Aug 28 2008
Namath Shouldn’t Drink, Kiss and Tell
I recall reading an article in Newsweek about Joe Namath when I was a kid. In case you don’t know, Namath is a Hall of Fame quarterback who famously guaranteed his New York Jets would defeat the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III in 1969. The Colts were heavy favorites but the Jets won, 16-7. Namath was very flashy. He loved mink coats, lots of women and saying whatever came to mind. One line of the article in particular stuck with me, “Namath has done what every great entertainer should do—he has made almost everyone feel strongly about him.”
I think that’s the best thing an athlete or an entertainer can do. I won’t go as far as Charles Barkley did and say athletes shouldn’t be role models. There’s no point in arguing the issue. They are role models—like it or not—just like Tom Cruise, Madonna, Andy Warhol or the President. People see them on TV and some people take their cues from them. Players may not like it but that’s reality. They can complain about it but they’re being foolish if they try to deny it’s happening.
Namath has good taste in broadcasters. I wouldn’t mind kissing Suzy Kolber either. It’s too bad Namath got drunk and a fool of himself. Hopefully, he’ll get himself together and make the best of a bad incident.
In a way, Namath had a tough break. Lots of people want to kiss Suzy Kolber. Some will even admit to it. Most of them will not be doing an interview with her at the time though.
When bad things happen to a celebrity, the whole world knows. For instance, I know someone who has been busted for DUI twice and nobody cared. I call it the price paid for the life led. I’m sure the average TMZ.com headliner would say he never agreed to pay that much. That said, I think he probably would have made that proverbial deal with the devil if necessary because he loves the game–and the life–that much.
I’m glad I’ve never had a drink, a drug or a smoke. Caffeine’s my biggest addiction. I always figured if I got addicted to alcohol, cocaine or tobacco like I was to caffeine and cheeseburgers, I’d never put down the stuff. Some doctors think addiction runs in families. They think there might be a gene that can predict addiction, like the gene that indicates Down’s syndrome. I don’t know if that’s true but I know some families seem to be full of lushes. I don’t want to take any chances.
