SoFlaJets Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 as another South Florida resident on his road to sobriety-Joe's coming up on 3 years and I'm coming up on 2 on March 22nd-I had a little over 4 years from 1997 to October 2001-that's more than I usually share about myself...I hope to see Joe at a meeting some day-I've met a few famous people at meetings-people whose names I am not at liberty to divulge because of anonymity issues Author Namath still proud of Jets Neil Best SPORTS WATCH November 14, 2006 Sunday was a good day for Joe Namath. It was his 1,036th day of sobriety, and he spent part of it watching his former and still favorite NFL team on television in his Florida home. Best of all, the Jets won, improbably out-mucking the Patriots in Foxborough. Surprised? "Proud more than surprised," Namath said yesterday. "I'd say I'm pleasantly proud." Namath is accustomed to agonizing as he watches the Jets but loves what the new coach has done and how their quarterback bounced back from major surgery - a task Namath knows too well. "The man is an example of what determination and courage can do," he said of Chad Pennington. "His arm has less strength than others, but he makes up for it with timing and mental capabilities." Full disclosure: Most Mondays, Namath does not phone SportsWatch headquarters to spend 45 minutes shooting the breeze about the Jets. He called because he wrote a book, out today, called "Namath." It looks good, lists for $29.95 and includes a DVD of old NFL Films interviews and footage. Should you buy it? Depends on what you are after. It has less lofty ambitions than Namath's first autobiography, written in 1969 with Dick Schaap, or Mark Kriegel's unauthorized 2004 book. Publishers, including Jackie Onassis, have tried to get Namath to tell all for years; this is not the account they were after. Essentially, it is a coffee table book with easily digestible text and excellent vintage photos (which would have benefited from explanatory captions). "It's a classy book you could have a father and son or father and daughter share," he said. "I just don't believe in kiss-and-tell about many things in life. But the next time I write a book, I promise you I've been thinking about telling everything." The text, which includes some sloppy errors and does not have much to say about Namath's post-career life, does have its moments. Notable is a chapter that includes an exhaustive chronicle of his injuries from his perspective. Those injuries still take a toll. Namath, 63, said his biggest physical problem is arthritis in his right wrist that makes it difficult for him to sleep. Whenever he lapses into self-pity, though, he recalls a quadruple amputee he met during a USO tour in 1969. "If I ever start feeling sorry for something I have, I give myself a quick smack," he said. Namath stopped drinking in January 2004, less than a month after an interview at a Jets game during which he made an inebriated pass at ESPN's Suzy Kolber. "It could be a matter of life and death," he said of his second attempt at permanent sobriety. "Certainly a different life." He still acts as an ambassador of sorts for the Jets and plans to attend the Texans game Nov. 26. Other than that, Namath, who is divorced, spends time at home raising his 15-year-old daughter, Olivia. His other daughter, Jessica, 21, is a student at Alabama, where Namath played. Three years ago she said she would be the first in the family to graduate from college. "I said, 'You want to bet?'" Namath recalled. He is on pace to graduate from Alabama in June. "I told my mother I'd finish," he said. Namath sounded happy and relaxed. It was early on his 1,037th day. But, he added, "I don't count today until tomorrow." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetCane Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 Congrats to Joe and SFJ ! One day at a time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faba Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 Good for you SoFla and Joe Willie- congrats to both of you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spjets Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 congrats SFJ.. but 1 question...HOW THE HELL DO YOU NOT DRINK BEING ON THIS SITE... .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoFlaJets Posted November 14, 2006 Author Share Posted November 14, 2006 congrats SFJ.. but 1 question...HOW THE HELL DO YOU NOT DRINK BEING ON THIS SITE... .. when it starts driving me crazy I leave for a while and when I'm wrong (too often) I send a PM and apologize Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joewilly Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 i'm guessing he hit on suzie colbar 1,038 days ago. that'll sober anyone up. congrats to my childhood hero. you da man joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spjets Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 when it starts driving me crazy I leave for a while and when I'm wrong (too often) I send a PM and apologize lol..gotcha.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raffyD Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 i'm guessing he hit on suzie colbar 1,038 days ago. that'll sober anyone up. congrats to my childhood hero. you da man joe lol, that was great! POTW NOM. Hey SFJ, nice work to you and JM. A very close friend of mine has been sober for about 3.5 years and I know how much work and determination is needed to come out on top. Keep up the good work big guy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jet27 Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 To all you recovering guys and gals..congratulations!!!! Keep the faith and keep strong. As for my childhod hero Joe Nameth, I remember trying to be like Joe, I even had my mom buy the white and green puma's...remember those. Anyway..in my opinion Joe Willy Nameth was the best, always was and always will be. Take care Joe....and good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxman Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 congrats SFJ.. but 1 question...HOW THE HELL DO YOU NOT DRINK BEING ON THIS SITE... .. Hey -- I am sober, 37 years now. But I think I get your point. Maybe I just cause other people to drink. HHHmmmmmm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatsFanTX Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 when it starts driving me crazy I leave for a while and when I'm wrong (too often) I send a PM and apologize Now I know why I have received 3,439 PM's from you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faba Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 Now I know why I have received 3,439 PM's from you. To go along with the 10000 complaints Max has gotten about you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatsFanTX Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 To go along with the 10000 complaints Max has gotten about you! faba, please let me know who those 1 or 2 posters were. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faba Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 faba, please let me know who those 1 or 2 posters were. You want the break down by zip codes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green DNA Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 Well done SoFla! Next time I'm in the neighborhood we can hoist a Pepsi together! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faba Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 Yes to get this back on track- good for you again SoFla Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryno the Jet Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 Hats off to anyone who takes control of their inner demons; I wish there were meetings for some of mine at times. Not sure if this has been brought up or not, but Joe Willie will be on with Mike and Mike tomorrow morning; Greeny will likely cream his pants! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uart Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 Namath is graduating college in June. That makes him the most accomplished member of the Class of 2007. He won't have any trouble in the job market. I bet 'Bama wishes he had another year of eligibility yet... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoFlaJets Posted November 14, 2006 Author Share Posted November 14, 2006 Now I know why I have received 3,439 PM's from you. LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatsFanTX Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 LOL Seriously, great job SoFla. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterNorth09 Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 Congrats, can I buy you a drink? Just kidding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeWillie Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 My hero ... Now and Forever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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