I guess it's up to a few of us old geezers to lay a little respect on Bubba. He was one of the best of his era.................he was 66......... RIP
Bubba was one of the best DEs ever to play. Turned out to be pretty good comic actor in the Police Academy movies too. Sad news to hear of his passing. RIP Big Man.
Such a bummer. He was one of the true mythical defensive linemen in the 60's and 70's. He was also a big figure in the 70's-80's beer cammercials - on Miller lite as I recall.
[video=youtube;FMIKPXu7S0U]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMIKPXu7S0U&feature=player_detailpage[/video] [video=youtube;KPm3l5przFI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPm3l5przFI&feature=player_detailpage[/video] [video=youtube;3F57JSA7ZKs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3F57JSA7ZKs&feature=player_embedded[/video] [video=youtube;VfMLUe3_Ol0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfMLUe3_Ol0&feature=player_detailpage[/video] Rest in Peace Bubba
You know I'd always assumed he was in the NFL Hall of Fame, and just looking over his wiki page, it doesn't mention it. As someone who saw him play I find this to be about as much a travesty as Jerry Kramer not being there. Bubba was the king of the bad asses as DEs go. If I was to make up my own all time All Star team, the DEs would be Bubba, and Deacon Jones.
I was surprised too. I hope Don Shula has a word or two with the HoF Committee since Bubba played for the Don in Super Bowl III. Today everyone talks about Troy Polomalu et al...Bubba Smith was cut from the same piece of wood as Jack Lambert, Ray Nitsche, Dick Butkus, Ed Jones...in my opinion, all around better athletes and players than today's prima donnas.
His younger brother Tody who also played in the NFL, died in 1999 at 50. Seems a bit of a pattern with both brothers dying so young. Bubba from what I read, they're saying died of natural causes. Tody died in his sleep. Wonder if the same thing that took Reggie White, got one or both of them too.
