Character Is What Counts

Faith. Fairness. Fortitude. And Football. Every time he confessed his sins, young seminarian Vince Lombardi sought forgiveness for the one he just couldn't stop committing-playing football. Football was more than a game to Lombardi. It was life. And the values it took to succeed-"perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication, and respect for authority"-were ones he lived by and inspired in others. Considered one of the best coaches of all time, whatever the sport, Lombardi was uncompromising in his expectations of himself and his players, both on the field and off. Sidelined and underestimated throughout his life because of his Italian heritage, Vince Lombardi took a brave stance against homophobia and racism. In a country and a sport divided by race the oft-quoted "Pope of Green Bay" had zero tolerance for bigotry and showed his players, fans, and other teams and coaches that character is what counts.