Tag Archives: tulsa talons

Arena

Bassuener, Matt

tnttal14 baussuenerCard: TNT AFL Talons 2014
Acquired: IP, 7/2014  San Antonio Talons v. Jacksonville Sharks

Matt is a very well-traveled quarterback. He’s seen action on 4 different continents, including stops with the Seinajoki Crocodiles, Fluminense Imperadores, Gold Coast Stingrays, Upsalla 86ers. A mobile and savvy veteran of gridiron and the Arena leagues, Matt was back on his second stint with the Talons in 2014.  During his tours in the Arena leagues, Bassuener (pronounced: Baw-zing-r) had also played for the Louisville Fire, Amarillo Dusters, and Fairbanks Grizzlies. He got his first crack at the AF1 league in 2011 with the Tulsa Talons throwing for 1,803 yards and 27 touchdowns. A dangerous and crafty scrambler, Matt had 12 TDs rushing that year as well. He’d earn a tryout with the Barnstormers in 2011 before landing with the Gladiators in 2012.

Arriving roughly halfway through the 2014 season, Matt spent most of the time fighting Shane Boyd for the starting job. Allowed to finally lead the team during the final few contests, Bassuener, led the Talons to wins over the LA Kiss and New Orleans Voodoo in the consecutive final two contests. Matt also helped power San Antonio’s highly ranked rushing attack, finishing 4th in the league in rushing with 228 yards on 48 attempts and a TD.  After settling in Matt ended up with 23 TDs to 8 INT while throwing for 1,207 yards on 107 completions.

100MEDIA$IMAG0840Coming to games every week and giving cards to the team’s COO paid off, as he upgraded myself and my wife up to field seats before the game. With a few minutes to decide, I chose to sit at the 30, then moved down just a bit to the 25. A few minutes later a young woman came and sat beside us. After striking up a conversation, we found out the young woman turned out to be Matt’s girlfriend. Occasionally she’d lean over the front and scream at him in Portuguese, cheering him on or yelling at the Sharks’ players. A few minutes later I caught an errant pass from Matt in the stands. It’d be a nice memento to keep of our adventures with the Talons and the Arena league.  After the game I gave Matt his card. He was almost as excited as his girlfriend to get his own football card, and put it up on his Twitter account. He lives in Austin, and continues to train and play as an ambassador to the sport of football.

Of note, Matt was a stunt double for J.D. McCoy from the TV show Friday Night Lights. Over his college time at Georgetown, Bassuener threw for 3,233 yards and 23 touchdowns, while also gaining over 400 yards rushing on a healthy 5 YPC average.

Arena

Fontaine, Tacoma

fontaineAutograph Memorabilia
Stampede Inaugural Magazine Austin Wranglers
Acquired: Gift 2004

My cousin got me a game program full of autographs back in 2004, that I found recently when digging through some boxes. I had completely forgotten about this group of autographs, as I had been out of touch with the hobby for a few years when I was given this magazine as a gift.

Tacoma Fontaine quickly established himself in the Wranglers starting lineup in 2004 after a successful career with the Tulsa Talons as a receiver, returner and defensive back. With his second start under his belt, Fontaine won AFL player of the week honors after recording 7 catches for 205 yards and 3 touchdowns against the Detroit Fury. Fontaine finished the 2004 season with 72 receptions for 1076 yards and 21 touchdowns. In 2005 Tacoma saw time as both a receiver and kick returner recording over 1500 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns. He’d retire after the season.

Arena

Richardson, Ramon

 

Autograph Memorabilia
Stampede Inaugural Magazine Austin Wranglers
Acquired: Gift 2004

 

I am a big fan of football and even went to Texas Terminator games in 2001 of the IPFL, Austin Knights/Rockers in 2002, and then finally followed the Austin Wranglers of the AFL in 2004- but by this point, I hadn’t gotten back into collecting autographs myself yet.  That wouldn’t happen for another 5 years or so.  Thankfully though my cousin got me a game program full of autographs back in 2004, that I found recently when digging through some boxes.

Ramon Richardson played 5 seasons in the AFL after being signed by the Austin Wranglers in 2004. His best season came in 2006 where he recorded 21 tackles and 2.5 sacks for the team. Richardson played one final season in 2008 for the Cleveland Gladiators recording 12 tackles and a sack before retiring in 2009. In addition to his time in the AFL Ramon played 2 seasons for the Tulsa Talons in 2002 and 2003 notching 47 tackles and 9.5 sacks.