Cards: University of Texas Upper Deck 2011, University of Texas Upper Deck 2011 ATA, University of Texas 2011 NCAA, University of Texas 2011 Icons
Acquired: IP 1/21/2017, Houston Sports Collectibles Show- Waco, TX
An impressive track man with fleet caliber speed, Johnny ‘Lam’ Jones was a deep bomb threat at the University of Texas from 1976-1979. Originally a runningback, Lam was switched to receiver in 1977 when coaches were blown away by his speed. Case in point, Jones was part of a 4×100 relay team for the United States, that won gold in Montreal in 1976. In 1977 he demonstrated his speed recording 21 catches for 543 yards, a whopping 25.9 yards per grab, and 7 TDs. He finished his career at UT with 156 carries for 850 yards and 6 TDs, to go along with 85 receptions for 1603 yards and 14 TDs. Jones was also a capable kick returner with 28 kick returns for 589 yards and a TD.
The New York Jets were enamored with Jones’ speed and big play ability, and traded up in the 1980 draft to the #2 overall spot to grab him. It was a stiff price to pay, and while Lam averaged a healthy 16.8 yards per grab over his career, the price tag was too much for NY to bear. John’s best season came in 1983 when he caught 43 balls for 734 yards and 4 TDs. His career was defined by trauma, as in 4 consecutive seasons it was ended by some sort of malaise. He’d be cut in 1986 and retire.
Jones descended into darkness. Drug and alcohol abuse, and bad decisions really impacted his life. It took many years for Lam to climb out. Lam found focus in his life and dedicated himself to helping others avoid the same problems he encountered through public speaking.
John was really nice to fans at the Collectible Show in Waco. He and I talked at lengths about how Austin and I-35 had changed. While he discussed with me his Myeloma Cancer and the fact that his doctor told him in 2005 he’d be dead in a year in a half- indeed the cancer has returned and he is no longer in remission. He really liked the icons card that I had of his, and I agreed to send him one to keep.
I don’t mind long drives for autographs. In fact this one seemed close enough at a click over 100 miles. The drives are always purifying to me- something that clears my mind, with a reward pegged at the end. This drive was particularly interesting as it took me an alternative route from Bastrop to Temple and through places like Bartlett and Little River. It was a bit off the beaten path, but I felt like my own explorer in a strange land. I had never been to the Texas Sports Hall of Fame where this signing was at, but it was woefully short on Houston Oilers history, and long enough to display memorabilia from KS Bud Adams. It’s worth a look see at least once for fans and casuals alike.
G/Gs 61/38 Rec 138 Yds 2322 Avg 16.8 TD 13 LG 55
UPDATE: 3/15/19 Johnny Lam Jones passed away Friday morning from Cancer. He was 60 years old.
Considered one of the University of Texas’ best receivers in school history, BJ Johnson played alongside the much hyped 
Johnson played unknowingly on a broken tibia in 2003, causing him to tumble off draft boards, after he strained an oblique during the Senior Bowl. He’d be signed by the Denver Broncos to a UDFA after the draft. He rehabbed and made the team, but injuries kept mounting for BJ. He’d break his ankle and then the following year tore his hamstring. BJ signed with Tampa in 2005, but messed up his shoulder, deciding to hang up his cleats.
Absolute Heroes 2009, Panini UT 2015 A, Panini UT 2015 B, Upper Deck UT 2011 Icons, Panini Contenders 2016, Bowman 2010, Upper Deck 2001, Playoff Prestige 2010.
to him by my first name and then get bashful because whenever he sees me, he smiles and says, “I know you. I see you everywhere.” It means a lot that a player takes the time out of his day to do the little things such
Truly Ricky seems at peace with himself and it’s a wonderful thing to see especially after 
all he had gone through.
I arrived early for the Anheuser-Busch Gameday signing figuring that an hour and a half would be enough time to secure a decent spot in line. It was Ricky Williams of course. When I arrived, I was surprised to find that not only were there no fans waiting, most of the staff at the local HEB did not know Ricky was coming. After being directed to the toiletries line to start my creepy, lonely one man line, I waited patiently while everybody set up.
about his concussion therapy and I asked him to sign a few cards. I unabashedly packed 7 cards. Some fans frown upon this behavior, but I have no problem if he decides to stop at 2. It’s really up to him.
signed photo.
I went to the Town North Nissan signing in December. It was a surprisingly short line, and the car dealership wasn’t data mining or requiring test drives of fans. I was actually taken aback because there were employees of the store in line, and they were brazenly talking about selling extra footballs.
used to be my ‘hood’ and that I had seen him at the HEB event when we talked about concussions. I then explained my modus operandi to him- and how I just have all these cards of him, sitting around doing nothing. I might as well get them signed. There’s just something about the autograph on the card that’s addicting and creates new memories out of them. I admitted as much that it possibly might seem weird, but he was 
very cool about it. Even more comforting was the BAM promoter, who sees me everywhere, didn’t give me the evil eye (like I think he does). In fact he was really, really nice to me. I mean maybe that’s what it took for him to understand how harmless I am, but I digress. Ricky and I talked again about concussions, places he’s traveled to and Tien Tan Buddha. He promised to remember who I was for next time.
I met up with Shawn at the Wag-A-Bag for the Ricky Williams Signing in January of 2016. It was a large location, but jam packed with aisles and aisles of stuff, so it was hard to navigate. When I got to Ricky, he smiled and said hello. I wanted to prove to him that I was
sign them all without batting an eye. He told me that when he was a kid, the Chargers and Raiders were his favorite teams, but definitely not the Rams. He really liked the Crown Royale patch card of him from his Saints days, and pointed out how he was squaring his
the would be tackler was racking his balls. Williams also was very proud of his cards from his playing days in Baltimore. By that point he had finished signing all eight cards that I had brought, and I wished him well and went on my way.
everything on me again. (This time it was only 4 cards.) We talked about travel, and that Hong Kong was on his bucket list. He asked
me. We discussed the merits of the Panini UT 2015 set vs the Upper Deck UT 2011 sets of cards. I objected to the high amount of ‘filler’ cards. You know, cards that nobody cares about like, here’s the UT Swimming Pool and here’s something that just says Austin on the front. We also talked at length about my history in collecting.
Again later in the year at the season opener against Notre Dame, I got Ricky’s autograph on a few more cards during the Heisman House Tour. He hadn’t seen his Panini Contenders 2016 Rush Week card, and asked me where I got it. It was pretty obvious how much he liked it. Ricky has become a spokesperson for the responsible usage of marijuana. He’s been in the news for saying that if marijuana was legal he would be in the Pro Football HoF today. As controversial as