Lost 1960 World Series Footage Comes to Pittsburgh Next Month

I'd imagine most of you have already heard about the story of the 1960 World Series Game Seven videos recently found in Bing Crosby's wine cellar. But today, the city of Pittsburgh got some exciting news about the next step for that long-lost footage.

JOE NAMATH WEIGHS IN ON BIG BEN

Who can we look to as the voice of reason during a time of crisis in Steeler Land? Why, Joe Willie Namath of course, who shared his thoughts on Ben Roethlisberger via Twitter today:

"Roethlisberger not attending a voluntary workout because he's a "distraction"? To who? His team!? C'mon, when is a star NOT a distraction?"

If anyone knows about being a distraction to his team, it's Joe Namath. He wore a fur coat on the sidelines. He famously predicted victory over the Colts in Super Bowl III. He opened a bar called "Bachelors III" that was frequented by gamblers, and defiantly retired from the game rather than divest himself of his interest in the bar. He would've been 99% of the content on TMZ Sports if it existed in 1970. So drunken passes at Suzy Kolber aside, his viewpoint should hold some credibility on this subject.

RealJoeNamath [Twitter]

Know Your Elders: Joe Namath [MH]

Email: Mondesishouse@gmail.com Twitter: twitter.com/mondesishouse Facebook: Facebook Group

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Cooke saves the day: Matt Cooke scored on a power-play goal with 1:47 left in the third period to lead the Penguins past the Flyers, 2-1, on Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia in front of a national NBC audience. The Pens lead the season series, four games to one, with a final regular-season meeting between the teams coming March 27 in the Steel City.

It wasn't the most memorable Pens-Flyers tilt in history, but as I like to say, a win is a win is a win. Is a win. And we've been historically beaten down enough in the past as Pens fans to appreciate any win in that city, where the Penguins failed to record a single W between 1974 and 1989 - 42 games.

The story of this game was penalties and power plays. The first period alone featured a combined 12 penalties, with two coming in the second and nine more in the third. Luckily, the Penguins were able to convert twice on six power play chances, giving them just enough offense they would need on the day. The Flyers' PP unit was not nearly as successful, going just 1-for-9 against a solid Pens PK unit.

The Pens' first goal was a power play score in the first period from the game's top star, Sergei Gonchar, whose shot in the third period was deflected in by Cooke for the game-winner. They also got a nice effort in goal from Brent Johnson, who stopped 27 of 28 to raise his record to 7-5 on the season. Johnson has won two of three as a replacement for the injured Marc-Andre Fleury in the past week.

The Penguins don't have much time to enjoy the spoils of victory, with a 7 PM game at the New York Rangers on Monday night. [ESPN]

Panthers fading fast: A frigid shooting percentage killed the Pitt Panthers at Seton Hall on Sunday, where the Pirates came away with the 64-61 victory, the biggest win in the turbulent tenure of coach Bobby Gonzalez to date. Coupled with the Panthers' loss to Georgetown last week, it marks the first time since the 2007-08 season that Jamie Dixon's club lost two games in a row.

The Panthers shot 35% from the floor and 23.5% from three-point land, the latter actually being outdone by Seton Hall's 15.4% shooting from beyond the arc. To say this was not the prettiest of games would be a massive understatement.

Ashton Gibbs led Pitt with 23 points, but was 4-for-15 from the floor and 1-for-7 from three-point land. Gibbs' last three shooting nights also include 4-for-12 (Louisville), and 3-for-16 (Georgetown), giving him a three-game total of 11-for-43. Ouch.

Aliquippa's Herb Pope (profiled in the PG on Sunday) had 19 points and nine rebounds for the Pirates, who moved to 12-6 and 3-4 in the Big East. The Pirates' win was even more impressive due to the fact that their leading scorer this season, guard Jeremy Hazell, played just 16 minutes due to foul problems. Hazell is averaging 23 PPG this season for Seton Hall.

The Panthers try to rebound on Thursday at the Pete against St. John's (12-7, 2-5). Tipoff is slated for 7 PM, with TV on ESPNU. [ESPN]

Colts, Saints advance to Super Bowl 44: And here are your local connections...

The Colts feature LB Clint Session (Pitt), punter Pat McAfee (West Virginia and Plum HS), and Sr. Offensive Coordinator Tom Moore, who was a Steeler assistant from 1977-89 under Emperor Noll.

