Lombardi #1

[red]

well curly was voted #10, but was there ever really any doubt as to who #1 was going to be?

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/page/greatestcoach1/greatest-coaches-nfl-history-vince-lombardi

its still hard to believe just how great he was.



What It Takes to be Number One
"Winning is not a sometime thing; it's an all the time thing. You don't win once in a while; you don't do things right once in a while; you do them right all of the time. Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.

There is no room for second place. There is only one place in my game, and that's first place. I have finished second twice in my time at Green Bay, and I don't ever want to finish second again. There is a second place bowl game, but it is a game for losers played by losers. It is and always has been an American zeal to be first in anything we do, and to win, and to win, and to win.

Every time a football player goes to ply his trade he's got to play from the ground up - from the soles of his feet right up to his head. Every inch of him has to play. Some guys play with their heads. That's O.K. You've got to be smart to be number one in any business. But more importantly, you've got to play with your heart, with every fiber of your body. If you're lucky enough to find a guy with a lot of head and a lot of heart, he's never going to come off the field second.

Running a football team is no different than running any other kind of organization - an army, a political party or a business. The principles are the same. The object is to win - to beat the other guy. Maybe that sounds hard or cruel. I don't think it is.

It is a reality of life that men are competitive and the most competitive games draw the most competitive men. That's why they are there - to compete. The object is to win fairly, squarely, by the rules - but to win.

And in truth, I've never known a man worth his salt who in the long run, deep down in his heart, didn't appreciate the grind, the discipline. There is something in good men that really yearns for discipline and the harsh reality of head to head combat.

I don't say these things because I believe in the ‘brute' nature of men or that men must be brutalized to be combative. I believe in God, and I believe in human decency. But I firmly believe that any man's finest hour -- his greatest fulfillment to all he holds dear -- is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious."
- Coach Vincent T. Lombardi

[KYPack]

Great post, Red.

Let's all lift our shot glasses and drink one for the ultimate coach.

Today would have been Vince's 100th birthday if he would've lived.

1913 - 2013.

Happy Birthday, Vinny

[George Cumby]

HBD, Coach.

There are those who say he would not have been successful with today's players. I disagree, I think he would have won, regardless of which era.

[MadScientist]

HBD, Coach.

There are those who say he would not have been successful with today's players. I disagree, I think he would have won, regardless of which era.

Agreed. His greatness wasn't the sweep or the old-school training camp, it was his ability to motivate each and every player to give everything he had to win. That works in any era.

[Patler]

Agreed. His greatness wasn't the sweep or the old-school training camp, it was his ability to motivate each and every player to give everything he had to win. That works in any era.

I think the feeling of many "outsiders" is that Lombardi motivated through intimidation, which doesn't work so well today. But I think that is too narrow of a view of Lombardi. There was an aspect of intimidation in his coaching, but it was much, much more than that. I think he would have adapted.

[ThunderDan]

There was an interview with Bart Starr about Lombardi. He said they were at a practice and he screwed a play up and Lombardi ripped Bart a new asshole. Bart after practice went to the coaches office and told him that that would never motivate him to play better and he knew he screwed the play up. Bart said if you want to yell at me about my performance do it face to face alone away from the other guys.

Bart said after that day Lombardi never yelled at him again during practice.

[pbmax]

I think the feeling of many "outsiders" is that Lombardi motivated through intimidation, which doesn't work so well today. But I think that is too narrow of a view of Lombardi. There was an aspect of intimidation in his coaching, but it was much, much more than that. I think he would have adapted.

No, no,no. Caricatures are the new analysis.

[Fritz]

There was an interview with Bart Starr about Lombardi. He said they were at a practice and he screwed a play up and Lombardi ripped Bart a new asshole. Bart after practice went to the coaches office and told him that that would never motivate him to play better and he knew he screwed the play up. Bart said if you want to yell at me about my performance do it face to face alone away from the other guys.

Bart said after that day Lombardi never yelled at him again during practice.

But did Bart have two assholes after that, or did he get one repaired?

You people constantly leave out the most important parts of your stories.

[woodbuck27]

Vince Lombardi on Leadership.


Leadership

" ...“Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.”

“It is essential to understand that battles are primarily won in the hearts of men. Men respond to leadership in a most remarkable way and once you have won his heart, he will follow you anywhere.”

“Leadership is based on a spiritual quality --- the power to inspire, the power to inspire others to follow.”

“Having the capacity to lead is not enough. The leader must be willing to use it.”

“Leadership rests not only upon ability, not only upon capacity – having the capacity to lead is not enough. The leader must be willing to use it. His leadership is then based on truth and character. There must be truth in the purpose and will power in the character.”

“A leader must identify himself with the group, must back up the group, even at the risk of displeasing superiors. He must believe that the group wants from him a sense of approval. If this feeling prevails, production, discipline, morale will be high, and in return, you can demand the cooperation to promote the goals of the community.” ..." Vince Lombardi

[Fritz]

Vince Lombardi on Leadership.


Leadership

" ...“Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.”

“It is essential to understand that battles are primarily won in the hearts of men. Men respond to leadership in a most remarkable way and once you have won his heart, he will follow you anywhere.”

“Leadership is based on a spiritual quality --- the power to inspire, the power to inspire others to follow.”

“Having the capacity to lead is not enough. The leader must be willing to use it.”

“Leadership rests not only upon ability, not only upon capacity – having the capacity to lead is not enough. The leader must be willing to use it. His leadership is then based on truth and character. There must be truth in the purpose and will power in the character.”

“A leader must identify himself with the group, must back up the group, even at the risk of displeasing superiors. He must believe that the group wants from him a sense of approval. If this feeling prevails, production, discipline, morale will be high, and in return, you can demand the cooperation to promote the goals of the community.” ..." Vince Lombardi

He sounds so Nitzchean. And he didn't say anything about "moving forward" or "turning the page."