Book Review
Namath
Author: Mark Kreigel
Review by Paul Hopkins
16/2/2008
Even though he stopped playing over thirty years ago, every football fan knows of Joe Namath. But what do they know? They'll know about Super III and the 'guarantee', they'll likely know about the hips and knees, the drinking, the women, and of course, everyone knows about his desire to kiss Suzy Kolber on live television.
So if like me you think (or should that be – thought) you know Joe, then you really should get yourself a copy of this book. This book goes beyond that, and provides a thoroughly detailed account of Namath's whole life, from the arrival of his family in the United States in the early twentieth century through to the challenges Joe has faced after his career in the NFL had longed die down.
Rather than merely describing events in Namath's life, what you get with the book is a feel for what created Joseph Namath, what motivated him, what fears consumed him, what was in his mind at key times, what he was all about and consequently, how his life developed.
The depth and range of people interviewed and information retrieved by the author is impressive to say the least. We have school friends, family friends and even high school football reports recalling their time with the young Namath. The impact his upbringing had on Joe explains his actions in later life. From an early age, the physical pain which was to become his hallmark played a role in his life. The separation of his parents developed a strong bond to his mother, which impacted on his personal relationships as he got older and his love 'em and leave 'em tag.
Of all the new aspects to Namath that I personally learned from the book, perhaps the most interesting was the time spent at Alabama, under Paul 'Bear' Bryant. Initially, one would have thought the hard-line smash mouth coach and the cocky, confident quarterback would have been a disaster waiting to happen. But far from it, the two bonded – Namath getting a strong father figure to keep him in check, Bryant gets a quarterback he develops complete faith in on the field.
For the NFL fan, there is great depth and detail to Namath's storied career with the Jets, contrasting the brilliance of his play with the self-destructive of his drinking and partying. There are no aspects hidden with this book; it doesn't just focus on the highs, glossing over the lows. They are contained and chronicled within the book, as they are equally a part of Namath as the famous win over the Baltimore Colts.
Overall, some may argue that this book is too detailed and descriptive, and certainly there are times when you think that Kreigel is somewhat labouring over detail but in the age of glossy public relations driven biographical books for people in their twenties, it is refreshing to have a complete, detailed, reflective and complex account of one of the most iconic players in NFL history.
Buy it – there won't be a more comprehensive book on Joe Namath, or any other NFL player, anywhere else.
Diner Rating 9/10
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