The only player with local ties on the Saints' roster is TE Darnell Dinkins, who attended Schenley HS and played safety, wide receiver, and linebacker while at Pitt. He started his post-Pitt career with the Pittsburgh Colts semi-pro team.

Woodley to hoop it up in Miami: Freshly-minted Pro Bowler LaMarr Woodley will be playing in the Mike McKenzie Superslam celebrity basketball game during Super Bowl week in Miami.

Woodley will be joined by the likes of Chad Ochocinco, Willis McGahee, Anquan Boldin, and DeAngelo Williams, among others. The game benefits Mike McKenzie’s 34 Ways Foundation and takes place on February 5. [Boudoirmag.com]

A rarity: I agree with Ron Cook: It doesn't happen often, and that's why it's worth pointing out. But Cook is right on the money: Joe Namath is still The Man. [PG]

Email: Mondesishouse@gmail.com Twitter: twitter.com/mondesishouse Facebook: Facebook Group

LaROCHE LaREMEMBERED

With today's departure of Adam LaRoche to the soon-to-be-disappointed Boston Red Sox, the Pirates saved themselves about $2.95 million in salary for the rest of the season. As the saying goes, they can finish in last without him, and they probably will.

The salary savings alone would be reason enough to dump LaRoche in exchange for a bag of sunflower seeds, but Nealer the Dealer actually got a few prospects back in return. They're not to be confused with Kyle Drabek or Matt Wieters anytime soon, but they're warm bodies, which fits Huntington's plan of acquiring said warm bodies in Sam's Club-like quantities.

After declaring the trade a success and spending the better part of today holding my own celebration of the deal, I decided to compliment that with a look back at the LaRoche Era as covered on Mondesi's House, from beginning to end. It was quite a ride. For me, he was a gold mine of content, so as a blogger, I'll miss him. But as a Pirate fan, I will not. Cue the dramatic music, and note all the references to batting averages over the years.

March, 2007: "79 Reasons Why It's Hard to be a Pirate Fan"

"10. The arrival of Adam LaRoche. LaRoche was celebrated as if the Pirates traded for a combination of Albert Pujols, Babe Ruth, and Roberto Clemente times 100. Anything less than 82 home runs and 195 RBI this year would be considered a disappointing season."

April, 2007: First comparison of LaRoche to Hans Klopek:

"Adam LaRoche, in the words of Joe Namath, is struggggling. 0-for-8, 5 strikeouts, 5 runners left on. Of course, being a blogger, my job is to criticize Dave Littlefield if he were unable to trade for LaRoche, then criticize him after two games if the guy is off to a poor start. So direct your anger at the GM.

Even worse, I figured out who LaRoche looks like...the Klopek kid from one of my favorite movies of all time, The Burbs."

June, 2007: Our first brush with "Buck Commander"

"When Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post's D.C. Sports Bog emailed me with this, I couldn't believe it was true. The unintentional comedy scale could possibly go off the charts once this project comes to fruition. Let's go over the ingredients of what he is reporting:

1. Adam LaRoche, .216-hitting first baseman of the Pittsburgh Pirates

2. Willie Robertson, the current leader of the famed Duck Commander clan and dead ringer for former WWF rassler Hillbilly Jim

3. A video featuring Adam LaRoche and Willie Robertson."

June, 2008: The LaRoche YouTube video hits

"Pirates first baseman Adam LaRoche is currently hitting .221 with six homers. On this date last year, he was hitting .211 with seven homers. In Atlanta in 2006, those numbers were .247 and 10, and in 2005, .249 and seven.

So the Pirates acquired this traditional late-bloomer before the 2007 campaign, and his early-season numbers since joining the Buccos have tailed off even below their previous depths. Although some would question the acquisition of such a player by a team that usually holds an annual fire sale in July, we've all learned to never question the wisdom of Dave Littlefield.

With that in mind, a Pirate fan created this incredible YouTube montage of The LaRoche Era, set to LaRoche's own at-bat theme song, "Karate Kid's" You're the Best. For any Pirate follower, it's a must-see."

August, 2008: An updated post on LaRoche's fascination with hunting:

"If he were traded tomorrow, my memories of the Adam LaRoche Era in Pittsburgh would include perennial half-seasons of teetering on the Mendoza Line, at least 100 Hans Klopek references too many on my part, and LaRoche's obsession with hunting."

