I was thirteen years old when the Gamblers took to the field for their inaugural campaign in 1984. As a resident of nearby Deer Park, Texas, I distinctly remember the excitement surrounding the new team. The NFL Oilers were struggling to rebuild after a horrendous 3-13 season, and the MLB Astros were playing their typical .500 ball. Even the Rockets of the NBA were finishing a less-than-stellar season with a woeful 29-53 record. Jim Kelly and his crew would have to save us. The Gamblers did not disappoint, as fans everywhere were treated to some of the most dynamic football ever played. The USFL was a league run by team owners with a "take no prisoners" mentality, which was naturally reflected on the field by the players as well. When it came to pulling out the stops and letting the pigskin fly, the Gamblers were among the best. But as all good things must end, the USFL closed its doors after the 1985 season, leaving a void in the hearts of countless loyal fans. Two years, thirty-eight games and several pro records later, the Gamblers walked off the gridiron forever. But while the Houston Gamblers and USFL may be long gone, they are certainly not forgotten. Several websites have been created since the mid-ninties to honor the United States Football League, and collectors continue to eagerly search the web and newspaper classifieds for all kinds of memorabilia relating to their beloved league and teams. In early 2008, I decided it was time to create my own site dedicated specifically to my hometown heroes, the Houston Gamblers. After graduating from Deer Park High School in 1989, I spent six years in the Army and later enjoyed several years as a securities broker/teacher after moving to Oregon. A graduate of the Oregon Police Academy in 2001, I also spent time on the side as a police officer, hanging up the belt for the last time in 2007. I now work for a large retail company and am the proud creator of Houston-Gamblers.com. . On June 12, 2010, offensive lineman Scott Boucher and I were privileged to coordinate the first team reunion since the Gamblers disbanded in 1985. Held at the Dave and Buster's in Houston, over 50 members of the Gamblers organization attended the historic event (not including friends and family!) You can see all kinds of photos, multimedia and information related to the reunion by following this link. After the reunion, I was named the "Gamblers Historian" by team owners Jerry Argovitz and Jay Roulier. How neat is that? Now that you've read my story, head over to "Post Your Story" and tell us yours! Anthony Nunez Send me an Email! I address the team at the Gamblers Reunion, held in Houston on June 12, 2010.

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