Football legend Joe Namath says he's "glad" his inappropriate remarks to ESPN reporter Suzie Kolber were caught on national television because the drunken incident made him realize he had a drinking problem. The former New York Jet quarterback has been sober for nearly three years since then, he tells Bob Simon. Simon's profile of Namath, in which he also discusses his career, the famous injuries and his life as a pop icon, will be broadcast on 60 MINUTES Sunday, Nov. 19 (7:00-8:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

            "I was under the influence, and when you get under the influence, you may think you have things under control, but it's a fact that you don't," Namath says of the December 2003 episode when he was being interviewed by Kolber during a nationally televised football game.  She asked how he felt about the poor performance of his former team and the inebriated Namath replied, "I want to kiss you. I could care less about a team struggling."

            It was a turning point. "It was that incident that brought to light that I needed to do something, absolutely," says Namath, who says he drank heavily most of his adult life, but never before a game.  "And I'm glad [it happened]. I hated having to deal with that incident, the family, the friends...the fans. I mean, that really hurt," he tells Simon.

            Staying sober is still a battle for Namath.  He fights an imaginary drinking buddy he says is always lurking nearby.  "Slick is there. Slick's whispering to you....You start getting flashes in your head and then, fortunately, I know it's no contest. Lifestyle without [alcohol] is far healthier, more fun, more beneficial," he tells Simon.