Posted on 08/11/2004 5:53:38 AM PDT by No Surrender Monkey
Joe Namath was the first quarterback to throw 4,000 yards in a season, but because he had long hair, wore mod clothes and loved the ladies, the feds began tailing him, according to author Mark Kriegel in his long-awaited biography, "Namath," due out Sept. 9. FBI chief J. Edgar Hoover had agents begin following the Jets leader with the movie-star looks in January 1967 simply for the "crime" of going to clubs.
"Earlier this month," quotes Kriegel from Namath's FBI file, "information was received from a reliable source indicating that [Namath] frequents the Pussycat Bar in New York City." The file also notes Broadway Joe "was observed intoxicated on several occasions...and also reportedly had an affair with an airline stewardess."
The FBI director seemed threatened by Namath's free spirit and hoped to put a stop to his status as an American role model. Praising his venerable FBI, Hoover once said: "You won't find long hair or sideburns à la Joe Namath here. There are no hippies in the FBI."
Hoover wasn't alone - President Richard Nixon added Namath to his "enemies list."
Kriegel, a Daily News alum, writes that Namath was "the first sports celebrity" and notes that television history could have been forever changed had Namath gotten some of the parts for which he auditioned. Not only was the football great up for the role of Sam Malone in "Cheers," but he actually "did some trial runs as a host of 'Family Feud,'" writes Kriegel. "At the last minute, producers decided the "Feud" should have "a more erudite host."
Namath even took singing lessons. Self-conscious about his voice, he wanted to sing the national anthem better, so he hired voice coach Arthur Joseph.
"It's not inappropriate to say he had the poorest pitch discrimination of any singer I have ever taught," Joseph told Kriegel.
Is this the right place to guarantee a Bush victory?
No, there was no long hair or sideburns. Just poodle skirts and frilly undies.
It was the pantyhose.....
Wanna bet some smart guy agent recommended himself for the task of following Namath around the city? Bet he had a hell of an expense report. Gotta blend in, after all.
Just goes to show that 37 years later the FBI is still bumbling around. The agency needs to be taken out and shaken like a dirty throw rug.
He was one of the gutsiest players ever.
He played with 2 badly damaged knees, and if he threw an interception he was just as likely to make the tackle as anyone.
Remember his first contract? Highest paid player up to that time, $400,000.
Chicken feed by today's standards.
As a little kid, I remember seeing a movie with Namath and Ann Margrett. There was a nude love scene. That's all I remember, except for being bored.
lol! Yeah, "Mary" wanted Joe watched from "behind".
Oh good grief. Look at Namath in CC and Company or, although you probably can't find it, his pathetic tv series "Waverly Wonders", and you'll know why his acting career bombed. Cheers would have lasted three episodes with him as Sam Malone. He makes Glen Campbell look like he can act.
So you're saying J Edgar Hoover wasn't a pickle smoocher?
Because, perhaps, 37 years later we like in the Secure Homeland, under the watchful eye.
Free country, my ass.
>>>>Because, perhaps, 37 years later we like in the Secure Homeland, under the watchful eye.
Free country, my ass.<<<<
It would have been nice if your post made sense.
I think the truth speaks for itself. It is well known for instance that Hemingway was a drunk and didn't write all that well. That he was puffed up by the elite Socialist press. And was an ardent Socialist. And he only wrote of what was in vogue at the time, not a radical at all, not even a little bit. Only a mouth piece. As for his sexual taste I am not sure. But it is not important, any more than is it important if JEH was a pickle smoocher. It has to do with what they did in their lives. You know on the one hand you can't shout "GAY RIGHTS", "GAY RIGHTS", than point out their behavior to discredit what they have done in their lives.
Yup, bingo.
(-game-)
"It is well known for instance that Hemingway was a drunk and didn't write all that well. That he was puffed up by the elite Socialist press. And was an ardent Socialist. And he only wrote of what was in vogue at the time, not a radical at all, not even a little bit. Only a mouth piece."
HA!!
Synopsizes the loser as well as anyone possibly could.
(-set-)
"As for his sexual taste I am not sure. But it is not important, any more than is it important if JEH was a pickle smoocher. It has to do with what they did in their lives. You know on the one hand you can't shout "GAY RIGHTS", "GAY RIGHTS", than point out their behavior to discredit what they have done in their lives."
-match-
Your comment(s) hit the nail squarely on the head.
You clearly see what's happened, who was responsible, and *why*.
Quite refreshing to read such clarity for a change, to tell ya the truth.
Just one thing.
Your spot-on insight(s) are "blue chip," sp.
...but you're peddling 'em with the penny stocks. {g}
I remember watching that game as a kid on a small 8" TV in my friend's bedroom - rabbit ears and all. It's still the only game I remember out of all the 35+ or so that I've watched.
Well thanks, I think.
I will work my way to the blue chips in due time. This site has some pretty heavy hitters playing and I don't like to have 'em bang one over my head and out of the park.
It took me several months to start posting.
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