In his autobiography, All the Way: My Life in Four Quarters, Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath expressed his belief that giving up alcohol helped save his life.

According to ESPN.com's Rich Cimini, Namath wrote in the book released Tuesday that a voice in his head he named "Slick" often pushed him to drink: "Every now and then Slick whispers, but having a name for him makes me listen to him differently. And, health-wise, I'd probably be dead by now if I hadn't stopped drinking."

The 75-year-old Namath is among the most famous and celebrated quarterbacks in NFL history, and he is best known for guaranteeing and delivering a New York Jets win over the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.

In the book, Namath specifically addressed his infamous sideline interview with ESPN reporter Suzy Kolber during a game in 2003. Namath told Kolber he wanted to kiss her during the interview and later admitted to being drunk.

Namath believes that moment was a turning point for him:

"I saw it as a blessing in disguise. I had embarrassed my friends and family and could not escape that feeling. I haven't had a drink since. That shame is where I found my strength to deal with the addiction. With the help of my recovery, I learned that I had used my divorce as an excuse to go back to drinking. That knowledge made me a stronger individual."

Namath and his ex-wife, Deborah, divorced in 2000 after 16 years of marriage, and he admitted to using drinking as a coping mechanism after the split: "The drinking was what would kick my butt for a long time. I believe any of us can be brought to our knees whether from physical or emotional pain. Over the years, I learned how fragile we humans can be. Emotionally, I used that as an excuse to start drinking again. ... I would drink all day sometimes."

Nicknamed "Broadway Joe," few players, if any, soaked up the limelight and enjoyed the New York media attention more than Namath.

Namath's career numbers don't jump off the page, as he completed 50.1 percent of his passes for 27,663 yards, 173 touchdowns and 220 interceptions, but he played in a different, run-focused era.

The five-time Pro Bowler also went just 62-63-4 as a starter during the regular season, but he delivered on arguably the most brazen guarantee in sports history, and he created a persona and legend that transcended football.