Mike Bass
Encyclopedia
Michael Thomas Bass is a former professional American football
player who played defensive back
for the Detroit Lions
(1967) and the Washington Redskins
(1969–1975). Before his National Football League
career, Bass played for the University of Michigan
.
In his 8 NFL seasons as a cornerback
, Bass recorded 30 interceptions for 478 return yards and three touchdowns. He also recovered five fumbles and gained 105 yards on eight kickoff returns. In 1972, the Redskins won the NFC championship game of the 1972-73 NFL playoffs against the Dallas Cowboys
, when they limited the Cowboys to 3 points and Roger Staubach
, their quarterback, to 9 completions in 20 attempts for 98 passing yards, Bass and the other cornerback, Pat Fischer
, being instrumental in shutting down their wide receivers. But, though the defense allowed only 14 points, the team lost Super Bowl VII
to the Miami Dolphins
. Bass scored the only touchdown for the Redskins in that game as a special teams player, returning a botched pass attempt from Miami Dolphins
placekicker
Garo Yepremian
after a blocked field goal 49 yards for a fumble return touchdown
, making him the last man drafted by legendary coach Vince Lombardi
to score in a Super Bowl game. In 1976, he was replaced as a starting cornerback by Joe Lavender
.
During a brief stint with the Detroit Lions, Bass had a small speaking part in the 1968 film adaptation of George Plimpton
's book Paper Lion
. In 1976, Bass was among several Washington Redskins players who appeared in the blaxploitation
film Brotherhood of Death
. However, when that film was released to DVD in 2005, Bass expressed dismay at the news, saying that he hadn't cared for the script and that to that date, he had never seen the picture.
Bass is employed by Montauk Resorts of North Carolina.
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...
player who played defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
for the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
(1967) and the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
(1969–1975). Before his 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...
career, Bass played for the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
.
In his 8 NFL seasons as a cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
, Bass recorded 30 interceptions for 478 return yards and three touchdowns. He also recovered five fumbles and gained 105 yards on eight kickoff returns. In 1972, the Redskins won the NFC championship game of the 1972-73 NFL playoffs against the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, when they limited the Cowboys to 3 points and Roger Staubach
Roger Staubach
Roger Thomas Staubach is a businessman, Heisman Trophy winner and legendary Hall of Fame former quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys from 1969 until 1979. Staubach was instrumental in developing the Cowboys into becoming one of the best teams of the 1970s and led the team to nine of the Cowboys'...
, their quarterback, to 9 completions in 20 attempts for 98 passing yards, Bass and the other cornerback, Pat Fischer
Pat Fischer
Patrick Fischer is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1961 to 1967, and the Washington Redskins from 1968 to 1977....
, being instrumental in shutting down their wide receivers. But, though the defense allowed only 14 points, the team lost Super Bowl VII
Super Bowl VII
Super Bowl VII was an American football game played on January 14, 1973, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California, to decide the National Football League champion following the 1972 regular season...
to 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...
. Bass scored the only touchdown for the Redskins in that game as a special teams player, returning a botched pass attempt from 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...
placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
Garo Yepremian
Garo Yepremian
Garabed Sarkis "Garo" Yepremian is an Armenian-American former football placekicker in the National Football League for the Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers during a career that spanned from 1966 to 1981. -Career:Yepremian was born in Larnaca, Cyprus to...
after a blocked field goal 49 yards for a fumble return touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
, making him the last man drafted by legendary coach Vince Lombardi
Vince Lombardi
Vincent Thomas "Vince" Lombardi was an American football coach. He is best known as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers during the 1960s, where he led the team to three straight league championships and five in seven years, including winning the first two Super Bowls following the 1966 and...
to score in a Super Bowl game. In 1976, he was replaced as a starting cornerback by Joe Lavender
Joe Lavender
Joseph "Joe" Lavender is a former American football cornerback who played ten seasons in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1973–1975, and the Washington Redskins from 1976–1982. He was drafted by the Eagles in the twelfth round of the 1973 NFL Draft...
.
During a brief stint with the Detroit Lions, Bass had a small speaking part in the 1968 film adaptation of George Plimpton
George Plimpton
George Ames Plimpton was an American journalist, writer, editor, and actor. He is widely known for his sports writing and for helping to found The Paris Review.-Early life:...
's book Paper Lion
Paper Lion
Paper Lion, published in 1966, is a non-fiction book by prominent American writer George Plimpton.In 1960, Plimpton, not a professional athlete, arranged to pitch to a lineup of baseball stars in an All-Star exhibition, presumably to answer the question, "How would the average man off of the street...
. In 1976, Bass was among several Washington Redskins players who appeared in the blaxploitation
Blaxploitation
Blaxploitation or blacksploitation is a film genre which emerged in the United States circa 1970. It is considered an ethnic sub-genre of the general category of exploitation films. Blaxploitation films were originally made specifically for an urban black audience, although the genre's audience...
film Brotherhood of Death
Brotherhood of Death
Brotherhood of Death is a low-budget 1976 action film in the blaxploitation genre, directed by Bill Berry, and starring Roy Jefferson, Le Tari, and Haskell Anderson...
. However, when that film was released to DVD in 2005, Bass expressed dismay at the news, saying that he hadn't cared for the script and that to that date, he had never seen the picture.
Bass is employed by Montauk Resorts of North Carolina.