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As I read this book, the thing that kept running through my mind was how much research the author had to do. That is the difference between this book and other biographies, especially when you think that the two best sources of information - Vince and wife Marie - have long since passed away. I commend him for his efforts as not just a writer, but as a researcher. I will say this though, there are volumes and volumes of information about the Packers and Lombardi, making the writer's job not easier, but less time-consuming because of the availability of all the information out there.

As for the writing, I loved the way he blended Lombardi's day-to-day life with the football seasons. Just when you thought he was going to give you some boring play-by-play, he took you in another direction, describing Lombardi's relationship with a player, an assistant coach, a business leader, even his secretary, and he did so in a thorough and fascinating manner. He then took you back on the field for the play-by-play, and as a reader you felt like you never left.

You don't have to be a sports lover to love this book, because to me it's not really a sport book. Instead, it is a journey into the psyche of a man who was driven to succeed in everything he did. Chapters on his personal appearances, business ventures and other interests were nearly as interesting as the tales of his obsession with football. Lombardi was truly driven to be the best at everything he did.

The title of this book says volumes because to Lombardi pride did matter. Everything he did - except perhaps his relationship with his immediate family - he did with the intent of showing others that quality mattered to him.

I loved the book and despite his many shortcomings, I love Lombardi.

Work and Play. These words were tattooed on the knuckles of Vince's father. They symbolize the paradox that was Vince Lambardi. He stood for work and play, love and hate. Over the years, Vince has become a legend in the business world, football, and sports in general. Lombardi was preached the themes of discipline and patriotism, and he passed on at a time when these values that he symbolized began to decay. Lombardi was a complicated man indeed.

One element, Maraniss does at excellent job of bringing out in Lombardi is the fact that he was a flawed individual and not the symbol of perfection he was held up to be. The 3 most important things in the coach's life were God, football, and family. Lombardi attended church daily and was perhaps the best footbal coach ever. Maraniss does an excellent job of looking into the flawed and often neglected family life of Lombardi.

As a Packer fan and football fan, I believe this is an excellent documentation of the life of Vince Lombardi. While I am not a reader of biographies, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I just wish I could have lived through this golden era of football.

As a long-time Packer fan, about anything substantative would have been an interesting and fun read. But this one surprised me because it eclipsed long-established accounts of the Packers successes and failures and took an especially thorough look at the man who made Green Bay famous.

Who would have known, for example, that the Coach's brother was gay. Or that he could relate one-to-one to his team and his players in a way he never could to his family. The book shares more of these insights than it does such strategic things as how Jerry Kramer and Ken Bowman combined to throw "the" block. In fact, the on the field tactics and discussions almost become a distraction in a broader book that emphasizes what made the man tick.

Like Wisconsin's other 1960s era sports hero, Al McGuire, everybody thinks they know everything about Coach Lombardi. This book lends an exciting perspective on a man dead now for almost 35 years. It's fascinating and long overdue.