Editing Joe Namath (section)

==Early life==
Namath was born and raised in [[Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania|Beaver Falls]],  [[Pennsylvania]], 30 miles (50&nbsp;km) northwest of [[Pittsburgh]]. He grew up in the Lower End neighborhood of Beaver Falls.<ref name="Beaver Falls">{{Cite web |last=Schwartz |first=Larry |title=SportsCentury Biography – Namath was lovable rogue |url=https://www.espn.com/classic/biography/s/namath_joe.html |access-date=March 5, 2014 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> He is the son of [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] parents, Rose (née Juhász) and János "John Andrew" Namath, a steelworker, both of Hungarian descent.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/palitmap/bios/Namath__Joe.html |title=Joe Namath |publisher=Pabook.libraries.psu.edu |access-date=March 5, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812045452/http://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/palitmap/bios/Namath__Joe.html |archive-date=August 12, 2014 }}</ref> His [[Hungary|Hungarian]]-born grandfather, András "Andrew" Németh, known as "A.J." to his family and friends, came to [[Ellis Island]] on the steamer {{RMS|Pannonia|1902|2}} in 1911,<ref name="kriegel" />{{rp|1}} and worked in the [[coal]] and [[steel]] industries of the [[Greater Pittsburgh]] area.

While growing up, Namath was close to both of his parents, who eventually divorced. Following his parents' divorce, he lived with his mother. He was the youngest of four sons, with an older adopted sister.<ref name=playboyjoe>{{cite journal |url=http://thestacks.deadspin.com/playboys-candid-conversation-with-the-superswinger-qb-1229873187/1256933548 |journal=Playboy |title=Playboy's Candid Conversation with the Superswinger QB, Joe Namath |date=December 1969 |access-date=April 26, 2014 |archive-date=April 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427020212/http://thestacks.deadspin.com/playboys-candid-conversation-with-the-superswinger-qb-1229873187/1256933548 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Namath excelled in all sports at [[Beaver Falls High School]] and was a standout quarterback in football, guard in [[basketball]], and outfielder in [[baseball]]. In an age when [[slam dunk|dunks]] were uncommon in [[basketball#High school basketball|high school basketball]], Namath regularly dunked in games. Namath later clarified a story about being the only white player on his high school basketball team on ''The James Brown Show'' in 2018, where he was the guest. He stated that although he was one of several white players on the team, he was the only white starter.<ref>[[The James Brown Show]], S2 E10, aired November 17, 2018</ref> Coached by Larry Bruno at Beaver Falls, Namath's football team won the [[WPIAL]] Class AA championship with a 9–0 record in 1960.<ref>{{cite web |author=Rich Vetock |url=http://www.pawrsl.com/pfn/wilson_beaverfall60.htm |title=index.htm |website=Pawrsl.com |access-date=June 16, 2017 |archive-date=March 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310163358/http://www.pawrsl.com/pfn/wilson_beaverfall60.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Coach Bruno later presented Namath to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10358/1113358-100.stm | work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | title=Larry Bruno, former Beaver Falls coach, dies | date=December 24, 2010}}</ref>

Upon graduation from high school in 1961, he received offers from several [[Major League Baseball]] teams, including the [[New York Yankees|Yankees]], [[Cleveland Indians|Indians]], [[Cincinnati Reds|Reds]], [[Pittsburgh Pirates|Pirates]], and [[Philadelphia Phillies|Phillies]],<ref>{{cite book|last=Cannizzaro|first=Mark|title=New York Jets:The Complete Illustrated History|date=2011|publisher=MVP Books|isbn=978-0-7603-4063-9|page=24}}</ref> but football prevailed. Namath told interviewers that he wanted to sign with the Pirates and play baseball like his idol, [[Roberto Clemente]], but elected to play football because his mother wanted him to get a college education.<ref>{{cite web|last1=DiRoma|first1=Frank Joseph|url=http://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/palitmap/bios/Namath__Joe.html|title=Namath, Joseph William ("Broadway Joe")|publisher=Pennsylvania Center for the Book|access-date=May 27, 2015|date=April 2, 2007|quote=But Namath declined, and opted for college at his mother's request.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626030806/http://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/palitmap/bios/Namath__Joe.html|archive-date=June 26, 2015}}</ref> He enrolled at the University of Alabama, but left before graduating in order to pursue a career in professional football. However, a college degree was finally conferred on Namath at age 64, after he completed an external-program Bachelor of Arts degree in interdisciplinary studies at the University of Alabama in 2007.<ref name="Fox News-Football Great Joe Namath Earns College Degree 42 Years Later">{{cite web|title=Football Great Joe Namath Earns College Degree 42 Years Later|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/football-great-joe-namath-earns-college-degree-42-years-later|publisher=Fox News|access-date=May 27, 2015|date=December 15, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/football-great-joe-namath-earns-college-degree-42-years-later|title=Football great Joe Namath earns college degree 42 years later|publisher=FOX News|date=December 15, 2007|access-date=September 2, 2008}}</ref>

Namath had many offers from [[NCAA Division I|Division I]] college football programs, including [[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Penn State]], [[Ohio State Buckeyes football|Ohio State]], [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama]], and [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football|Notre Dame]], but initially decided upon the [[Maryland Terrapins football|University of Maryland]] after being heavily recruited by Maryland assistant coach Roland Arrigoni. He was rejected by Maryland because his [[SAT|college-board scores]] were just below the school's requirements. After ample recruiting by [[Bear Bryant|Coach Paul 'Bear' Bryant]], Namath accepted a full [[Athletic scholarship|scholarship]] to attend Alabama. Bryant stated his decision to recruit Namath was "the best coaching decision I ever made."<ref>{{cite web |last=Pinak |first=Patrick |title=Joe Namath Absolutely Belongs in the College Football Hall of Fame |url=https://fanbuzz.com/college-football/sec/alabama/joe-namath-college-hof/ |website=fanbuzz.com |access-date=November 5, 2019}}</ref>