Vestin ads feature another football star

Kevin Rademacher

Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2004 | 11:05 a.m.

Following Vestin Group Inc.'s split with spokesman and former New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath, a new football star has been making frequent appearances in the Las Vegas lender's television campaign.

A Vestin spokesman said the company's ties to former Green Bay Packers star Paul Hornung has been in place for about a year. Unlike Namath, however, Hornung has no long-term contract, instead working on a per-spot basis.

Vestin announced this year that it had split with Namath, who signed on as pitchman in 2001 under a contract that paid him $1 million a year. Vestin Chief Executive Michael Shustek said the split was the result of an embarrassing incident last year during a nationally televised football game.

In that incident, Namath attracted negative press after slurring his speech and making advances toward ESPN reporter Suzy Kolber during a sideline interview at a New York Jets football game in December 2003. A month later Namath said in a television interview he would begin counseling for alcohol abuse.

Hornung, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, was a halfback for the Packers from 1957 to 1966. He won the Heisman Trophy as the top college football player while at Notre Dame.

The flamboyant Hornung was a member of some of the NFL's most celebrated teams, playing under legendary coach Vince Lombardi. He led NFL scorers for three years from 1959 to 1961.

Hornung missed the 1963 season when he was suspended for gambling on NFL games. Hornung admitted to gambling but said he never bet against his own team.

Hornung stepped down this year as a radio broadcaster for Notre Dame football games amid controversy over his comments that the school should lower its academic standards to recruit black athletes.