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May 7, 2010 8:46 AM

Broadway Joe

By
David Hancock
(CBS)  Joe Namath was football's first real superstar, the first quarterback to move from the playing field to popular culture and to dominate both.

They don't come bigger and, as we've heard so often, the bigger they are the harder they fall.

Joe Namath was crushed by linemen so often in his 13-year career that his knees turned to putty and he turned to alcohol. He is 63 now and he has written a book about his life called "Namath." It is about his football career, mainly. But he talked to correspondent Bob Simon about the flip side of his life, which he hasn't talked about much.



"I can remember the first injury I got that I turned to the foulest tasting stuff I could imagine or smell — and that was scotch. And I ended up drinking it for five years until I switched to the clear stuff," Namath says.

Asked why he did that, Namath says, "Because the doctor one time said, 'If you're gonna have to drink, drink the clear stuff instead of the dark stuff.' So, for medicinal purposes, I went to the clear stuff. That's right."

Namath says he drank "quickly" after a game but never before. His battle with the bottle continued for much of his adult life, until he found an extreme solution: abstinence.

"How many days?" Simon asks.

"A thousand and three," the football legend replied.

But he has an imaginary drinking buddy, "Slick," trying to lure him back to the bar.

"Slick man. Oh, yeah. Slick is there. Slick's whispering to you," Namath tells Simon.

"He's whispering, 'Just one more won't hurt,' huh?" Simon asks.

"He knows that's not enough you know," Namath replies. "You start getting flashes in your head and then fortunately I know that it's no contest. Lifestyle without is far healthier, more fun, more beneficial."

Whatever the pain, the injuries, the medication, Joe Namath was the man with the golden arm, No. 12, the first quarterback to pass for 4,000 yards in one season. He was also a cultural icon. He stepped out of the stereotype with his fur coat and his lama carpet. He was outrageous. Men wanted to be like Joe Namath and women wanted to be with him.

On the DVD that accompanies the book, Namath says: "It seems almost un-American to me for a bachelor not to go around having a drink with a lady now and then."

Now, Joe's retired and living quietly on the Florida coast, a divorced father of two daughters. When he walks today, he carries with him all the injuries of his 13 year career; the knees he walks on are artificial.

He still enjoys the sporting life, but the sports are different now. They are easy on those knees.

"You could chart your career at least on one level through your injuries, huh?" Simon asks.

"Lookin' back, I had a few of them but if you're gonna play that sport, you know, you usually do," he replies.

These days, quarterbacks have it easy compared to what Namath went through. Back then, there were no rules to protect quarterbacks and they were savaged; tackled even after they threw the ball. Namath didn't just injure his knees, he also disjointed vertebrae in his neck, broke bones in his feet and hands, separated his shoulder, broke his cheekbone, suffered numerous concussions — and that's the short list. Now, as a Monday morning quarterback, Joe says he shouldn't have gone on playing so long.

"I went to the Hall of Fame and I saw guys in wheel chairs and stuff that I used to watch on television. And that was real to me. You know, you start thinking about the accumulative injuries over the years. The body just wasn't designed for it. Knowing that now, yeah I'd of quit. It's easy to say, 'I would've quit now,' " Namath says. "But back then, it was my life."

Ironically, Joe told Simon the injury that really wrecked his football career didn't happen on a football field — it happened waterskiing. He showed us where his hamstring muscles had been severed and remain curled up in a ball.

He said that after the accident the Jets team doctor assured him he could keep on playing football, in spite of torn hamstrings.

"He says, 'Your knee's great.' I said, 'Yeah, but doc…my hamstring.' We said, 'What do we do?' He said, 'Well, you need your hamstring to run. You're a quarterback. You don't have to run anyway,' " Namath recalls.



[Editor's Note: For your own safety, we strongly recommend that you do not post personal information, like telephone numbers and e-mail addresses in the public message boards below.]


