Joe Namath Battling Alcoholism

ESPN ^ | 01-22-2004

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Hall of Famer undergoing counseling

 

ESPN.com news services

Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath is undergoing counseling for alcohol abuse a month after an ESPN interview in which he slurred his words and twice told an NFL sideline reporter he wanted to kiss her.

"Well, I've enrolled, or I've gone into a center, and I'm getting personal help there," Namath said during an interview that will air on ESPN's "Outside The Lines" on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. ET. "Yeah, these people are experts and we need to talk."

Namath's interview also will run on SportsCenter at 11 p.m. ET as the Sunday Night Conversation.

In an interview during a New England Patriots-New York Jets game in December, Namath appeared intoxicated when he twice told ESPN reporter Suzy Kolber he wanted to kiss her. Namath subsequently apologized to Kolber.

Namath said he had been drinking for several hours prior to kickoff.

"We had been going since 3 or 4 in the afternoon, and I did the wrong thing," he said. "I'm very disappointed with my behavior, because of how I've embarrassed my family, and the people that I work with and my friends and all.

"But, hey, worse things have happened. And, thank God I'm healthy, and we'll move on, and we'll make it better."

Namath added that "every time that something in my life has gone askew, alcohol has been involved."

Namath said he has not seen a tape of the interview with Kolber and doesn't intend to.

"That was the wake-up call," Namath said. "Even before that, I said, 'Yeah, I'm going to stop, I'm going to stop.' "

But he would always resume drinking, Namath explained, hopeful that this time he can become alcohol free.

"It's just something I cannot handle, and it's history," Namath said.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

[11th Earl of Mar]

This is good news.

I would hate to think somebody was that obnoxious without alcohol or drugs.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

[bourbon]

Best wishes to Joe Willie that he recovers successfully.

As Jim Rome likes to say, Joe Willie is the coolest cat on the planet b/c "anybody who is a hero to both 'necks and guidos must be cool."

[Wally_Kalbacken]

Having designs on Suzy Kolber is prima facie evidence that something is wrong. Very wrong…

[pissant]

Check your bifocals. Suzy is a hottie.

[ZOOKER]

Yes, I saw the interview and yes, I knew at once he was sloshed to the gills -- and so did everyone else.

It's still ironic to hear him apologizing for his behavior, though. In the picture in my mind, he's wearing women's pantyhose.

Guess you can act like an idiot as long as you're at the top of your game, but not when you're an old has-been.

[Rebelbase]

Miserable failure = http://www.michaelmoore.com/

[jolie560]

Indeed.

http://www.amiannoying.com/2002/view.aspx?ID=6384

[Viking2002]

Oh, I could tell that Joe was half-tanked, and hitting on an attractive woman in a socially-embarassing situation.

Hell, who among us hasn't at some point?!? LOL

[philetus]

You don't "battle" alcoholism.

You either freely choose to keep drinking or you freely choose to stop.

[bigfootbob]

"Check your bifocals. Suzy is a hottie."

A Hottie Cowpie! You need to get out more often.

[bigfootbob]

Ditto. ESPN used bad judgement putting Broadway Joe on camera in that shape. Typical liberal deconstruction technique.

[jaz.357]

You can do it Joe. ONE DAY AT A TIME!and just Keep it simple!

[al baby]

Hey Joe If your out there hers a cyber hope chip for you god bless you stick with it gets lots better
First 3 steps
1 You cant
2 he can
3 let him

[baxter999]

Say it ain't so, Joe! Please don't go into rehab. What's the point of watching football without shots of drunken losers and sluts on the sidelines and in the crowd. It's un-American!

[LasVegasMac]

You don't "battle" alcoholism. You either freely choose to keep drinking or you freely choose to stop.

I think you know nothing of what you so easily dismiss as a "mere" choice.

If you have been close to someone that went through this, you would know that it really is more than a battle.

It is a fight for your life.

You set a new low mark for the "insensitive / ignorant" meter, congrats.

LVM

[Vinnie]

One of my all time favorite quarterbacks. Certainly the gutsiest. He played with 2 destroyed knees.

If he threw an interception, chances were excellent he would be the one to make the tackle.

[jaz.357]

RACK HIM!jaz....OUT!

[novacation]

I've had nasty habits I quit.I don't understand why people think they need to seek help to do the obvious. You just quit and deal with the desire to do whatever it is you were doing.