Book Description

More than any other sports figure, Vince Lombardi transformed football into a metaphor of the American experience. The son of an Italian immigrant butcher, Lombardi toiled for twenty frustrating years as a high school coach and then as an assistant at Fordham, West Point, and the New York Giants before his big break came at age forty-six with the chance to coach a struggling team in snowbound Wisconsin. His leadership of the Green Bay Packers to five world championships in nine seasons is the most storied period in NFL history. Lombardi became a living legend, a symbol to many of leadership, discipline, perseverance, and teamwork, and to others of an obsession with winning. In When Pride Still Mattered, Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Maraniss captures the myth and the man, football, God, and country in a thrilling biography destined to become an American classic. ... Read more

Reviews (121)

Possibly the greatest sports biography ever written
If you are thinking about passing on this book because you've read a hundred other things on Lombardi, don't.

I almost did. Amongst other things, I'm a football junkie, a bit of an amateur historian on the subject, and felt that I knew enough about Vince--regardless of how fascinating a subject he is. I bought the book on the basis of its good reviews, and let me tell you every other book I have about Vince has been replaced by this book.

It is probably the best sports biography ever written. First off Maraniss is a world class writer, and this isn't written at the Junior High level as many sports books are. Second, the quality of his research--the dates, details, quotes and interviews--is staggering. An objective look at Lombardi as a family man, a father gives us a real taste of his life. It puts the times and Vince's achievements into perspective, and I never once felt that the airing of what technically could be considered "dirty laundry"(although it is tame by 1990s standards) lessened Lombardi in my eyes. On the contrary, it made him more of a realistic, vunerable person who's life becomes all the more remarkable for it.

This is not just a sports book or a book about sports
For football fans and non-fans alike, for men and women, for anyone with an interest in leadership, psychology, family dynamics, ambition, organization, and American culture, this is a book you will love. David Maraniss writes biographies that read like novels using the most powerful prose and beautiful language. As a woman who follows football, I thought I knew all the important facts about Vince Lombardi's life. Not a chance. Don't be daunted by the length; every page is laced with fascinating and dramatic details. The Ice Bowl chapter is one of the greatest pieces of writing (of any kind) I have ever read. While I knew the outcome, I was still riveted by the drama. It is compelling, intense and funny all at the same time. I actually felt cold as I was reading it, as though I was there all along. That's really the key to the entire book-you may think you know the Lombardi story, but Maraniss makes you feel like you were there with him...all along the way.

Interesting
As a long-time Packer fan, about anything substantative would have been an interesting and fun read. But this one surprised me because it eclipsed long-established accounts of the Packers successes and failures and took an especially thorough look at the man who made Green Bay famous.

Who would have known, for example, that the Coach's brother was gay. Or that he could relate one-to-one to his team and his players in a way he never could to his family. The book shares more of these insights than it does such strategic things as how Jerry Kramer and Ken Bowman combined to throw "the" block. In fact, the on the field tactics and discussions almost become a distraction in a broader book that emphasizes what made the man tick.

Like Wisconsin's other 1960s era sports hero, Al McGuire, everybody thinks they know everything about Coach Lombardi. This book lends an exciting perspective on a man dead now for almost 35 years. It's fascinating and long overdue.

fantastic!
First, a few low points... While not written in the jargon of the field, Maraniss clearly approaches the subject of Vince Lombardi from a post-modern point of view. He opens with a contrived and somewhat galling introduction, in which he explains that he has borrowed the title from another author and uses it (of course!) "ironically." At various points throughout the book, Maraniss attempts to "de-construct" Lombardi, which is to some extent the mark of any good biography, but the author takes it too far at times, especially in his frequent references to the "fallacy of the innocent past." Moreover, this is not a political book, but because Lombardi was mildly politically active, politics enters the picture. And a subtle bias pervades Maraniss's discussion of politics. When lifelong Democrat (but always pretty conservative) Lombardi begins drifting toward Nixon and Republicans in the turbulent sixties, Maraniss attributes Lombardi's conservatism not to a heartfelt belief in those principles but to an inability to cope with rapidly changing times. The 60s is a favorite topic for Maraniss, as his latest book indicates, but his digressions into the protests, while tangentially important to Lombardi's story (particularly his philosophy of freedom), are overdone.

Nevertheless, despite those faults, I still give this book a five. Immediately after that disappointing introduction, Maraniss redeems himself with probably the most stunning first line I have read in any book of nonfiction (and perhaps in fiction, too): "Everything begins with the body of the father." It is a starting point for a discussion of Lombardi's immigrant father, but it brings together elements that appear throughout the book: family (especially Lombardi's relationship with his son); Catholicism; the physical violence of football. From his youthful desire to be a priest and his high school and college football career, Maraniss follows Lombardi to Fordham and beyond to his first coaching job at a small Catholic high school in New Jersey and to an assistant's job at West Point, under Red Blaik. It was then to the Giants, where he was an assistant with Tom Landry, and finally across the country to Green Bay, where the legend was born.

