In Superbowl III, Joe Namath and the JETS shocked the establishment and cemented the SUPERBOWL as a must see event.
New York Jets
16
VS
Baltimore Colts
7
We’re talking 47 years later. At that time, I knew the importance of it, I didn’t know beyond being in the now at the time.
Weeb Ewbank didn’t change the routine from the regular season, no curfew until night before the game – what did you do at night? Go out? Stay in the hotel? Hounded by fans?
I knew what I was saying (with the guarantee).It was an accumulation of being told individually and collectively that we were going to get killed. It was a no contest. I was angry, I was tired of hearing that. It just so happened he pushed a button, I just said ‘hey, I got news for you man. We’re going to win. I guarantee it. ‘ He pissed me off
I meant it so sincerely (waving my finger No. 1),going off that field I was able to look up, I usually ran with my head down, my posture wasn’t that great, I looked up and I saw all these people above the tunnel, screaming, waving their hands, the smiles on their faces, man it was-- that was the statement, we did it. the AFL. We did it, we won the championship. I never saw so many happy faces in my life. I can see them today. That’s what inspired that. Just raising that hand. That was the only time I ever raised my hand, making that gesture. Never before in any level did I do that. The finality of that – we finally got there. Yeah.
I do remember it was the physical feeling of having done it.
Fortunately we had been in some other big games, been in locker rooms before when beaten rivals, all meant a lot to us. The locker room was very happy, after leaving the locker room and getting in the car with my friend, Joe Hirsch (I think this is the spelling) We still kept the regular routine. Joe would drive us back from games at Shea. We got in the car with Joe and my girlfriend. As we’re driving along, my body was so alive. I just burst out with laughter. It would quiet down, Joe didn’t say anything, he was a quiet guy. We’re riding along, I would just explode again. I never had my body feel that way before. Then when we did get back, to the hotel my mind’s eye, Willie Lanier, Emmitt Thomas, there were three Kansas City Chiefs waiting there to say nice going.