January, 2009: LaRoche signs for the upcoming season

"Adam LaRoche just re-signed for one year, $7.05 million, a raise of over $2 million from his .270, 25 HR, 85 RBI 2008 season. Because if anyone deserves a $2 million raise in this economy, it's Adam LaRoche."

June, 2009: LaRoche is fired up about the Nate McLouth trade:

"There ain't a guy in here who ain't [ticked] off about it," said first baseman Adam LaRoche, according to the report. "It's kind of like being with your platoon in a battle, and guys keep dropping around you. You keep hanging on, hanging on, and you've got to figure: How much longer till you sink?

"It's fine. Heck with it. We're not the GM. We don't run the team. If they feel like it's the best move for three or four years from now, great," LaRoche said, according to the report. "Unfortunately, that does me no good. I've still got to be in here telling guys it's going to be fine with Nate gone. Well, you can only do that for so long until guys just kind of ... well, they know."

My commentary at the time:

"One finds irony in the fact that LaRoche, who is currently hitting .245 and traditionally does his best to help sink the aforementioned Pirates' platoon by the All-Star break, felt the need to speak out, especially considering the fact that LaRoche is a pending free agent and will surely exit via that route, unless he's traded first (hopefully for some prospects, for comedic irony)."

June 2009: LaRoche speaks out against Carlos Beltran's comment that being swept by the Pirates was embarrassing:

"I think it shows zero class and zero professionalism," the Pirates' first baseman said yesterday at Minute Maid Park. "When somebody says that, they know what they're saying, and they know it's going to get out. He knows we're not going to be real happy about it. If you go and say that to your buddies, it's one thing. If you go to the media and make that public for us to hear? Yeah, that's no class."

Email: Mondesishouse@gmail.com Twitter: twitter.com/mondesishouse Facebook: Facebook Group

JOE!

I've never made a secret of my affinity for Joe Namath on this site, my man-crush probably reaching its high point with a lengthy "Know Your Elders" feature in April explaining exactly why Namath is, was, and will always be "the man". So you can imagine my excitement today when a new photo could be added to the archive of ridiculous Namath photos, alongside such greats as this:

and this:

The photo of Joe and Farrah in towels is actually a part of the newly-opened Life magazine vault of photos, which has already been dissected at length by sports bloggers since its doors opened. It's the greatest thing I've seen today outside of the Chad Johnson comment thread.

Send your news, tips, and links to Mondesishouse@gmail.com.

NEWS AND NOTES

--Here's a list of local high school football stars from Western PA. If anyone ever tells you this isn't the first city of football, point them to this link. [KDKA]

--Speaking of Western PA high school football dominance, the Gateway Gators are ranked #6 in the country. [Rivals]

--Viggo Mortensen recently shot 'The Road' in Pittsburgh - and said this about the city in winter: "It's tangible, the misery and hopelessness and the bleakness. It gives you much more to work with if you're filming in that world instead of a green screen." [Dave Dameshek ESPN Podcast]

--The Pirates score 15 in a rare rout of the Dodgers. I love consistency. [PG]

--Fred Taylor's kid is 5'11", 205, and the starting RB for his high school varsity team. He's also in 8th grade. [Rivals]

--Today's Bill Cowher pipe dream...and this is a good one...Cowher and Michael Vick in Kansas City. [Arrowhead Addict]

--Tale of the tape: Yankee Stadium vs. TRL [SI Extra Mustard]

--Willie Colon talks tough about the Eagles' D-line. I like where this is headed. [PG]

--Could the current economic crisis trickle down to the NCAA tournament? [Awful Announcing]

--East Allegheny's Monte Ashby thinks he could run for 500 yards against Brownsville this weekend. "For real." [Varsity Blog]

--Pitt basketball got a verbal from J.J. Richardson, a 6-foot-7, 235-pound combo forward from Hightower High School outside Houston. [Trib]

--Here's 10 things overheard during Yankee Stadium's final week. [FanNation]

--Forgot to mention this sad video of Jake "The Snake" Roberts' meltdown the other day. [TMZ]

--Empty Netters takes you to Penguins camp. [Empty Netters]

--Wristbands: not just for the wrist anymore. [NY Times]

--ESPN's Power Rankings for Week 3 are out. You can't complain about the Steelers' slot too much. [ESPN]

--The RCS Power Rankings Averages are also out, and once again, you'll enjoy where we're at. [Real Clear Sports]

--Who has the best pizza in Pittsburgh? [PG]

--The Wu-Tang Clan's RZA lost a chess match to the NY Times' chess columnist. [NY Times]

Got news? Email it to mondesishouse@gmail.com and get automatically entered in a drawing to win a copy of Jim Wexell's new book, Steeler Nation.