The book is not just a biography of Vince Lombardi; it is a look at American life and culture and at the history of professional football. It is amazingly written, and the descriptions of football games are wonderful--particularly the Ice Bowl, which another reviewer has mentioned. Flaws and all, this is a fantastic read.

Power Sweep
_That William Verneli Wood was challengig for a place on the Packers at all was a meaure of his mental strength and perseverance. It also underscored the determination of Lombardi and his personnel man, Jack Vainisi, to ignore the prejudices then prevalent in most NFL front offices in their search for the most talented players...Wood was a black quarterback in an era when black athletes were seldom allowed the opportunity to play that position_ (p237). Willie Wood went on to play 12 seasons for the NFL Green Bay Packers and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989 In this biography WHEN PRIDE STILL MATTERED, David Maraniss identifies _race relations_ as an issue that revealed Coach Vincent Lombardi's character.

I understood very little about the American version of football. Part of my confusion was that the foot is seldom used, and the object of the competition resembles a ball like no other. Even so, after reading WPSM, Mr Maraniss has provided me an appreciation for the athletes and the unmatched accomplishments of Coach Lombardi. Mr Maraniss chronicles football's mythical beginnings at US colleges in the first half of the twentieth century culminating in its zenith in the decade of the 1960s. The Packers were the team of that turbulent decade and Coach Lombardi became an icon.

I was not surprised by this aspect of the biography. I don't feel I am alone in anticipating a captivating telling of the history and personalities of the NFL. Where Mr Maraniss exceeds my expectations is in his ability to weave disparate details together as they powerfully manifest at a critical time. The Packer Sweep is the most prominent example. So too is the complex and often contradictory character of Coach Lombardi.

Mr Maraniss tells us that Vincent Lombardi had a rare quality of leadership that enhances the confidence of those around him. He was able to lift their spirits and they in turn responded with an effort that exceeded even what they themselves thought possible. This is a spiritual gift.

Part of this gift found expression when Coach Lombardi was intolerant of racial prejudice. _The Jim Crow discrimination that black Packers faced when the team played exhibition games in the South enraged Lombardi, and at the end of the 1960 preseason he decided that he would never again allow his team to be split by segregation; from then on, he said, any hotel that would not accomodate all Packers would get no Packers_ He applied the same standard to the establishments in hometown Green Bay, Wisconson.

Even before Willie Wood came to Green Bay, Lombardi brought Em Tunnell with him from the NY Giants, and paid for his lodgings, _Lombardi respected and needed Tunnell's experience that much_. (p240). Tunnell and Wood returned the respect. Wood said that Lombardi was _perhaps the fairest person I ever met_

Coach Lombardi carried this same attitude to the issues of homosexuality and pre-marital pregnancy. These are typically, emotionally laden issues for Christians. Whatever reservations Lombardi may have held personally, he let his team know that a gay player deserved respect, _if I hear one of you people make reference to his manhood you'll be out of here before your ass hits the ground_ (p471).

The coach's daughter and her fiance agreed to get married but they did not want her parents to know that she was pregnant. Their parish priest helped the young couple with the details of securing a marriage license and with their permission, contacted Vince and Marie Lombardi who were enjoying the success of a Super Bowl victory in Florida (GB 33 Oakland 14). Lombardi had become a national symbol of old-fashioned discipline and moral rectitude. Upon hearing the news, _at first, Lombardi was 'extremely angry, of course, but then calmed down and began drafting a game plan._ (p430). As soon as Vince and Marie returned to Green Bay, they paid a visit to the newlyweds. Susan remembers, _He stuck out his hand to Paul and said welcome to the family and asked him about his education and his plans_.

Mr Maraniss tells us of a complex Coach in this biography of Vincent Lombardi. There is never any doubt about his shortcomings. Through his unique determination Lombardi overcame these shortcomings and applied his will to hold a faith in the positive nature of us all. _Winning is the ony thing_ is the most famous quotation from Coach Lombardi, but winning was not the only thing at which Vincent Lombardi excelled.

PEACE ... Read more

Book Description

In the twenty-five years since his death, Coach Vince Lombardi has continued to be known for his ablitiy to motivate and inspire those around him. This book brings together the best of Lombardi's quotations and insights that have challenged many on and off the field. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Bathroom Reader
...I was expecting a comprehensive book about vince, little did I know that it was little more than a bathroom book. It was only a couple of pages long, it was more of a leaflet than a book. If you aren't expecting much from a book, this is the book for you. I could have compiled this same book in a couple of hours.

