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Joe Namath tells Kolber he wants to kiss her
Associated Press
NEW YORK - Joe Namath's interview on ESPN was cut short when the Hall of Fame quarterback gave curious answers to Suzy Kolber's questions.
The former Alabama star was at the Patriots-Jets game Saturday night as the Jets celebrated their 40th anniversary team. Asked by Kolber, ESPN's sideline reporter, about what the team's struggles meant to him, Namath replied:
"I want to kiss you," as he leaned toward her.
He added that he believed the team would come back next season with Chad Pennington available to play quarterback all year. But those at ESPN had heard enough.
"Based on Joe's response to the second question, we concluded the interview expeditiously," the network said in a statement Sunday. "While Joe made some relevant football points, had we known what was to come, of course, we would not have conducted the interview."
Kolber responded to Namath's comments by saying "Thanks, Joe. A huge compliment."
Namath capped off the interview by repeating: "I want to kiss you." before Kolber turned things back over to the announcers in the booth.
The Jets said they would have no comment.
Posted on Sun, Dec. 21, 2003
Joe Namath Apologizes to ESPN's Kolber
Tue Dec 23,10:40 PM ET
BRISTOL, Conn. - Joe Namath apologized to ESPN reporter Suzy Kolber for his comments during Saturday night's Patriots-Jets game.
"Joe apologized, I accepted, it's over," Kolber said Tuesday after the Hall of Fame quarterback phoned her.
Namath, at the Meadowlands for the Jets' announcement of their Four-Decade Team, twice told Kolber he wanted to kiss her while she was interviewing him on the sideline.
Namath told USA Today in an article on the newspaper's Web site Tuesday that he was "full of some Christmas cheer, certainly too much." The newspaper reported that Namath acknowledged he had been drinking before the interview with Kolber.
"I wasn't trying to be rude or crude," he said. "I feel awful about what happened, for my family and the Jets. I've been in better Christmas spirits, no pun intended."
During the second quarter of the Patriots-Jets game, Kolber asked Namath what the Jets' struggles meant to him. He replied: "I want to kiss you" and leaned toward her.
He added he believed the team would come back next season with Chad Pennington available to play quarterback all year.
Namath capped off the interview by repeating: "I want to kiss you."
Kolber responded to Namath's comments by saying "Thanks, Joe. A huge compliment" and turned things back to the announcers in the booth.
Namath serves as a goodwill ambassador for the Jets.
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