Legendary coach’s 100th birthday a milestone worth remembering
By CHRIS HAVEL
Vincent Thomas Lombardi would have celebrated his 100th birthday on Tuesday. Both the milestone and the NFL’s greatest head coach are worth remembering for many reasons.
Foremost, all things Lombardi are synonymous with success.
There are the 1960’s Green Bay Packers teams that became a dynasty. There is the NFL as it grew to become this country’s national pastime. There is the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s that shared Lombardi’s belief that regardless of race, creed or color all people are created equal.
Perhaps the most enduring legacy is the one that exists inside his players. To this day, and to a man, everyone from Willie Wood and Willie Davis to Herb Adderley and Jerry Kramer espouses his virtues.
“There isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t think of the great coach,” Davis said. “He is with me – he is with us – all the time.”
ESPN’s three-hour documentary, “Lombardi’s Legacy,” that continues to air this week illustrates the seemingly simple approach from such a complex man.
His philosophies were basic. His execution was genius.
He was one of the great leaders of the 20th century.
The question occasionally arises, “How would Lombardi do in today’s NFL?” The answer should be self-evident.
Hard work, maximum effort, consistency and attention to detail never go out of style. Treating players with respect, rather than an attitude of “What can he do for me?” never grows old. Learning from past mistakes, rather than being doomed to repeat them, is eternally wise.
Lombardi also had the gift of being able to recognize talent, coupled with the insight to put his players in the best chance to be successful. What Lombardi did with a minimal staffing today requires an army of assistant coaches and scouts.
He looked at Willie Davis, the struggling offensive tackle in Cleveland, and saw a Hall of Fame defensive end. He watched Herb Adderley as a game-breaking running back at Michigan State, and determined he would be a phenomenal defensive back. He studied Willie Wood, a talented college quarterback, and helped him became a great safety.
All of them became Hall of Fame players. All owe a debt to the coach.
Lombardi won five championships in nine seasons in Green Bay.
It wasn’t a fluke. He knew himself, and he knew men, and he realized early on that you only get what you demand.
Lombardi, who was born June 11, 1913, knew what it was like to experience prejudice. As a dark-skinned Italian growing up in New York he knew firsthand the evil that lurks inside some men. As a good but not great athlete he knew that his mind could overcome most shortcomings.
As a man of faith who was burdened by passion that occasionally boiled over into volatility, he knew the condition of human frailty.
Lombardi did his best to practice what he preached. I have often thought that Lombardi’s strict Catholic upbringing and Jesuit education built the foundation for the coach that he would become. His ritual of attending daily Mass wasn’t born out of any thought that he was pious. Instead, it was born out of a belief that he was a sinner striving to be better.
That humble truth, wrapped in an intelligent, dynamic and explosive persona, led him to become a tremendous leader.
He compiled a win-loss record of 98-30-4 (including playoffs) during his nine seasons in Green Bay. He never had a losing season.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971 and the Packer Hall of Fame in 1975. Shortly after his death Sept. 3, 1970, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle renamed the Super Bowl trophy the “Vince Lombardi Trophy” in his memory.
Could Lombardi coach today’s NFL players and be successful?
The answer is a resounding, “Yes!”
Chris Havel is a national best-selling author and his latest book is Lombardi: An Illustrated Life. Havel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. CDT on WDUZ FM 107.5 The Fan, or on AM-1400, as well as Fan Internet Radio (www.thefan1075.com). Havel also hosts Event USA’ MVP Parties the evening before home games.
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"Kudos to Amy for making sure that the tickets to the tailgate party were waiting for me at the reception desk! Your personal phone call and text messages went above and beyond customer satisfaction! I can't wait for the 2024 season, rest assured that my go-to Packer's game supplier will be Event USA for a long time.
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As always, EventUSA has been awesome to deal with in booking the Lodge Kohler package for the Tampa Bay Game,
particularly for me traveling from Sydney, Australia, it takes the stress out of the booking process. "
-Kayle
"Good Morning, Nicole - Everything you did turned out great. The seats were great. Access to the air conditioned club lounge was great. Lots of Packers fans in the club lounge and overall at the stadium. The tailgate party at the fancy restaurant in the hotel was fabulous. The servers just kept on bringing out different sliders and desserts. Good thing that I got in a 30-minute run along the river in the morning. So, thank you! You may be speaking with me in November if I can work out getting up to Green Bay for a game. It's been too long since my last time.
One of the best aspects of this weekend was interacting with so many people from Wisconsin and learning their personal stories of things Packers. And we even met a couple from St. Petersburg, Florida (my home county) and were able to tell them about the Varsity Club tavern and Packers bar in Clearwater where Mark Murphy's mother is in attendance -- very nice lady whose retirement home is in Clearwater, which borders my little city of Dunedin. Pre-COVID, I always went to the Varsity when the Packers games weren't televised locally -- lots of Wisconsin natives there, too + they serve brats and sauerkraut during Packers games. I'm glad that you are working for Event USA.
