NAMATH A Biography

Joe Namath could throw a football 70 yards with a 280-pound defensive tackle sitting on his chest. Back then, people wore Nehru jackets and paisley shirts, and the "sexual revolution" was ongoing. Joe, the sweet, hazel-eyed hustler in mutton chops, found himself at the center of a maelstrom of fashion shoots, booze, and big-time media. Mark Kriegel's story captures the vitality and arrogance of the early days, as well as the pathos of the later arthritic and alcoholic years. Scott Brick's reading conveys the foreboding of Bear Bryant's pronouncements, the impish humor of Namath's late-night adventures, and the excitement of Super Bowls and long bombs to Don Maynard. Kriegel's portrayal is as much fun as a girl in fishnet stockings and go-go boots. J.W. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 04/ JAN 05]