Bubba Smith may have been a 6’7 Defensive Lineman, who was frighteningly talented and spent much of his professional football career trying to destroy opposing quarterbacks, but he was also known in his second life as a very funny actor, who spent much of his time doing comedic roles on Lite Beer commericals with Dick Butkus and in movies like Police Academy.
Yet, on a cool Wednesday evening at Damons resturant in Louisville, KY back in 1999, I was fortunate to meet him after the Paul Hornung TV show which was filmed there for the last several years on one of the cable access channels. The Paul Hornung show was well known for having big time sports personalities on and afterwards the live audience would storm the front for autographs. It was a popular place to meet some very interesting people and that night Bubba was the guest and mutitudes of fans carrying Baltimore Colt mini helmets to get signed were in the wings.
Smith was always an interesting person as I remember. He played DE for a Michigan State team in the 1960’s that was considered one of the most talented in school history and he was known for his furosity on the football field that the crowd would scream “Kill Bubba Kill.” That battle cry also extended into his years with the Colts.
The one hour show allowed the fans to get to know Smith even better as he told an anxious audience that he was born strong and that he never lifted a weight in his life. He was always getting cast as big guys that were very aggressive and he said that he was playing the part of a muscle guy in the show “Hart to Hart” and he had to get rough with a guy to stay in character, but he was so strong that when he hit the stunt double, he really hit him and they couldn’t reshoot the scene because the actor was really knocked out.
Although best known for his NFL playing career for three teams, I also knew him because he played the part of a former football player in the show “Married With Children.” The character was named “Spare Tire” and he supposely played on the rival team when Polk high won the State Football Championship.
Bubba never would shy away from his TV persona and when it came time to get something autographed, I asked him if he wouldn’t mind signing a scrap of paper “Best Wishes Spare Tire!” He chuckled and did it for me. I told him that I enjoyed watching him during his NFL career, but thought his time with Oakland was pretty good too. He responded by informing me that he was injuried during his time with the Raiders and it wasn’t an enjoyable experience.
Afterwards, I walked away thinking how guys like him play a part most of their life. That Butkus was once told that he could make a million dollars in Chicago just being Dick Butkus. In many ways, Bubba Smith was always playing himself whether on the football field or in front of a camera. He could be very frightening, but also very quiet and friendly as well.
Smith died in 2011. Nearly thirteen years since my first and only encounter with him. I actually watched the Paul Hornung show he was on and still have a copy of it. For some reason, people that I grew up watching during my younger years always intrigue me.
It’s ironic that I’m talking about that moment because it happened so long ago, but I recently saw a show about the 1970 Baltimore Colts and he was one of the guest speakers. I had almost forgot that he was on the Colts team that made history for the wrong reason by becoming the first NFL team to lose to an AFL team in the Super Bowl.
He was just like I remember him there too. Tall and imposing, but kind of friendly.
Just like I remember the last time.
