Vincent Thomas Lombardi

(http://www.footballcoachone.com/vince2.jpg)

Edward Everett Hale once said, “I am one, but I am only one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.” Vincent Thomas Lombardi followed this idea his entire life, he never let anything get in his way. This made him my hero; a national symbol of determination to win. Lombardi became famous after he won the first two Super Bowl games. After that the Super Bowl Trophy was named after him, The Lombardi Trophy. Not even cancer got in his way. He made the best of his life even after he was diagnosed with intestinal cancer in 1969 which would later take his life.

Lombardi was born into a family of Italian Immigrants in Brooklyn, New York on June 11, 1913. Vince attended Fordham University and graduated in 1937 with a B.S. degree. For the rest of the year of 1937, he worked in a New York Finance Company. In 1937, Lombardi started his coaching career as a high-school assistant coach. The next year, he married Marie Planitz in 1940. With Marie, Lombardi had two children.

Vince showed loyalty after he joined Wisconsin’s Green Bay Packers. He coached the Packers for nine seasons from 1959-1967. He led them to five championship wins. (That’s half of what the Packers won in their team history)!! Lombardi and his Green Bay Packers started their domination of the NFL in 1960. He won the first two Super Bowl games and had the trophy named after him. In 1967 Lombardi got tired of the expectations thrust upon him and he left the Packers and was signed by the Washington Redskins. Vince was also successful with the Redskins and led them to their first winning season in fourteen years.

Unfortunately, all lives have to end at some point. Lombardi was diagnosed with intestinal cancer in 1969 which later took his life in 1970 in Washington D.C. Lombardi was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame five years after he died. You may ask what it takes to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Well, if you ask this question, I will tell you. You have to be nominated by the commissioner of the NFL then receive a certain amount of votes across the nation.

Vince Lombardi showed four main qualities that made him my hero, Determination, Dedication, Bravery, Respect. He had determination because he never gave up, he always tried. Even when he knew that he wouldn’t win, he would try. Dedication because he stayed with his team, the Green Bay Packers, for nine seasons even though they may have had some bad seasons. He was brave and respectful also because he went into every game knowing he was going to win; and when they didn’t, he did not get discouraged. As you can see, these qualities fit into Vince Lombardi’s life style. Most people will remember Vince Lombardi as the coach that won the first two Super Bowls. But I will remember him as my hero.