Vince rules!
I'm a coach (personal, business and EQ, not sports!) and I keep this book handy. I direct my clients to Vince Lombardi's philosophy and strength, and to this book, which is just a wonderful compilation of all that he was about. I use quotes from this book often in my ezines. I especially like what his players said about him because when you're in the 'coaching' position -- be it coach, parent, manager, counselor, mentor or whatever, it's good to remember that "His enthusiasm, his spirit, was infectious." --Frank Gifford and "He prepared us so well, and he motivated us so well, I felt he was a part of me on the field." -- Fuzzy Thurston. In reading about this great man, this great coach, I'm humbled and revitalized. He helped so many people reach their potential. This book is almost my daily inspirational!

Although I'm not a football fan, I found this book fantastic
Vince Lombardi - what a man. What a coach! This wonderful little collection includes quotes from Lombardi on football, faith, and life. The football fan and non-football fan will find something to like in this collection.

The book also features quotes from famous players about the famous coach.

Whether you're looking for good quotes to use with your team, in a speech, or to tack onto the end of your email this book will provide plenty to last a long time.

Very Good if you're looking for the perfect quote.
The book is basically the quotes of Lombardi, with stories about him from his former players, wife, etc. What is really nice about the book is his observations are catagorized by section, so should you be looking for a quote to add to a paper, the blackboard in class, the lockerroom of your team, there are plenty and they are all meaningful and powerful. This is a great book for a coach to have, you'll refer back to it almost every day. The book applies to all sports, not just football. I'm a professional hockey coach, and found the material relates to our dressing room as well as any football dressing room.

If you find one qoute or inspirational story in this book, it is worth the money. Buy it! ... Read more

Book Description

Published to widespread critical acclaim, Vince has been called: "the definitive biography" of an American legend. With stunning revelations and anecdotes, Vince Lombardi's life is pieced together with painstaking care in research, detail, and historical accuracy. Based on more than two hundred interviews, including those who played with him and against him, from his early coaching days at St. Cecilia High School in New Jersey to West Point, the New York Giants, and his championship seasons with the Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins. Drawing upon unpublished Lombardi family papers, Vince clarifies the thirty years of mystery and contradiction that have swirled around the legend of Vince Lombardi.

Vince goes beyond the sidelines to reveal the true character of Lombardi. He was dedicated and narrow, intelligent and dogmatic, self-restrained yet emotional, abusive yet apologetic. His moods could swing from deep gloom to soaring exuberance in seconds. He was compassionate, kind, charitable. He could also be gripped by uncontrollable anger. Above all, Vince paints a portrait of a very human man who committed his life to winning.

Reviews (1)

Thorough, well-researched bio of Lombardi
This is a very good book, but not a great one. Vince does well describing Lombardi through his actions and the impact he had on those around him, especially his former players. Everything is written in a clear and easily understood manner, especially his paradoxical nature.

However, it does not clear my threshold as a great book. A great book would have involved me not as a viewer from afar, but as a fly in the locker room. Since O'Brien did not play for Lombardi, I was hoping for more insight of how his players felt. I never got emotional reading this book, and emotion is a large part of what Lombardi was about.

Basically, it reads like an exquisitely written research paper. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A recent Fortune poll cited General Electric Company as America's most admired company. Much of the credit went to Jack Welch, GE's chief executive for the past 17 years. During his tenure, GE's revenues and profits have grown enormously. Its share price has soared, making GE the world's most valuable company. And the key to GE's success, according to Jack Welch and the GE Way, is Welch's fanatical devotion to a personal philosophy of leadership. Author Robert Slater has made a growth industry of his own out of Welch, penning two previous books on him, The New GE in 1992 and Get Better or Get Beaten! two years later. The same territory was plowed in 1993 by Noel M. Tichy and Stratford Sherman in Control Your Destiny or Someone Else Will.

In this book, Slater draws extensively on Welch's own words to deliver his now familiar message: keep it simple; face reality; embrace change; fight bureaucracy. Bromides these may be, but Slater's account of Welch's fierce efforts to lead a global, multifarious organization of 270,000 people does inspire admiration, even if it does not enable emulation. The book provides fresh insights into GE's shift toward service businesses, as with its takeover and transformation of NBC. Most timely are Welch's closing thoughts on trends in the global economy. Jack Welch and the GE Way is a must for the legions of "Welch-heads" out there and for anyone else interested in this brilliant leader's perspective on the future of business. --Barry Mitzman ... Read more

Reviews (35)

Author Paid By The Word
Good overview of the Jack Welch way, including a variety of innovative business ideas that brought GE forward.

However, as a book goes, it would appear the author was paid by the word.Each of the "secrets" is presented, reviewed, repeated, and presented again in a 300+ page book that would better be summarized in about 20.I kept reading after the first two chapters thinking I would learn somthing new, but honestly, save your money, read chapter one at the library, and go home with just as much insight.

To the publisher, I'd recommed an "executive summary" version for the next edition.

