Tag Archives: ttm football autograph

CFL, WLAF

Rice, Tony ‘Antonio Arroz’

psetwlaf91 riceCards: Pro Set World League 1991, Ultimate WLAF 1991
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Work
Sent: 9/10/13   Received:   5/17/14   (250 days)
Failure: TTM 2011, C/o Blue & Gold Magazine

An amazing quarterback at Notre Dame, Tony Rice finished with an incredible 28-3 record for the Irish. When the nation was in full bloom love the Notre Dame football during the late 80’s, if Rocket Ismail gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated, they were talking about Rice’s ability to come alive and win games with his will and sheer athleticism. During that period, Tony led the Irish to the National Championship in 1988 and narrowly missed one in 1989.

The college ranks were a completely different animal back then. Players weren’t scouted and groomed for NFL success like they are today.  Rice was looked down on by scouts because he was an option quarterback with great rushing stats, but not so amazing passing stats. He did not get drafted in 1990, so Tony played in the CFL for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Unable to crack the lineup ult92 ricebehind starter Kent Austin, Rice elected to join the WLAF in 1991. Drafted by the Barcelona Dragons, the league attemped to lean on the Dragons to trade Rice to the Knights, because he was still popular in the states, but Barcelona refused. In the meantime, he’d split time with Scott Erney as the team rolled to World Bowl I against the London Monarchs.  During the season the Spanish translation of his name became quite popular and he was referred to in the media as ‘Antonio Arroz’.  Again, much like his time at Notre Dame,  Rice would demonstrate his ability to wreck opposing defensive gameplans with oppritune scrambling. He’d rush for 210 yards and 2 TDs in 33 carries. The Dragons finished as European Division Champs in 1992, but lose to the eventual World Bowl Champion Sacramento Surge. While the WLAF would reorganize after the season, Rice decided to hang around in Europe for an additional season, playing for the Munich Thunder of the Football League of Europe.  At the time of the league’s suspension, Tony was the leading rusher in WLAF history, at the quarterback position.

He worked for the Notre Dame “Blue and Gold” magazine publication for a few years, and I had heard rumors through the grapevine as to where he was at. Currently he’s with HUB International. Cross referencing with other sources I was able to peg down his actual location and shot these cards out to him last year. After failing previously in 2011, I was gunshy about giving him another shot, but when it comes to TTM autographs, -with no risk, there is no reward. I was pretty happy to get this one back with a small note inside “Apologizing for the wait, Your Friend, Tony Rice”, and the two autographed cards.

WLAF    Att 186     Comp 91     Yds 1228      Pct 48.9%        Td 1     Int 5      Rat  61.0  |
Rush 44      Yds 312    Avg 7.1     Lg 24     Td 3

 

NFL, WLAF

Johnson, Jason

ultwlaf92 jjohnsonCards: ProSet WLAF 1991, Ultimate WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2014, C/o Work
Sent: 2/17    Received: 3/4  (14 days)

Jason Johnson played wide receiver and runningback for the Illinois State Firebirds. He’d be a free agent find of the Denver Broncos in 1988. After spending the first half of the season on injured reserve, he’d return 14 kick offs for 292 yards in 8 games. The Steelers signed Johnson in 1989, and again he’d be relegated to primarily kick and punt return duties.Later Jason would have a try out with the New Orleans Saints but not make the squad.

In 1991, Jason was drafted by the Frankfurt Galaxy of the WLAF in the 3rd round of the league’s positional draft. As Mike Perez‘s favorite target, the speedy receiver caught 38 balls for 635 yards and 4 touchdowns.   Against the Skyhawks that season, he’d catch a 59 yard bomb to set up the go ahead score.  Johnson also stepped up as Frankfurt’s primary punt returner, fielding 24 kicks for 89 yards. Jason even saw time as an emergency defensive back, intercepting one pass and returning it 17 yards.  While the Galaxy finished 7-3, the team did not make the playoffs in 1991.

pset91 jjohnsonHe’d return to the Galaxy for the 1992 season, but with Perez splitting time with Alex Espinoza behind a leaky offensive line, Johnson saw less looks and consequently- less targets, and the team slumped. Still Jason managed to haul in 22 receptions for 268 yards and a 47 yard touchdown, before the league went on hiatus after the season.

He returned back stateside after that, and his hometown of Gary, Indiana. He worked his way into coaching, and is now a head coach at West Side High School.  He wrote me a really nice note on the back of the envelope, telling me that his son was soon going to be in the NFL and that he himself loves Austin and is looking forward to moving here when he retires.

NFL  Rec   1          Yds  6         Avg 6.0        Td 0        Lg 6    |
KR  17     Yds 335       Avg 19.7         Td  0         Lg 34
Pr  3         Yds 27          Avg 9.0           Td  0         Lg 13

WLAF  Rec 60       Yds   903        Avg 15.1       Td   5          Lg  59
Kr     5           Yds   107        Avg   21.4          Td 0               Lg 26
Pr    24         Yds      89        Avg  3.7              Td 0               Lg 15

 

NFL

Alexander, Shaun “The Great”

tnt13g salexanderCards: Top Notch Signature Select 2013
Acquired: TTM 2014, C/o CAA
Sent: 12/19    Received: 4/24   (120 days)

Shaun finished as the Alabama’s greatest runningback, smashing the career yardage (3,726 yards) record for the Tide, and single game mark with 295 yards, but his 26 touchdowns also set an SEC single season mark in 1999. In all he held 15 school rushing related records.  An all-around well rounded back, Alexander could do it all, and is as comfortable running between the tackles as he was pp00 salexandercutting back to the outside.

Drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round of the 2000 draft, Alexander sat behind Ricky Watters his rookie year. In 2001 after becoming a fulltime starter, Alexander set the franchise’s single game mark with 266 yards rushing against the Oakland Raiders. He’d go on to be the NFL’s leading rusher in 2005 with 1,880 yards, and break the NFL record (previously held by Priest Holmes) garnering 27 rushing touchdowns, earning Shaun the NFL’s MVP award. A two time All Pro and a member of the NFL’s All 2000’s team, Alexander also holds the pp00 salexander bcareer rushing mark for the Seahawks.  By 2007 injuries had begun to catch up to Shaun, and he was cut in April of 2008. Alexander set to rejuvenate his career with the Washington Redskins, but lasted only 4 games with the franchise. While teams had expressed some interest in him, and he remains in peak physical conditioning, for all points and purposes in 2014, Shaun is retired. He finished only 600 yards short of 10,000 and with an impressive 112 TDs in 123 games.

Shaun has written an autobiographical book about his life and is very involved with CAA. He wrote me a fun note on the back of my envelope encouraging me to taunt some of my friends with his autographed card. He also included a bible verse on the card from Psalms 37:7

“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.”

Of note, Shaun has appeared on the cover of both NCAA 2001, and Madden 2008. By the time that Alexander had taken the cover of the game, the Madden Curse was already front page news. -He broke his foot promptly in Week 3 of the 2008 season.

G/Gs 123/96    Rush 2187    Yds 9453     Avg 4.3        Td  100      Lg 88  |
Rec 215     Yds  1520     Avg 7.1       Td 12       Lg 80