 days, and you can tell the difference in the grandiose autograph, from the signatures I got back in 1993.

G/Gs 112/112     Rec 595       Yds  8195      Avg 13.7       Td   65    Lg  79

*Forwarded and postmarked from South Carolina.