A Good Book But I Prefer Jack's Own
I bought this book before reading Jack's "Straight from the Gut". When I read this book I thought it was 5 stars and I re-read this book at least once looking for clues to help my own business. Then I read Jack's book and realized his was better. In any case this covers all the basic aspects of Jack's methods including the educational meetings at the GE "university", cleaning house, picking winning companies, eliminating small market share companies, and promoting top performers and eliminating underperformers. It shows how he is hands on.

Good if you want to read two books on Jack Welch.

Jack in Toronto

Absurd
I've worked as an engineer for GE under Jack Welch and I have also worked as a (civilian) naval engineer.

GE's bureaucracy makes the government look like a paradigm of efficiency.GE is probably the most politicized, bureaucratic, inefficient and bloated organization on the planet.

Jack Welch is incompetent.Read a comic book instead:You'll find more truth in one.

Obsolete
This book has some nuggets but you do have to overcome some meandering. The author jumps from format to format sometimes turning the book into a Jack Welch biography and at other times acting as if the book were a serious business analysis of GE and the changes Welch brought. It fails as a biography and the business analysis is lightweight at best. It's not clear what this book is trying to deliver but what I got out of it were a cursory understanding of the challenges that GE faced and some sense of why Jack Welch succeeded. Now that Jack Welch is retired and has an autobiography "Straight from the Gut" this book is almost obsolete.

Fools Gold
Applying some of the concepts of Mr. Welch's philosophy helped to facilitate operational improvement in my team that earned a distinguished company award.I was so enthralled that I purchased a GE fridge, and convinced my in-laws to do the same even though another brand of fridge lasted tham almost 30 years.Less than 5 years and thousands of dollars later, neither GE fridge is operational.The GE Way -- admire the brilliance, but stay away from the products. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

HI
yes well um, i havent read it. i would have read it HAD AMAZON HAD IT IN STOCK. i heard it was good though. im gonna watch the movie. ... Read more

Book Description

Of all the great National Football League coaches, none have enjoyed the respect and reputation that Vince Lombardi earned during his tenure as head coach of the Green Bay Packers. Both feared and beloved by players and peers, Lombardi coached the Packers to five NFL championships and victories in the first two Super Bowls ever played. Over ten seasons, his Green Bay teams compiled a remarkable 98-30-4 record, although it was Lombardi’s relentless, uncompromising tactics and values that defined him and his career more than the victories themselves.

I Remember Vince Lombardi takes readers back to a bygone era when professional football was a game of guts, grit, and spit. Lombardi embodied greatness, and he demanded it from his staff and players. In this book, dozens of people who knew him recount their favorite memories of him in their own words, including former players, assistant coaches, opponents, and league officials. What they reveal is a man who was a genuine legend on and off the field.

Included are his days as an assistant coach for the New York Giants with colleague Tom Landry, the "Ice Bowl" NFL title game of 1966, his two Super Bowl victories, his sudden departure from the Packers, and his short-lived position as coach of the Washington Redskins. Many aspects of his personal and professional lives are covered, offering a refreshing look at one of football’s greatest icons. ... Read more

Book Description

Of all the great National Football League coaches, none have earned the level of respect and reputation that Vince Lombardi merited during his tenure as head coach of the Green Bay Packers.Both feared and loved by players and peers, Lombardi coached the Packers to five NFL Championships and victories in the first two Super Bowls ever played.Over ten seasons, his Green Bay teams compiled a remarkable 98-30-4 record, although it was Lombardi's relentless, uncompromising tactics and values that defined him and his career more than the victories could by themselves.

I Remember Vince Lombardi takes readers back to bygone era when professional football was a game of guts, grit and spit, not the corporate, dollar-driven entertainment vehicle that it is today.Lombardi embodied greatness, and he demanded it from his staff and players.In this book, dozens of people familiar with Lombardi, many of them personal acquaintances, talk about him in their own words.Former players, assistant coaches, opponents, and league officials are among the people whose memories reveal Lombardi as the genuine legend he was, on and off the field.

Among the many memorable events and circumstances included in I Remember Vince Lombardi are his days as an assistant coach with the New York Giants and colleague Tom Landry, his relationship with players and assistants, the unforgettable "Ice Bowl" NFL title game of 1966, his two Super Bowl victories, his sudden departure from the Packers, and his short-lived position as coach of the Washington Redskins.Many aspects of Lombardi's personal and professional life are covered in this book, offering a new and refreshing look at one of football's greatest icons. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Disappointing Rehash
This book is simply a rehash of quite a bit of past recollections of the great Vince Lombardi that are culled from previous works. Anyone who is a Lombardi affecionado will learn very little that is new. Also, in several passages of recollections there are no mention of Lombardi at all. Strange to say the least. Disappointing book. I guess all there is to be remembered about Vince has been said and done. ... Read more