With the passing of Alex Karras, I started
thinking about some of my favorite athletes turned actors.
Karras was one of them. He might best be remembered as the
dad on “Webster.” But I remember him best as Mongo from “Blazing Saddles.”
Mongo just pawn in game of life. He was more than a pawn in
that movie. He arguably had the best character in “Blazing Saddles.”
Here are my top 10 athletes turned actors.
10. Bob Uecker – He was a teammate of Hank Aaron, a World
Series champion with the Milwaukee Braves and he was great as Harry Doyle from
“Major League.” But he was probably playing himself, which isn’t much of a
stretch for an actor. His day job is as a broadcaster for the Milwaukee
Brewers. That makes his inclusion in the top five just a bit outside.
9. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – Loved him in “Airplane” as Capt.
Roger Murdoch. Or was he playing himself too? “Listen kid! I’ve been hearing
that crap ever since I was at UCLA. I’m out there busting my buns every night.
Tell your old man to drag Walton and Lanier up and down the court for 48
minutes.”