Know Your Elders: Joe Namath

It's time for another installment of Know Your Elders. With the sports blogosphere being a relatively new phenomenon, I feel that a great percentage of sports history's off-field antics have gone virtually ignored. I want to right that wrong and let you know that no, players in the '20s, '60s, or '80s weren't necessarily altar boys.

The first installment in this series featured the hard-partying Bobby Layne. Next up is someone I believe you're a little more familiar with: Joe Willie Namath.

WHO HE PLAYED FOR:

Beaver Falls HS:

Namath grew up in an area of Beaver Falls (a steel town eight miles outside outside of Pittsburgh) known as the Lower End, a predominantly African-American neighborhood. He would later get into arguments with his Alabama teammates while defending African-Americans.

He was a three-sport star, playing football, baseball, and basketball. Upon graduation from Beaver Falls, Namath received offers from six Major League Baseball teams, with the Cubs reportedly offering a $50,000 signing bonus.

Namath had offers from numerous Division I college football programs, including Penn State, Ohio State, Alabama, and Notre Dame, but initially decided upon the University of Maryland. However, he was rejected by Maryland because his college-board scores (730) were just below the school's required 750. Alabama, here we come!

University of Alabama, 1962-64.

As a sophomore, he led a senior-laden squad to a 10-1 record, throwing for 1192 yards and 12 TDs. In his junior season, he broke curfew late in the year and was dropped from the team for the final regular season game and the Sugar Bowl by coach Bear Bryant.

His first knee injury occured against North Carolina State in his senior year when it collapsed on an abrupt stop. Two weeks later, it collapsed again, and while practicing for the Orange Bowl, it collapsed again.

While he was not expected to play in the Orange Bowl, he came off the bench and played well enough to be named the MVP. But that was not enough, as the previously-undefeated #1 Crimson Tide lost, 21-17, to Texas.

New York Jets, 1965-76. Namath was chosen 3rd overall in the AFL draft (and was also drafted 12th overall by the NFL's St. Louis Cardinals). He signed for $427,000, a record at the time, and his contract also included a Lincoln Continental. He actually signed the day after the Sugar Bowl.

Under coach Weeb Ewbank, he became the Jets' starting QB midway through his rookie season. By 1967, he became the first NFL quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards.

In 1968, he was the Jets' QB for the infamous "Heidi Game" on NBC, a 43-32 loss to the Oakland Raiders. They would meet the Raiders again in the AFL Championship, this time winning 27-23 behind three Namath TD passes on a windy and cold day.

That win meant the Jets would be the AFL representative in Super Bowl III, the third AFL-NFL Championship game and the first to be called "The Super Bowl". Despite the AFL being seen as an inferior league, a confident Namath answered a heckler at the Miami Touchdown Club three days before the game, proclaiming, "We're gonna win the game. I guarantee it."

And win they did, beating the Indianapolis Colts, 16-7. Namath completed 17 out of 28 passes for 206 yards and was named MVP, despite not throwing a TD pass. Consider this an early example of "walking the walk".

After the 1969 season, Namath opened a Manhattan bar (Bachelors III), which was frequented by "social undesirables" (translation: gamblers). He was ordered by Commissioner Pete Rozelle to divest himself of his interest in the bar, but defiantly resisted, instead retiring from football at a teary press conference. An all-night meeting with Rozelle resulted in a compromise: Namath would be allowed to return and to retain his interests in Boston and Miami Bachelors III locations, as well as future locations that might open.

Namath's 1970 and '71 seasons were mostly lost to injury, as he started just eight of a possible 28 games over that time.

On September 24, 1972 in Baltimore, Namath (496/6) and boyhood idol Johnny Unitas (376/3) combined for 872 passing yards and nine touchdowns in a 44-34 Jets victory, New York's first victory over Baltimore since Super Bowl III.

