We were saddened last week by the passing of Charles Aaron Smith. He was better known as Bubba Smith, and we were fans of him as both a football player and as an actor. He was an intimidating force at defensive end. He played on some great Michigan State teams, where the fans would cheer, "Kill, Bubba, kill." (By contrast, Princetonians chanted, "Kill, Bexis, kill.") Bubba Smith was the first player selected in the 1967 NFL draft and, in a sport full of tough guys, he stood out as being especially tough. After his football career ended, Bubba Smith went to Hollywood and played guys who were as sweet and loveable as they were strong and unmovable. (He was also a spokesman for a Baltimore plaintiff's firm.) In Miller Lite commercials and Police Academy movies, Bubba Smith seemed like a nice guy who would apply force only with the greatest reluctance.
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