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-- Martin Lawyer, Dunedin, Florida
"Dennis - I was blessed to join Amy and some of your customers at the Morton's tailgate as well as after the game. She does an amazing job for you. Every single customer I met praised Event USA for being able to arrange the hotel and tickets and fabulous tailgate party in such a quick time. Having been to some great tour tailgate parties in Jacksonville and Kansas City and old San Francisco, a lot can be said of the long-term benefit of having really great tailgate parties. Morton's was probably one of the best - amazing food, patio sitting on the riverfront, walk to stadium, open bar!!! It was first class fun!!!"
-Matt
"Hi Amy-
Just wanted to say thank you for making Jacksonville happen! We had a wonderful time and looking forward to more Packers games with Event USA in the future!
Even though the game was not what we expected- we are packers fans for life-lol!
Go pack go!!"
-Julie Mastrianni
"I want to thank Event USA and in particular Amy Flores for the Jacksonville trip. We have used you before and always were very pleased with the packages you have set up and your service.
My son who lives in Charleston, SC and myself who lives in Minnesota, decided we needed to do a guys trip and decided to go through your company to see the opener in New Orleans. I initially called and talked with Amy about some questions I had and booked our trip. After itinerary and info was emailed to us, it soon became apparent that the trip to New Orleans wouldn’t happen. In steps Amy, wondering if we would be interested in Dallas if the game was moved there and a package was set up. Then finally the move to Jacksonville and continued communication from Amy on our interest. It was getting late at that point and I was wondering if she would be able to pull off setting up a package in Jacksonville. She did it.
We went to Jacksonville and had a great time. The accommodations and the tail gate were fabulous. If only the Packer team we were hoping for had made the trip.
Thank you Event USA and in particular Amy Flores."
-Tom Sohrweide, White Bear Lake, MN
"Thank you for all your help. I had a great time at the Packer-Raider game opening day. I have already begun telling interested Packer fans in Sacramento about your service. The next time I come to Green Bay for a game, I’ll be sure to ask for your help. God bless you and God bless the Green Bay Packers."
-Frank Chavez, Sacramento
"I just wanted to say that I had such a great time. The whole weekend was so much fun. I enjoyed the Player Autograph Party and the tailgate party was just the best. After coming from a country that loves soccer, it was nice to mix with people who have the same interests as me. Thank you once again, Green Bay is one very special place."
-Beverley Moore, Lancaster
"My accommodations at the Best Western Midway were excellent. I was picked up at the airport and returned promptly. No problems at all. Your representative at the hotel on game day was very pleasant and helpful. The tailgate party was super, great food, great drinks and lots of fun. Obviously, Lambeau Field and the game itself was great. I will continue to use Event USA in the future, and I will definitely tell anyone who I come across to give you a call. One last thing, the hospitality I experienced in Green Bay was incredible. I have traveled to many places, and I don’t think there are more friendly people than the people of Green Bay. Thank you again and see you next year!"
-David Anastas, Worchester
"My wife and I booked the tour to Tampa. The trip was so well organized from start to finish. It started with the people in the office with their friendly help over the phone, to receiving the tickets in the mail, and meeting the tour guides with their upbeat personalities. Signs guided us in the airport and information was posted in our motel lobbies to keep us posted. Your people had everything in order. Talk about organization, you had it. Event USA made this a most memorable trip. Thanks for all involved."
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"Thanks for all your help, the great tickets and service, and the chance to help me make one of my son’s dreams come true, seeing the Packers playing at home in Lambeau Field."
-Sam Jones, Sedalia
"I just want to thank you for the wonderful job your staff did last weekend for the Packers vs. Lions game. This was our first time utilizing your program and we were not disappointed at all. In fact, we can’t wait to schedule and event for next season’s games. From my first experience with your staff placing my order until the very end at checkout of the hotel, everything was perfect. You truly out-do yourselves to please everyone. Thanks again for making our stay in Green Bay one of the best."
-Kim Ewing and Bruce DeMaine, Ann Arbor
"Thanks so much for the best weekend ever! You not only got us in all the Magazines, TV, WWW pages and even the big screen at Lambeau Field, but Disney World on the side? Nice job – You and your family are top notch – we were on the best tour for the Super Bowl! Seeing the Green Bay Packers win back the Lombardi Trophy was a life long dream of this Packer fan, and you all were so dedicated to the job of taking care of us that, like the Packers, we were a winning team! Keep me on your list."
-William D Lorge, Representative to the Wisconsin State Assembly