Vince Lombardi: 100

Vince Lombardi was born 100 years ago today.



Would Lombardi be a successful coach in today's game?

I don't approach the question from the perspective of football in the 21st century, how the game is played and how it has changed since the 1960s. I'm thinking about Lombardi's style in terms of dealing with his players.

It's an interesting question to ponder, but impossible to answer.

Would Dwight D. Eisenhower be a successful general today?

Would Abraham Lincoln be able to make it in today's political scene?

It's somewhat troubling to think that heroes of the past might flounder today.

Why might they be failures? Isn't greatness timeless, something grounded in character by virtue of timeless values and beliefs?

The thing is values and beliefs aren't timeless. Standards of greatness have been altered dramatically. Definitions of good character aren't the same. What truly matters in our culture isn't the same as years ago, at least that's what we're told by some.

We have different standards of winning and losing, success and failure.

I wonder why Lombardi is still so revered when his deep religious faith and the values he instilled in his players are mocked or totally disregarded today.



I have always been struck by the fact that Lombardi's players - Jerry Kramer, Bart Starr, Willie Davis -refer to him as "Coach Lombardi."

These are old men now, but their respect for Coach Lombardi remains.

Maybe some things are timeless.