David maraniss vince lombardi biography
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I apologize. 245).
He was also a family man, deeply in love with Marie, and yet the constantly fought, and she struggled between devotion to Vince's coaching success, and deep depression, alcoholism, and occasional overdoses. In that sense, he made no distinction between the practice of religion and the sport of football" (p.
There was a continuity between his religious aspirations and football, as Marannis notes:
"The fundamental principles that he used in coaching--repetition, discipline, clarity, faith, subsuming individual ego to a larger good--were merely extensions of the religious ethic he learned from the Jesuits. On September 3, 1970, he "ran to win" one more time, passing away from a particularly malignant form of colon cancer.
Marannis portrays a complex, multi-dimensional man, who called out the best in players wherever he coached and yet struggled to connect with his own children, who never questioned the faith in which he was raised, but often struggled to live up to its tenets, who adored and constantly squabbled with his troubled wife.
And behind it all was legendary coach Vince Lombardi, for whom the Superbowl trophy is named, a coach with a consuming drive to win, characterized by the quote, "Winning isn't everything, it is the only thing."
David Maraniss is another author in the mold of George Will and David Halberstam, writing political biographies of Bill Clinton and Al Gore, but also fine pieces of sports writing including a biography of Roberto Clemente and this work on Lombardi.
Sadly, that is all he had. He had a lot of habits that were far from perfect.
He saw that struggle in clear and concrete terms."
When Lombardi reaches Green Bay he takes a losing team and turns them into winners in a season, championship contenders the next and champions by the third season as head coach and general manager of the Packers. He was tired. By this time, in 1959, he was in his mid-40s and beginning to despair of ever getting a head coaching position, wondering if his Italian name and heritage was working against him.
But Marannis' biography goes far beyond football.
It also delves into Lombardi’s relationships with players, including his star quarterback Bart Starr, and his coaching strategies.
Part 4: Lombardi’s Legacy
This section discusses the lasting impact of Lombardi’s coaching, both on the Packers and the sport of football. Marie was the first to notice and fear the worst.
When Pride Still Mattered : A Life Of Vince Lombardi
Growing up a Cleveland Browns fan in the 1960's, if there was any team that quenched our hopes in the Jim Brown era, it was the Green Bay Packers quarterbacked by Bart Starr, with Hornung and Taylor in the backfield.
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.
Amazon reviews: 4.7 out of 5 stars (1,072 reviews) as of 02/09/2024
Check out the book on Amazon
One sentence summary:
A deeply researched and engaging biography of football coach Vince Lombardi, whose leadership and dedication established the Green Bay Packers as one of the greatest teams in NFL history.
Book genre:
Biography/Sports Non-fiction
Main topic of the book:
The life and legacy of Vince Lombardi, one of the most influential figures in American football, and his impact on the Green Bay Packers and the sport as a whole.
Key ideas:
- Vince Lombardi’s strict upbringing and strong Catholic faith shaped his character and values as a coach.
- Lombardi’s intense and demanding coaching style, along with his dedication and attention to detail, transformed the mediocre Green Bay Packers into a dominant team.
- Lombardi’s influence extended beyond football, as he became a symbol of determination, discipline, and excellence in leadership.
- Lombardi’s personal struggles and vulnerabilities were often overlooked or overshadowed by his public image.
Main parts of the book and a short summary:
Part 1: The Making of a Coach
This section explores Lombardi’s upbringing, from growing up in an Italian-American family in Brooklyn to his education and early coaching career.
It went back to the Jesuits and the struggle between the shadow self and the real self--your humanity and your divinity. It also delves into his strict Catholic upbringing and the influence it had on his coaching style.
Part 2: The Journey to Green Bay
This part follows Lombardi’s journey to becoming head coach of the Green Bay Packers, including his struggles with finding a coaching job and his early years with the New York Giants.
Part 3: Green Bay Glory
The bulk of the book is devoted to Lombardi’s time with the Green Bay Packers, detailing the team’s rise to success and their iconic championship seasons.
It also delves into his personal life and the struggles he faced, including his battle with cancer.
Key takeaways:
- Vince Lombardi’s leadership and dedication transformed the Green Bay Packers into one of the greatest football teams in history.
- Lombardi’s strict and demanding coaching style, informed by his Catholic upbringing, helped shape his players into champions.
- Lombardi’s legacy extends beyond football and continues to inspire leaders in various fields.
- Despite his public image as a stoic and invincible coach, Lombardi dealt with personal struggles and vulnerabilities.
Author’s background and qualifications:
David Maraniss is an accomplished journalist and author, known for his in-depth biographies and historical non-fiction works.
Life was a struggle for him. I fly off the handle and offend people.