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I saw Joe Willy tonight live on ESPN, and here's what happened.

ESPN suddenly goes to the sidelines and there is Namath, looking good in a green number 12 Jets jersey over his shirt or sweater. He is asked a question by the cute sports reporter, and he smiles at her longingly, and sort of rocks side to side. He gives a long, slow, deliberate and rambling answer to the question. Good technique to avoid the slur! His eyes were either glazed or squinted, and he was chewing gum, and I thought right then that he was drunk. Although I couldn't tell for sure, I think his hands were in his pockets. The sports cutie asked another question and he looked at her with a nice smile, head cocked to one side, and said, "I wanna kiss you..." It was so funny! What makes it worse, was that after the next play ended, the ESPN crew goes right back to the reporter for another quick comment from Joe - only this time just audio; the camera stayed on the field of play. She asked her question and Joe melts under her seductive spell, joyfully answering, "I wanna kiss you!"

That was Joe's most memorable performacne in a Jets jersey in over 30 years! He probably had a bigger TV audience tonight than when he won the Super Bowl.

For the record, Joe is working right now on finishing up his degree at the Univ of Alabama. One of his buddies recently told him that he should complete his degree, and that inspired him. He only needs 15 credits, I think. He selected a class in American Studies on Vietnam, and a creative writing (independent study) course.

I always liked him and nothing I saw tonight changed that.

That's an absolutely accurate description of what happened.

He was smashed.

Did it hurt his reputation? Heck, it enhanced it.

I remember him by the swimming pool in Miami before the historical Super Bowl sipping a drink talking to reporters.

Sure, you can analyze it down to the point where it's sad and unfortunate, but if he wants to pickle his liver while enjoying life, I can't begrudge him that.

I thought it was the funniest live interview I'd ever seen.