Copyright 2010 CBS. All rights reserved.
Add a Comment See all 98 Comments
by rolltide2009 July 1, 2010 12:10 PM EDT
Joe.. As a little kid growing up in Alabama during the 60's when we would play football there would be fights among 25 or so kids to see who was going to be #12 THE GREAT JOE NAMATH.You can ask any Alabam fan to this day who was the greatest player to ever put on that crimson jersey and they will tell you JOE NAMATH.Coach Bryant knew it.Your story will be inspiration to millions of people dont ever stop talking about it.Keep up the great work.All your family,friends,fans are very proud of your accomplishments.Roll Tide 2010&Go Jets.
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by moonlady2 December 7, 2006 4:33 AM EST
HI JOE,
I enjoyed the CBS interview very much. You came across very personable and at ease talking about who you are now. We met in NYC when you were still with the Jets. Now I'm in Florida too and would love to see you again, gentleman Joe.
Barbara
BCBarbaraLight@aol.com
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by jmhappy November 24, 2006 1:18 AM EST
Hi Joe,
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!! I wrote a very brief message to you on Monday morning following your interview. I wonder how on earth you find time to read all of these, you sure are popular!!!! Just like everyone else I would love to correspond with you:) I don't suppose you ever get to Washington state? One can never have too many friends.I'm closing in on 49 and my nest is getting close to empty.My 16 year old daughter had knee surgery on her right knee back in August and she will be having surgery on her left knee in the very near future, so I've seen just how painful it can be. If you should want to respond I'll leave an e-mail address that I can be reached at:) Have a wonderful holiday season!!
looneytune8@hotmail.com
Joy Always Happy
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by rompere November 23, 2006 2:07 AM EST
Hi Joe,

Sorry I missed the interview on 60 minutes. I just read the transcript and it is nice to see that you are settled and just enjoying life. I can't wait to be able to retire so that I can just walk along the beach here in Florida and, if I am lucky enough, sail my boat up and down the coast.

I heard you this morning on Majic 102.7 Radio in S. Florida and look forward to reading the book.

Although I never played football, not really a sport for women, I did develop a knee problem and do I understand, somewhat, about what you suffered. I am living now with the decisiion of what to do as the glocosamine just is not enough anymore.

Good luck with the book and Happy Thanksgiving. Let me know if you are having a book signing in Hollywood, FL or somewhere close by.

A long time fan,

Theresa
rompere@bellsouth.net
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by cherky1 November 23, 2006 1:39 AM EST
Hey Joseph,

I sent you the e-mail mentioning I worked for you at Bachelor's Three. How do I get a response, or even know you were able to read this one e-mail out of a thousand? Perhaps Mr. Simon can filter through this and let all of these "interested" ladies" know.

Just wondering, and thanks for your time and effort.

Sharon.
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by cherky1 November 23, 2006 1:31 AM EST
Ok, I sent the e-mail regarding my working for you. So how do we, any of the many writing to you, know if you have had the chance to read our e-mails? Just helps us not check and search each day. We still love you dearly, response or no.

Sharon Smith-Larson
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by lorriekg November 22, 2006 8:25 PM EST
Joe,
Not many celebrities come across as sincere and genuine as you did on "60 Minutes". I remember having a huge crush on you as a little girl (two brothers watched football all the time). You are undoubtedly the sexiest man alive still. My fantasy football dream would be having you teach my little boy how to throw a ball!!
For all your tribulations, you have handled yourself with grace and poise.
LorrieKG
Richmond, VA
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by Cheryl Anderson November 22, 2006 4:21 PM EST
I was so thankful to see Joe Nameth on 60 Minutes last Sunday. I've been a fan of his for years. I wish him the very best and wish I could meet him in person.

Cheryl
Boise, Idaho
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by napachild November 22, 2006 3:47 PM EST
Hi Joe,
Was so great to see you on 60 Minutes. I'm a 39-year Raiders fan, but still always loved you!! I'm a truck driver (run the west coast with mostly trips from SFO to LAX). I also have been sober since 1993. Was so glad to hear you're sober!! Understand how good it feels. If you're ever around LAX, let me know!! Would love to shake your hand and congratulate you!! Patti Wood, Napa, CA
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by lmfsports November 22, 2006 3:44 PM EST
Dear Joe: I was a huge fan of yours as a teenage girl who LOVED football! My heart broke when I saw "the interview" that evening and knew that you were in a bad way. I've been praying for you, and glad to hear that you are doing better. Please take care, Joe...and know that you have a lot of fans out here who will always love you. Thanks for all the wonderful memories of terrific football!! J E T S Jets, Jets, Jets!! Please write!! Linda lmfsports@enter.net
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