His coach at the time, Bill Ross, demurred. A budding, multisport talent at Beaver Falls High School entering his sophomore year, Namath decided to quit football so that he could focus on baseball and basketball. In the book, he paints the hometown scene that set him on a course with destiny as a future pro football superstar. In my mind’s eye, I see those scenes, and I cherish them just so much.” And I can see Linwood (Alford, his best childhood friend). He never touched a dag-gum rod, just sat in the boat with rain coming down, and he’s just watching me fish. She’d always turn to me and say, ‘Joey, straighten up,’ because I kind of walked hunched over. “Oh, man,” he said, “I think about walking to school up Seventh Avenue with my mom. So it’s not surprising that in his new autobiography, 'All the Way: My Life in Four Quarters,' stories about his hometown sprout throughout.Īsked in an interview last week to pick his favorite hometown tale, Namath, who turned 76 on May 31, chuckled and mentioned many. Namath's career numbers don't jump off the page, as he completed 50.1 percent of his passes for 27,663 yards, 173 touchdowns and 220 interceptions, but he played in a different, run-focused era.He might have achieved the pinnacle of his profession 50 years ago on Broadway, but Joe Namath’s roots remain pure Beaver Falls. Nicknamed 'Broadway Joe,' few players, if any, soaked up the limelight and enjoyed the New York media attention more than Namath. Emotionally, I used that as an excuse to start drinking again. Over the years, I learned how fragile we humans can be. I believe any of us can be brought to our knees whether from physical or emotional pain. Namath and his ex-wife, Deborah, divorced in 2000 after 16 years of marriage, and he admitted to using drinking as a coping mechanism after the split: 'The drinking was what would kick my butt for a long time. That knowledge made me a stronger individual.'

With the help of my recovery, I learned that I had used my divorce as an excuse to go back to drinking. I haven't had a drink since. That shame is where I found my strength to deal with the addiction.

I had embarrassed my friends and family and could not escape that feeling. Namath believes that moment was a turning point for him: Namath told Kolber he wanted to kiss her during the interview and later admitted to being drunk.

In the book, Namath specifically addressed his infamous sideline interview with ESPN reporter Suzy Kolber during a game in 2003.

Joe namath all the way