All the Way: My Life in Four Quarters

Joe Namath, with Sean Mortimer and Don Yaeger. Little, Brown, $30 (256p) ISBN 978-0-316-42110-2

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)