Joe Namath's aura during his prime years were that of a Hollywood personality rather than that of an athlete's. Sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll was the lifestyle for the man nicknamed, Broadway Joe, but while he was the party type who was continuously spotted with a hottie on his arm, he also was a major problem on the football field as well. The three-sport high school athlete known for his dunking ability took his talents to the University of Alabama where he played from 1962 to 1964 and stated that residing in Alabama was a culture shock for him being that he grew up in a predominantly black neighborhood in Pennsylvania. However, that didn't stop Namath from leading the Crimson Tide to a 29-4 record during his three-year tenure in Alabama and a national championship in 1964.
In the 1965 NFL Draft, Joe Namath was selected 12th overall by the St. Louis Cardinals while the New York Jets selected Namath 1st overall in the AFL Draft. After negotiations took place, Namath signed a contract with the New York Jets where he would become a local legend and play all but one out of the thirteen seasons of his professional football career. Despite going winless in his first six games as a rookie, Namath was able to scoop up the award for AFL Rookie of the Year. He would then go on to lead the Jets to an AFL Championship win in 1968 while also being named an AFL All-Star four times and AFL MVP twice. Following the AFL-NFL merger in the mid-'60s, Namath also participated in Super Bowl III against the Baltimore Colts, leading the Jets to a 16-7 victory and winning Super Bowl MVP honors. In 132 starts, Namath ended his football career with an overall record of 64-64-4 and a touchdown to interception ratio of 173-220. While some may argue Namath is mediocre at best skill-wise, his celebrity and impact on football culturally have made him an icon.
When you fly by private jet charter, you experience travel comfort known only to those who know private jets. And nothing illustrates this luxury better than celebrity private jets. Stars with their own private aircraft fly fancy.
John Travolta, the star of 70s cult movies like “Grease” and “Saturday Night Fever”, is not only one of the most famous Hollywood actors, but also one of the best celebrity pilots. John Travolta is a bonafide aviation enthusiast with five private planes total, which he parks on his front lawn. His most impressive aircraft is a customized Boeing 707-138 (as pictured above), a beast of a plane that he acquired in 1998 upon his promotion to an honorary pilot of Qantas, the Australian airline.
Oprah Winfrey’s production company HARPO bought her custom-built Global Express XRS VIP business jet to provide the media mogul and her associates with maximum aviation comfort. Oprah’s private jet features designer fixtures in the bathroom and galley, along with an exquisite all-leather interior. The aircraft was designed by Bombardier Aerospace to perform as a premier long-range business jet. Custom design allowed for an enhanced cabin layout with nine cushy leather seats, aesthetically-placed lighting, and additional luxury amenities. The jet cruises through the air at high speeds, made possible by two Rolls-Royce BR710 turbofan engines, which produce enough power to send HARPO clear across the map with only one refuel stop
Tom Cruise played an elite naval fighter jet pilot in the blockbuster movie “Top Gun”, and he now indulges his real love for flying in his own Gulfstream IV, one of the finest celebrity private jets around. Cruise’s beautiful business jet accommodates up to 19 passengers, providing comfort and class with state-of-the-art furnishings and aircraft technology. The jet even automatically refreshes the air inside the cabin every two minutes. Designed by Gulfstream Aerospace, Cruise’s jet is powered by two Rolls-Royce Tay 611-8 engines, propelling the aircraft to a maximum altitude of 45,000 feet over a maximum range of 7,820 km, zipping through the air at speeds up to Mach 0.80.
Mark Cuban, business mogul and owner of the Dallas Mavericks, landed himself in the Guinness Book of World Records for purchasing his Boeing 767-277 online in 1999, making “the largest single e-commerce transaction”. Cuban modified the jet with large, custom seats to give his team’s lengthy players plenty of room while flying.