Posted on 08/03/2011 4:58:21 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Former NFL defensive end and longtime television and movie actor Charles Aaron "Bubba" Smith was found dead in his Los Angeles home on Wednesday. Coroner's reports have not yet been released, but according to the Los Angeles Times, it is believed that Smith died of natural causes.
Smith attended Michigan State, where he was one of the most dominant collegiate defensive linemen of all time. He won All-America honors in 1965 and 1966, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1988.
Selected first overall in the 1967 NFL draft by the Baltimore Colts, Smith soon became, along with Deacon Jones, one of the first truly modern-style pass-rushers and sack artists. He played long before sacks were first tabulated as an official NFL statistic in 1982, but he was known from the start of his professional career to be nearly impossible to block.
He played for three teams — the Colts, Oakland Raiders and Houston Texans, appeared in two Pro Bowls and was named First-Team All-Pro in 1971. Smith played in two Super Bowls — Super Bowl III, which the Colts lost to the New York Jets in an enormous upset, and Super Bowl V, which the Colts won with a last-second field goal against the Dallas Cowboys. Smith retired after the 1976 season, having played in 111 regular-season games.
After his football career ended, Smith became perhaps even more well-known as an actor. He struck gold in the "Police Academy" series of movies, playing the hyper-strong Moses Hightower and providing a series of riotous slapstick scenes.
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.yahoo.com ...
RIP
RIP
Houston Texans? I thought it was the Dallas Texans back then?
RIP Officer Hightower.
RIP again.
Several comments already over here.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2758263/posts
Ah, dang.
Sad to hear.
What a heart-break! And so young!
RIP, Bubba — thanks for the memories on the field an on film...
Thanks for the link!
What a great DE. Remember him in the classic Colts/Dolphins games of the early 1970s.
I remember watching him as a kid. One of the all time great football player names.
Dam i just saw that I loved that dude
I fondly remember his appearance in a beer commercial..
“I just like these easy-opening cans” My hands down favorite.
RIP, Mr. Smith.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPm3l5przFI&playnext=1&list=PL8A134FC2651C2C08
Many an NFLer has gone to an early grave.
I recall he swore off making any more beer commercials after a visit to East Lansing where he saw way too much underage drinking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6SBtg9VQ9M&feature=related
and this one: “Bubba...this ball doesn’t have any holes in it”
Yes I only know him from Police Academy, too young to remember his Football career. RIP
Rest in Peace Bubba, you will definitely be missed.
They don’t make them like Bubba anymore. Truly one of the greats.
Damn. Another personality from my childhood...dead. (sigh)
RIP, Bubba. Thanks for the thrills on the field and the laughs in the theaters. You seemed like a nice man.
Played in what could arguably be called the greatest college football game of all time.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.