All the Way

March 15, 2019
Hall of Fame quarterback and erstwhile cultural icon Namath (I Can't Wait Until Tomorrow...'Cause I Get Better Looking Every Day, 1970) looks back on a long life of football, fashion, and fun.Tom Brady may always live with Deflategate hanging over his head, but such shenanigans were the coin of the realm when, half a century ago, Namath was a household word. During one game, he writes, he filed down five thumbtacks and taped them to his fingers to better grip the ball. It was ill-conceived: As he writes, "the ball stuck to the tacks just long enough so the release was too low," and his passes went straight into the turf. "So the tacks didn't work," he adds, with characteristic amiability, "but hey, in the days before playing gloves, the idea was worth a try." Both all-out star and team player, Namath has much to say on the inspirational front about trying, getting smacked down and dusting yourself off, and the usual sports stuff. He also discusses the N-word, divorce, booze, adultery, and other off-field violations of decor, taste, and ethics, and he has a very long memory for past injuries and insults as well as triumphs: "Oakland was real good, but certainly had some players who completely disregarded the rules of decent sportsmanship"; "This victory, the biggest upset in professional football championship history, was for all underdogs to be shared by all the underdogs." Though he professes to hate writing, calling himself a "reluctant author" who'd much rather be outside playing, he's got a handle on the storytelling racket. If it's not especially literary, it's good fun, with Burt Reynolds, Janis Joplin, Elvis Presley, and other assorted luminaries joining in. And if you want to know how his college coach, Bear Bryant, came by his nickname, Broadway Joe is the go-to guy.A pleasure for fans who remember way back to Namath's glory days--and an entertainment for those who are new to the gridiron hero.

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April 8, 2019
Namath, quarterback of the 1968 Superbowl III–winning Jets, reflects on his life in this riveting, earnest memoir. Namath explains that he intends to show readers “how I’ve changed, both positively and negatively,” and divides his memoir into four parts, as he recalls each quarter of Super Bowl III, incorporating moments of his private life throughout. For example, as Namath discusses his legendary Super Bowl III “guarantee” to win against the Baltimore Colts, he addresses his struggles with drinking. Namath is refreshingly candid throughout, taking readers through his decision to even write the book (Mortimer and Yaeger expertly bring out Namath’s intimate, conversational tone), and emphasizing his desire to not overlook the darker parts of his life. It’s apparent that he valued his relationship with coach Bear Bryant, for whom he played at the University of Alabama, and uses his quotes as metaphors for life (“You’ll remember the losses quicker than the wins. We’re going to win a lot of games, but the losses will stick in ya’ll’s craws”). Football fans­ will delight in Namath’s play calling throughout (he tells Jets coach Weeb Ewbank on the sideline, “They haven’t scored on our defense yet. I’d rather not throw. I’d like to run”). Namath’s razor-sharp recollections bring a bygone era of football to vivid life in this illuminating volume.

May 15, 2018

In time for the 50th anniversary of Namath's leading the New York Jets to a huge upset victory in the Super Bowl, here's a memoir recounting the football player's rise to stardom, glamorous social life, and post-retirement struggles with injuries and alcoholism. With a 200,000-copy first printing.

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2019

In time for the 50th anniversary of Namath's leading the New York Jets to a huge upset victory in the Super Bowl, here's a memoir recounting the football player's rise to stardom, glamorous social life, and post-retirement struggles with injuries and alcoholism. With a 200,000-copy first printing.

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2019

Few athletes embody a major cultural revolution as much as Namath. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, "Broadway Joe" brought style and swagger to the National Football League, assuring his legacy by brashly declaring that his upstart New York Jets would triumph over the old-school Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. When they did, New York (and by extension, the sports world) was his. Now 75, Namath has weathered injuries, addictions, and a battered public image. With the championship game that changed his life as a backdrop, he recounts his struggles and victories in the framework of a prolonged conversation. Namath is a charismatic storyteller with a warm, familiar voice and hard-won perspective on his role ushering in the era of entertainment and individuality in sports. This introspective, candid autobiography is a guaranteed winner for football and sports fans, and readers interested in the cultural history of the late 20th century. VERDICT From the football field to Hollywood and beyond, Namath claims his trademark flair and singular place in history with an autobiography that will be popular with several generations of readers.--Janet Davis, Darien P.L., CT

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.