Bob Lurtsema
Encyclopedia
Robert Ross Lurtsema is a former American football
defensive end
in the National Football League
for the Minnesota Vikings
, New York Giants
, and Seattle Seahawks
. He played in two Super Bowl
s with Vikings (Super Bowl VIII
in 1974 and IX
in 1975). Lurtsema played college football
at Western Michigan University
.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Lurtsema could often be seen in TCF Bank
(TCF Savings & Loan) TV commercials. He formerly owned Benchwarmer Bob's Sports Cafe, with two locations in the Twin Cities
. He was also seen playing the part of a blatantly biased referee
in the American Wrestling Association
during its last year, most famously in a match between The Trooper
and Mike Enos
.(His character states he is in the Trooper's corner and repeatedly helps the trooper during the match, and the bias is discussed by the announcers after the match.) At one of the final AWA shows, AWA Twin Wars '90 on May 5, 1990, Lurtsema teamed with Brad Rheingans
and the Trooper and defeated Tully Blanchard
and the Destruction Crew.
Late in a game against the Miami Dolphins
on October 1, 1972, Lurtsema received a roughing-the-passer penalty that led to a Dolphins first down and then a game-winning touchdown. It was the third game of the season in which Miami would finish a perfect 17-0.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
, New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
. He played in two Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
s with Vikings (Super Bowl VIII
Super Bowl VIII
Super Bowl VIII was a professional American football game played on January 13, 1974 at Rice Stadium. in Houston, Texas to decide the National Football League champion following the 1973 regular season. The American Football Conference champion Miami Dolphins defeated the National Football...
in 1974 and IX
Super Bowl IX
Super Bowl IX was an American football game played on January 12, 1975 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1974 regular season. It would be the last pro game at legendary Tulane Stadium...
in 1975). Lurtsema played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Lurtsema could often be seen in TCF Bank
TCF Bank
TCF Bank is the wholly owned banking subsidiary of TCF Financial Corporation, a bank holding company headquartered in Wayzata, Minnesota. TCF Bank is nationally chartered and operates 440 bank branches....
(TCF Savings & Loan) TV commercials. He formerly owned Benchwarmer Bob's Sports Cafe, with two locations in the Twin Cities
Twin cities
Twin cities are a special case of two cities or urban centres which are founded in close geographic proximity and then grow into each other over time...
. He was also seen playing the part of a blatantly biased referee
Referee
A referee is the person of authority, in a variety of sports, who is responsible for presiding over the game from a neutral point of view and making on the fly decisions that enforce the rules of the sport...
in the American Wrestling Association
American Wrestling Association
The American Wrestling Association was an American professional wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that ran from 1960 to 1991. It was owned and founded by Verne Gagne and Wally Karbo...
during its last year, most famously in a match between The Trooper
Del Wilkes
Del Wilkes is a former American professional wrestler. Over the span of 14 years, he performed in various promotions such as American Wrestling Association, All Japan Pro Wrestling...
and Mike Enos
Mike Enos
Mike Enos is a retired professional wrestler who wrestled mainly as a tag-team wrestler in World Championship Wrestling, the American Wrestling Association and the World Wrestling Federation between 1989 and 2000....
.(His character states he is in the Trooper's corner and repeatedly helps the trooper during the match, and the bias is discussed by the announcers after the match.) At one of the final AWA shows, AWA Twin Wars '90 on May 5, 1990, Lurtsema teamed with Brad Rheingans
Brad Rheingans
Brad Rheingans is a former Greco-Roman and professional wrestler.-Career:Rheingans was an NCAA champion in 1975 for North Dakota State University and wrestled in the 1976 Olympics, placing fourth...
and the Trooper and defeated Tully Blanchard
Tully Blanchard
Tully Arthur Blanchard is a semi-retired second generation American professional wrestler. He is best known as an original member of the Four Horsemen....
and the Destruction Crew.
Beverly Brothers
The Beverly Brothers were a professional wrestling tag team comprising Mike Enos and Wayne Bloom in the World Wrestling Federation. They were also known as The Destruction Crew in the American Wrestling Association and the Minnesota Wrecking Crew 2 in the National Wrestling Alliance...
Late in a game against the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on October 1, 1972, Lurtsema received a roughing-the-passer penalty that led to a Dolphins first down and then a game-winning touchdown. It was the third game of the season in which Miami would finish a perfect 17-0.