Billy Sims, the former Lions running back, is businessman, busboy, greeter and promoter of Billy Sims Barbecue, on Telegraph at 10 Mile in Southfield.
Terry Foster of the News reports his rib joint already has 20 locations in Oklahoma, two in Missouri and the one in Michigan. Sims and his business partner, Jeff Jackson of Kansas City, Mo., hope to open as many as 60 restaurants in Michigan. A second location is scheduled to open Oct. 5 in Lincoln Park.
"This is like me winning the Heisman," Sims told Foster.
Sims won college football's biggest trophy at Oklahoma. "It is a team effort. It's like a great offensive line opening those holes up. They are the ones that make it happen."
Shortly after he was selected No. 1 by the Lions in the 1980 draft, Sims was thinking about life after football. And five years and 5,106 rushing yards later, following a severe knee injury, it began.
