Bubba Smith, pictured above in his role as Moses Hightower in the Police Academy movies died yesterday. No cause of death has yet been determined, but investigators found no evidence of foul play. Ham on Wry mourns his loss along with the millions of football fans who followed his pro career, as well as movie fans who followed his acting career. Smith also starred in Miller Lite commercials with another former pro football player, Dick Butkus. Although Alex Karras didn't appear in those commercials, the three formed a formidable trio of friends.
Bubba played football at Michigan State University, where I met him at a party. At 6'7", he was a foot taller than I, and when he shook my hand, his hand engulfed mine, making it look like a small child's. Smith was well regarded by his teammates and a powerful defensive player who was quicker than one would expect from such a large man When he took the field, the Michigan State fans chanted, "Kill Bubba, Kill!", which always sent the crowd into a frenzy.
Many readers might not know about his exploits as a football start, but he is worth investigating. He made helping others his focus after leaving football and is remembered fondly by director Guy Magar, who states, "He was a special soul, a gentle giant, as kind and caring on the film set as he was feared and terrifying to every quarterback that ever faced him on the gridiron" (quote from Los Angeles Times story). Ham on Wry bids farewell to a hero both on and off the field.
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