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Summary: A Classic American Story
Review: "When Pride Still Mattered" is an absolute must read for any Green Bay Packer fan, and any student of the sport of football. Mr. Maraniss provides the reader with a unique perspective of the history of college and professional football, the birth of the NFL, and the American culture through the life of Vince Lombardi. Through the life of Lombardi the reader gains insight into the early careers of Bart Starr, Frank Gifford, Tom Landry, as well as Packer greats Jerry Kramer, Max McGee, Paul Hornung, Willie Davis, and many others. "When Pride Still Mattered" provides the reader an unfiltered view of the life and career of Vince Lombardi, and how this complex man was able to bring out the best in his teams, even at his worst, and how he has become an enduring American icon.
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Summary: A lesson to be learned here...
Review: Overall, a truly enjoyable read. I find it disappointing, however, that like many of the "Baby Boomer" generation (perhaps best typified by the subject of his last major biography) Mr. Maraniss deems it necessary to attempt to debunk the "myths" surrounding a truly incomparable figure -- perhaps reflecting the need of this generation to justify their own personal shortcomings. The true irony of the book is that the larger than life persona of Lombardi, his contribution to the game he so loved, and his commitment to a higher standard of ethics and morals shine through unscarred, despite the author's attempts to convince us otherwise.
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Summary: Amazingly good book
Review: The only thing I can add to the reviews below is the assurance that you don't have to be a football fan to enjoy this book. The story is a fascinating read from beginning to end.
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Summary: OUTSTANDING BIOGRAPHY!
Review: Without a doubt,the best biography I've ever read. The author does a great job in writing about one of the top leaders of the 20th century.He is very thorough in his research and brilliantly separates the man from the image.Even though,Lombardi was very human,he still had more integrity,pride,and character then most of today's spoiled baby boomer athletes and coaches.Yes and even Presidents. A Must Buy.
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Summary: I Was There.
Review: David Maraniss wrote an exceptional book on Lombardi. I bought it as soon as it came out and was thrilled to read it. I was born in Green Bay and was at the games that made history there. I remember the Ice bowl and this book brought back so many memories. Vince Lombardi lived down the street from us and I saw him at church frequently. He was a great man. This book filled in so many voids and questions we all had growing up under Lombardi. We were all hurt when he left, however Maraniss makes it pretty clear why Lombardi left Green Bay when he did. I could not put this book down and it was quite emotional reading through the last chapters.
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Summary: An excellent work
Review: Somehow David Maraniss has managed to write a biography of an extremely complex personality in a simple and understandable way. Lombardi was a football coach who was accustomed to driving players toward the ultimate goal of winning. He accomplished his goal better than many of his peers but his methods revealed many personality contradictions. Lombardi was manipulative and at times petty but Maraniss manages to write about these contradictions without diminishing the overall image of a man who had many strengths as well. This book is a must read for anyone who lived through the Lombardi years with the Green Bay Packer football franchise.
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Summary: Perfect biography, also very funny
Review: David Maraniss has written a biography that should be used as a model for both others biographers as well as prose stylists. He paces his narrative masterfully, pausing at just the right moments to insert a brief (2 page or so) part about a tangential subject, before continuing with the storyline. With paragraph breaks one can skip parts that might be a bit boring, and know ehen to return to careful reading. The pictures selected for incluson are representative of the things Mr. Maraniss talks about. Finally, this book is strangely humorous. there were maybe 10 moments when I started laughing out loud at Maraniss' descriptions of something, such as George Halas in his film room watching Packer-Bears games on tape, and when the camera happens to catch Lombardi, looking up suddenly and muttering, look at that sob". Also Lombardi sitting in his living room sofa, trying to show enthusiasm for his biographer. And when they name the biography, the editors sitting around the conference table thinking of titles. How about, "Shut up, Marie"? one asks, using a common Lombardi phrase (Marie was his wife). All this made the book extra good and I read it in three sittings.
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Summary: "The Pope of Green Bay"ΓΏ
Review: Most of us have worked for this guy before. He's the type who makes mighty mountains out of insignificant molehills. He pushes. He screams. He roars over spilled milk, all the while convinced that he's doing it for the good of his employees, if not in the name of some higher cause. His subordinates (and even his bosses) grind their teeth 24 hours a day. He takes his principles to an extreme, even for a football coach. Enter Vince Lombardi.David Maraniss's WHEN PRIDE STILL MATTERED ( a masterpiece of a title) is the biography of the workaholic football coach who ushered in the modern era of pro ball. As in most such cases, there were victims: family. "The Pope of Green Bay" apparently loved his star running back/playboy Paul Hornung, more than his own children. He spent little time with the latter, usually unable to make the difference between family turf and the playing field. When his adolescent daughter borrowed one of his socks, Coach became apoplectic as easily as if one of his linemen had missed a snap count in the playoffs. Maraniss explains that Lombardi drove Mrs. Lombardi to drinking and, even on his deathbed, relations between he and Vince Jr. were tense and awkward. But the thrust of PRIDE was two-fold. Green Bay's glory days were a time when pride really did count more than money. Maraniss points out that football was in fact a moonlighting occupation. Ballplayers had off-season jobs as insurance reps, salesmen and, even engineers. They risked crippling injury out of sheer love of the game. Salaries were little more than beer money. It was a time when players (and society as a whole) respected legitimately-exercised authority. It was before Bosworth bombast intimidated the Barry Switzers of football. On the other hand, Maraniss stresses that the past is not always as innocent as it seems. Lombardi went to mass daily, constantly playing up obedience, responsibility, and patriotism. But he didn't always practice what he preached. The media frequently highlighted Coach's honor-student success and his law degree at Fordham. Maraniss points out that Lombardi was a very average undergraduate. He flunked out of law school. Coach Lombardi did nothing to dispel reports to the contrary. At "Saints" parochial school, he used local cops to flush potential ballplayers out of the brushpiles of delinquency (even Switzer never did that). Maraniss reveals that, as a Westpoint assistant, Lombardi turned a blind eye toward a university-wide cheating scandal, the ringleaders of which were none other than the varsity football team. Bye-bye, responsibility. Finally, Coach exploited his friendship with President Kennedy to obtain mililtary leave for Hornung so the all pro could play in the '61 title game. So much for patriotism. Overall, Maraniss's account is balanced and objective. PRIDE leaves one hating Lombardi on one page, deeply respecting him on the next--just how his contemporaries felt about him.
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Summary: Outstanding book filled w/lessons
Review: I received this book as a gift but was instantly attracted to the title. In a world when so many principles seem to be falling by the wayside we can read about a man who was devoted to the highest principles in competitive ventures. This book really seems to grasp what Lombardi was all about. Not just the wins and losses kind of stuff but his impact on his family (poor), his players (excellent) and his community (hey there's a street named after him). Maraniss in particular does a fine job of showing the difference between Lombardi the coach and Lombardi the husband/father. Success has it's price and you can learn a lot from this book. I loved it! Go Pack!
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Summary: Tremendous
Review: This is a wonderful book, one that exposes Lombardi as more than a great football coach, but a man of high morals, character, and a work ethic that was second to none. Success came at a price, though, and Lombardi was constantly torn away from his family by his relentless pursuit of winning. That was a revelation to me and makes me wonder if success Lombardi style is too high a price to pay. A five star book.
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