1975 and 1976 were rough seasons for "Broadway Joe", as the Jets compiled back-to-back 3-11 seasons. '76 was notable for the fact that current ESPN talking head Lou Holtz was the Jets' head coach. That experiment didn't last too long.

Los Angeles Rams, 1977. Released by the Jets, Namath tried to jump-start his career. However, numerous lingering injuries combined with a party animal lifestyle meant that Namath was at the end of the road.

He appeared and started in just four games, throwing for 606 yards, 3 TD and 5 INT. In the first round of the playoffs, with QB Pat Haden struggggling, Rams Coach Chuck Knox decided to leave Haden in the game rather than dramatically bring Namath off the bench. The Rams ended up losing to the Vikings, 14-7, and Namath would never play again.

NAMATH'S CAREER STATS/HIGHLIGHTS:
--Hall of Fame, 1985
--Super Bowl Champion
--5-time Pro Bowl
--5-time All-Pro
--Passing stats: 1866-3762 (50.1%), 27,663 yards, 173 TD, 220 INT, 65.5 QB Rating

OTHER INTERESTING STUFF:

--Appeared in the first-ever Monday Night Football game (Jets vs. Browns), played at Cleveland's Municipal Stadium, on September 21, 1970. In front of a record crowd of 85,703 and a huge television audience, the Jets set a team record for penalties and ultimately lost on a late Namath interception.

--Father Frank Namath was a steelworker.

--Has osteoarthritis since 1965 and works with the Arthritis Foundation.

--Alabama coach Bear Bryant called Namath "the greatest athlete I ever coached".

--Hall of Fame coach Bill Walsh: Namath was "the most beautiful, accurate, stylish passer with the quickest release I've ever seen."

--Hall of Fame coach Don Shula: Namath was "one of the 3 smartest quarterbacks of all time"

--Ranked #96 on The Sporting News' 100 Greatest Football Players list in 1999.

--Despite his celebrity, there is no mention of Namath around the town of Beaver Falls. Check out this little documentary about why.

Joe's 1970s Pantyhose commercial:


MOST EXPENSIVE EBAY ITEM:

A signed piece of art (limited edition of 69), priced at $7,500.

THE JUICY STUFF:



--"I Wanna Kiss You": Shortly after the Jets' celebration of their All-Time Team at a December, 2003 game, Namath was asked about Jets QB Chad Pennington by ESPN's Suzy Kolber. His infamous response: "I want to kiss you. I couldn't care less about the team struggggling."

--Entered an alcohol treatment program on January 12, 2004, the 35th anniversary of Super Bowl III.

--Shaved his mustache off in a TV commercial for Remington razors for $10,000.

--Starred in the 1978 television series The Waverly Wonders.

--Daughter Jessica was accused of homewrecking in 2006.

--Guest-starred on The Brady Bunch, The Flip Wilson Show, Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, The Dean Martin Show, The Simpsons, The A-Team, and The John Larroquette Show.

--Was offered to host "Family Feud" when the show was revived in 1988. However, the producers had second thoughts about him, and ultimately hired Ray Combs, instead.

--Did several commercials including Ovaltine, Noxema Shaving Cream, popcorn machines and pantyhose.

--In 1999, he filed for divorce from wife of 15 years Deborah Mays (born 1962), who called herself "Tatiana".

--He was guest host on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson several times.

--Appears on the Master list of Nixon political opponents.

--Color commentator on Monday Night Football in 1985.

--Will be portrayed by Jake Gyllenhaal in an upcoming film of his life, possibly the worst casting in the history of movies.

--Had a reckless driving charge in Miami dropped.

--Dated Marilyn Monroe lookalike Mamie Van Doren.

FAMOUS QUOTES:

"I like my Johnnie Walker Red and my women blonde"

"I don't know whether I prefer Astroturf to grass. I never smoked Astroturf. "

"Till I was 13, I thought my name was "Shut Up."

"When we won the league championship, all the married guys on the club had to thank their wives for putting up with all the stress and strain all season. I had to thank all the single broads in New York. "

"When you win, nothing hurts."

So there you have it. I could've gone on and on about Joe Namath. In fact, he's the inspiration for this entire series. People are making a fuss about Matt Leinart? Please. Matt Leinart is amateur hour. If Namath played today, he might blow up the entire internet with his antics. A freaking fur coat on the sidelines? If that were Terrell Owens, Skip Bayless' head might explode in anger.

