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10 Questions with Bubba Smith
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"When hearing tales of Bubba Smith, you wonder, is he man or myth?"
-- Ogden Nash
Actor and football great Charles A. "Bubba" Smith grew up in Beaumont, Texas, graduating from Charlton-Pollard High School, where he played for his father, coach Willie Ray Smith, Sr. Willie Ray bred three All-State Smiths -- Willie Ray, Jr., Tody, and Bubba. They made Charlton Pollard a perennial power in Texas school football. In Bubba's senior year the school was 11-0, and college recruiters beat down the doors at the Smith household until Bubba decided to attend Michigan State University.
Bubba became one of MSU's all-time great players, winning All-Big Ten and All-America honors for two straight years (1965 and 1966) as the team stomped through two unbeaten seasons and became the national champions. Whether he was playing tackle, defensive end, or middle guard, fans would cheer him on with, "Kill, Bubba, Kill!"
In 1967, the Baltimore Colts made him their number one draft choice. Bubba stayed with the Colts through the 1972 season and racked up some impressive statistics: He played in the NFL championship game in 1968 and the Super Bowl in 1969 and 1971. He was chosen All-AFC in 1970 and 1971, and played in the Pro-Bowl in 1971 and 1972.
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Bubba missed the 1972 season after knee surgery and was traded to the Oakland Raiders in 1973. He moved home to Texas to play for the Houston Oilers in 1975 and completed his career with them in 1977. He made his last game memorable by making twelve unassisted tackles, sacking Bob Griese twice, blocking an extra point, and knocking aside a field goal.
A ten-year veteran of the NFL, wrote his memoirs, "Kill, Bubba, Kill," with Hal de Windt in 1983.
He has developed a successful second career as an actor, first working in Miller Lite beer commercials then starring in the Police Academy movies.
Now Smith has opened Bubba's Casino and Sportsbook, an online site featuring casino-style games such as Blackjack & Roulette, a "Sportsbook" with real-time betting lines from Las Vegas and Europe, an international lottery ticket brokerage, and live video/audio Internet broadcasting of horse-racing from around the world.
(By the way, SportsHollywood members get 10% added automatically to their cash accounts, so get those Super Bowl bets in now!!!)
TEN QUESTIONS (plus another six)
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SportsHollywood: First Question: Tastes great or less filling?
SMITH: Tastes great.
SportsHollywood: What's your favorite sports movie?
SMITH: Remember The Titans with Denzel Washington. I like the story of having to overcome what may seem as impossible odds to achieve a goal and the teamwork it takes to get there.
SportsHollywood: What's your favorite movie that YOU were in?
SMITH: Black Moon Rising with Tommy Lee Jones.
SportsHollywood: Which was your favorite POLICE ACADEMY movie?
SMITH: The first one.
SportsHollywood: Most memorable football game:
SMITH: Michigan State vs. Norte Dame 10/10 Game.
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SportsHollywood: Do you have fonder memories of college or pro ball?
SMITH: College.
SportsHollywood: Do you think your Michigan State team could have beaten any pro teams?
SMITH: The 1966 team would have been competitive with a few NFL teams..
SportsHollywood: You were named to the NCAA All-American Team twice. Most athletes don't stay in school long enough to accomplish that anymore. How do you feel about early entry into pro sports?
SMITH: I feel that there is not enough money you could be paid to make up for the learning and growth process you get in college. The millions of dollars will always be there if you are that good of a player.
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SportsHollywood: What made you more famous: Football or acting?
SMITH: Apparently acting.
SportsHollywood: When you're in a bar, do people ever ask you to recreate the "easy opening can" ad?
SMITH: I do not go to bars, but at personal appearances there is always someone who asks.
SportsHollywood: Did you ever idolize any football players when you were growing up?
SMITH: My big brother, Willy Ray Smith Jr. He was the best player in the family.
SportsHollywood: What sports do you enjoy now?
SMITH: Football and Track & Field.
SportsHollywood: Favorite pro athlete playing today:
SMITH: I'd say Kobe Bryant in basketball; Marshall Faulk in football; Alex Rodriguez in baseball; and Michael Johnson in Track & Field.
SportsHollywood: Is there anybody in football today who reminds you of you?
SMITH: Not really the size of the player at each position is so different than when I was a player.
SportsHollywood: Who do you think will win the Super Bowl?
SMITH: St. Louis Rams.
SportsHollywood: Should I put money on them?
SMITH: Absolutely -- at Bubba's Casino.com!!!
If you bet against Bubba Smith when he was in the NFL, you lost a lot of money! But now here's your chance to win it back from Bubba himself!
Bubba has started his own online casino, and Sports Hollywood has partnered with Bubba's Casino and Sportsbook to provide you with sports wagering and casino-style gambling (and finally get some of that money back from Bubba).
Give it a shot -- how often do you get to say "hit me" to Bubba Smith and come away better off?
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Charles "Bubba" Smith
Films: Down 'n Dirty (2000), The Flunky (2000),
Big Game XXVIII: Road Runner Vs. Coyote (2000),
Drifting School (1995), Holy Matrimony (1994), The Silence of the Hams (1994), Fist of Honor (1993), My Samurai (1992), The Naked Truth (1992), Gremlins 2 (1990), The Wild Pair (1987), Black Moon Rising (1986), Police Academy 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (1984-89)
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'Ten Questions' Archive
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