If you are a football fan of a certain time, you probably have strong memories of Joe Namath. During his time with the New York Jets, Broadway Joe lived up to his nickname; he won the Super Bowl, owned a popular nightclub and became one of the biggest stars in professional sports. In recent years, however, the defender has unfortunately made headlines for the wrong reasons.
Before Super Bowl 55, Joe Namath appeared on Fox News’ America News HQ. While the interview should have been a softball, full of football clichés and memories of the good old days, the New York legend Jets made an uncomfortable comment about referee Sarah Thomas.
Joe Namath won a place in Super Bowl history with the New York Jets
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Whether fair or not, athletes are defined by how they perform at the greatest moments. Fortunately for Joe Namath, he had no trouble climbing the Super Bowl.
After playing his ball at college in Alabama, Namath was drafted by both the NFL’s St. Louis Cardinals and the AFL’s New York Jets. He, of course, accepted the last offer, signed a massive contract and went to the Big Apple; in a short time, it was christened Broadway Joe and printed on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Although there were some initial growth problems, Namath and the Jets ended up turning a corner. They won the 1968 AFL championship and, in January 1969, faced the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl 3.
Although the Jets were seen as the underdogs of the AFL, Namath ensured victory and kept his promise. He took New York to a 16-7 victory, earning Super Bowl MVP honors in the process. He not only proved that AFL could hang out with the big boys, but he also became a New York legend in the process.
Although his career numbers may not seem so impressive overall – Namath battled injuries and 62-63-4 in his career, playing for 27,663 yards and 173 touchdowns – Broadway Joe won his place in the sport’s history.
Trying to infamously kiss Suzy Kolber
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During his playing career, Joe Namath had a reputation as a playboy. The old habits, however, seem to die with difficulty.
In 2003, Suzy Kolber of ESPN conducted a secondary interview with Namath. Although the issue at hand was the Jets’ ineptitude, Broadway Joe was not interested in talking about football. “I want to kiss you,” the infamous quarterback said. “I couldn’t care less about the team fight, and I want to kiss you.”
Namath later apologized and, as explained in his biography, came to see the incident as a “blessing in disguise”. Although he was embarrassed by his behavior, it did inspire him to seek help.
“It was in this shame that I found the strength to deal with addiction,” explained Namath. “With the help of my recovery, I found that I used my divorce as an excuse to get back to drinking. That knowledge made me a stronger individual. “
Joe Namath made another unpleasant comment, this time about Sarah Thomas
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During Super Bowl 55, Sarah Thomas made history as the first woman to referee the big game. Joe Namath’s comments, however, serve as a reminder of how far we have yet to go in terms of gender equality.
Appearing on Fox News’ America News HQ before the Super Bowl, Namath was asked if Thomas making history was “incredible”. His response, however, got worse.
“Oh, I would be getting close to her there in that field, you know. Try to make a deal with her, ”said Namath, as seen in the Fox News clip. He then explained that Thomas’s appearance at the Super Bowl was incredible and that his older sister was a talented athlete in her own right. “We will treat everyone with respect, regardless of gender, please and color,” he added.
It is safe to assume, however, that Joe Namath would not be planning to “get close” to a male employee. Perhaps the quarterback should pay more attention to his own advice in the future and treat everyone, including Sarah Tomas, with respect.
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