To recap the cultural signficance of Namath: he brought together two football leagues, he became the first football star to crossover into pop culture, he made the most famous guarantee of all time, he was booted from the league in his prime, and decades after he left the game, he pulls the Kolber stunt. He won over New York and the nation, and he's from our backyard. You'll always be the man, Mr. Namath.

Know your elders!

Required reading:

Joe Namath [Wikipedia]

Joe Namath [IMDB]

Joe Namath [Sports Placement]

Joe Namath statistics [Pro Football Reference]

Kissing Suzy Kolber

Know Your Elders: Bobby Layne [Mondesishouse.com]

Home and Home With a Jets Blog

The Steelers take on the New York Jets, who, in the words of Joe Namath, are "strugggggling". But there are no warm and fuzzy moments with Suzy Kolber to brighten up this season. While their fans bank on a new quarterback, loyal bloggers like Brian Bassett of The Jets Blog continue to plug away.

This week, Mondesi's House and The Jets Blog are collaborating on a "home and home" type series of questions regarding the state of their respective teams and thoughts on this Sunday's game. Brian answered five of my questions about Gang Green, and I answered five of his questions about the Sons of Steely McBeam. His answers are below, and for my answers, you'll have to visit Thejetsblog.com.

1. Who is officially credited with creating the "Mangenius" nickname, and where do you think he hides these days?

Artie Bucco from The Soprano's, of course in the Episode "The Blue Comet." Sure rumblings among Jet fans were out thereof the name were out there, but it was like Tyler Durden coalescing the name of Fight Club. As far as where he is it's hard to say, but I think that he's [screen cuts to black].

2. Regardless of the fact that he's 64 years old, would Jets fans prefer Joe Namath to Chad Pennington or Kellen Clemens at this point?

Seeing as Jets fans ran Joe Willie out of town 30+ years ago, spending his last season with the Rams, and that fans were cheering Pennington's injury (I was at the game where he tore his shoulder up in 2005, as well as the Pats game this year, there were fans who cheered both) I'd have to say Clemens. The only difference is that fans haven't cheered for a Clemens injury yet ,,, they'll be doing that 5 years from now.

3. How bad do you hate the Patriots? As much as the rest of the country? Looking forward to that rematch?

Take the entire nuclear arsenal of the 1984 Cold War era and throw it into the sun. The intensity of that explosion about equals my dislike for the Patriots. I respect the crap out of what they've done, but I hate them. Add in the fact that I now live in New England and it makes it all the worse. The best thing is that Patriots fans are now whining about the fact that people around the country don't like them ... well duh!! First off, most are bandwagoners who joined sometime during the third Super Bowl run. So when you ask me about whether we hate the Pats as much as others in the country, please remember, they're in the division, Belichick left the Jets after a day being head coach only to coach the Patriots.

4. Pittsburgh has strong ties to the Jets. Namath, Curtis Martin, and Darrelle Revis were all from Western PA. After that holdout fiasco in the preseason, do you think Revis will be worth the wait?

Revis has been a solid corner, something the Jets have needed for a long while. I think his rookie year could have been better off if he had been in camp, and he's struggled some in the slot, but he's done a good job, and is currently ranked 7th with 10 passes defensed so far this season.

5. Would you care to offer a fearless prediction as to how Sunday's game will play out?

The Jets will surprise Steelers fans by putting up a tough fight in the first half. Sometime during the third quarter, the Jets will realize that they're the worst defense in the league and will start allowing Willie Parker to run for 8 yards per carry. Pittsburgh 31 Jets 21.

Namath to Sign Books; No "I Just Want to Kiss You" Inscriptions Allowed

The one, the only Joe Willie Namath will be signing his autobiography, Namath, tonight at Joseph-Beth Booksellers at South Side Works. The legendary Beaver County native and NFL Hall of Famer will be appearing from 6-8 PM. And no, Suzy Kolber will not be there.

I was discussing Namath's career recently with my brother, and since he played before we were both born, we delved into the world of internet stats to quantify Namath's greatness. According to pro-football-reference.com, Namath had a career TD to INT ratio of 173 to 220 (1:1.27). On the all-time lists, he is stunningly mediocre: Pass attempts, 44th; Passing yards, 42nd; Passing TDs, 43rd.

