Baltimore Colts Great Bubba Smith Passes Away

by Bruce Raffel on Aug 4, 2011 7:01 AM EDT

Older fans of the Baltimore Colts will definitely remember the ferocious nature of defensive end Bubba Smith. Unfortunately, Smith passed way today in Los Angeles at the age of 66. His NFL career was cut short by a knee injury that today might only sideline a player for a few weeks. He suffered a freak injury by falling on the first down pole marker on the sidelines during a play. Back then, the term was that Smith "blew his knee out," while today it would just need arthroscopic surgery and he could return in as little as a month. He was never the same player after that injury

Smith, whose full name was Charles Aaron Smith, was the first overall pick in the 1967 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Colts. He was considered one of the best pass rushers of his era and after his playing career ended, his movie career began and between the 'Police Academy' movies and his Miller Lite beer commercials, became widely known outside the sports arena.

See more on his NFL and Hollywood careers with video clips in the story on Yahoo! Sports.

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Too young to remember his playing days...

But I will forever remember Bubba for his Married With Children cameo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ7--omnU

And his Police Academy “Officer Hightower” role.

by 3r1c on Aug 4, 2011 8:53 AM EDT reply actions

by handlogten on Aug 4, 2011 9:24 AM EDT reply actions

Goodbye Bubba!

As a kid growing up in Westminster I used to attend the Colts camps at Western Maryland College (now McDaniel) and the two guys I always was so thrilled to see were Johnny U and Bubba Smith. I was in awe of Bubba. He was so ferocious in his pre-injury days. You knew he was going to get the quarterback.

Made me so happy when he got some fame as an actor. I saw him in the 80’s walking through BWI and he was still bigger than life. A true Baltimore great. Sad to see him go. Those two gents were my introduction to football. My first football memories are Johnny and Bubba and now they are both gone.

by Rayfan1 on Aug 4, 2011 10:52 AM EDT reply actions

great memories…it would be nice to have a pass rush. it was no coincidence that our SB was in large part to the rushing of McCrary and Burnett (beat Oakland for us as much as Sharpe did). We haven’t had a balanced blitz for a long time. When the game is on the line lately the Steeler and other steal the cheese from Flacco while our guys stand in prevent or watch Suggs get bottled up. The Reed blitz has diappeared or can’t be supprted (See NE w/ Moss). It is crucial we have a threat on both sides or Suggs will wear down. McCrary was not that great but his line had balance AND a young and ferocious Ray.

by Killer Kahn on Aug 4, 2011 5:40 PM EDT reply actions

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