Career
He played in two Super Bowls with Vikings (Super Bowl VIII in 1974 and Super Bowl 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 and Loan) television 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 Aging with Attitude shows, Aging with Attitude Twin Wars "90 on May 5, 1990, Lurtsema teamed with Brad Rheingans and the Trooper and defeated Tully Blanchard and the Destruction Crew.