In terms of career passing yards, Namath ranks behind Kerry Collins, Jake Plummer, Mark Brunell, and Rich Gannon, none of whom should expect to be immortalized in Canton. Yes, I realize that the seasons were only 14 games long when Namath played; but I also noticed that he played in six or less games as a starter four times in his 13-year career. He didn't have Manning's stats or Favre's durability; those attributes did not get him a bronze bust in Ohio. Namath's greatness was his moxie, his bravado, and most importantly, his win in Super Bowl III. Namath's Super Bowl win is probably the closest tied to a Hall of Fame career than any other player's. The guarantee and subsequent win defined who he was and legitimized the AFL to a legion of non-believers.

He was the first true off-the-field media machine. He is the epitome of the phrase "Women loved him, men wanted to be him." He is almost equally famous for his Fu-manchu, nightclub ownership, panty hose, and fur coat as his on-field exploits. He was a personality that would thrive in the modern-day NFL.

To people like myself who never saw Namath play, I encourage you to check out his Wikipedia page. "Fascinating" would be an understatement when describing his life. I would love to see the scene when Namath descends on the South Side tonight, but I doubt he'll hit the bars post-signing. He's been clean and sober for over 1,000 days. But turn back the clock 30 years, and I can assure you we'd have a gallery of pictures that would make Big Ben, Kyle Orton, and Matt Leinart look like amateurs by comparison. Here's to you, Joe.

The Best of Steelers YouTube Clips

It's the last few days before the 2006 NFL campaign kicks off, so the time is right for some selected video clips to get us fired up. Through the miracle of the internet (especially YouTube), here are some of my favorite moments in Steeler history, and a few others I know you'll enjoy.

First, a few to make your blood boil:

1. Video of TJ Houshmandzadeh shining his shoes with a Terrible Towel



2. Video of the Bengals Who Dey Locker Room Chant



3. Video of the Steelers We Dey Rebuttal: Porter yelling at painted Bengal fans, and Cowher's famous "Who Dey? We Dey!" Locker Room rant



4. Video of locker room postgame vs. Indy: Joey Porter's We Ride chant were he nearly loses his voice



5. Video of 1995 Super Bowl Onside Kick. Cowher's gutsiest call of his career



6. Fan footage of 2000 Mark Bruener TD vs Raiders. He literally carries a guy into the end zone. I was at this game and thought it was the greatest TD I've ever seen.



7. Video of Steelers Parade...featuring Hines Ward's giant foam hat, the Bus, and Cowher's Who Dey part II



8. Video of Hines Ward absolutely destroying Orpheus Roye



9. Video of Neil O'Donnell's Miracle pass to Ernie Mills in 1995 AFC Championship vs. Colts



10. Video of The Immaculate Reception



11. Video of Steelers/Broncos 1997 regular season game...a huge win where Kordell was playing out of his mind. Best part: stands bouncing up and down at Three Rivers.



12. Video highlights from 1994 playoff win vs. Bill Belichick and Browns. His non-genius days.



13. Video highlights from 2002 playoff win vs. the Browns. Greatest playoff comeback in Steeler history



14. Video of 1993 game vs. Bills: Gary Jones destroys Don Beebe



15. Video of 1996 Oilers/Steelers Fight Game. Tomczak is dragged by his facemask, and punter Shayne Edge throws a punch, costing him a fine larger than his game check.



16. Video of 2004 Jets-Steelers Playoff Game. Doug Brien manages to screw up two game winning field goals for GangGreen.



17. Video of Fast Willie Parker's Super Bowl Record TD



18. Video of 1989 Playoff win vs. Houston in the House of Pain. Gary Anderson nails a monster FG in overtime



19 . James Harrison Slams the Browns Fan

http://kdka.com/video/?id=11977@kdka.dayport.com

20 . Hines Ward crying after AFC Championship Loss in 2005

http://kdka.com/local/local_story_024145037.html

plus three more favorites:

Bonus 1. Kellen Winslow is a soldier. And he doesn't give a hell.



Bonus 2. Joe Namath drunk and trying to Kiss Suzy Kolber



Bonus 3. Randy Moss fakes moons the Packer fans. That is a disgusting act. It's unfortunate that we had that on our air live.