Bart Starr: When Leadership Mattered

by David Claerbaut

Bart Starr was the quarterback of the Green Bay Packers from 1956 to 1971, the most meaningful and successful era of one of football's most storied franchises. Starr was named MVP of the first two Super Bowls and to the Pro Bowl four times. He threw for more than 24,000 yards in his career and holds the Packer record for most games played. But the awards and impressive statistics are not what fans remember most about Bart Starr. As his legendary coach, Vince Lombardi, once said, "Bart Starr stands for what the game of football stands for: courage, stamina and coordinated efficiency. You instill desire by creating a superlative example. The noblest form of leadership is by example and that is what Bart Starr is about." Bart Starr: When Leadership Mattered shows with clarity and stunning insight just how true Lombardi's compliment was. Drafted in the seventeenth round out of the University of Alabama after a checkered collegiate career, Starr was just hoping to catch the eye of an NFL team. As the 199th selection in the 1956 draft, his expectations and those of the team and fans were limited. But Bart Starr rose above everyone's expectations to will his way to the starting job, aided by the encouragement of Lombardi, who became Packer head coach in 1959. This book reveals all the details of Starr's improbable rise to stardom. It explores his relationship with Lombardi and his guidance of the Packers from a downtrodden franchise to five-time World Champions to two-time Super Bowl winners. His epic battles with rivals such as the Bears and Lions and the famous Ice Bowl are also recalled in unforgettable fashion. But most of all, Bart Starr: When Leadership Mattered is about a modestly talented football player who with uncommon intelligence, grit, and leadership elevated his play and that of his teammates. The Packers would not have been the Packers without Bart Starr.

Genres: Sports, Biography, Football

236 pages, Paperback

First published July 14, 2004

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Green Bay Packers are my team. Bart Starr is, in my opinion, the greatest quarterback in Packers history. My opinion is unabashedly biased. Number fifteen was my childhood hero. He did not possess the athletic ability, nor the stats, of Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers, but in terms of leadership, example, and certainly team success, he has no rival. Five championships in seven years, in an era when quarterbacks called their own plays.

Biographies of sports heroes usually come in one of two forms. The first is a very shallow, quick, surficial look at the life and sporting career trying to earn a few dollars on the fame of a particular player. The other is a truly in-depth look and accounting of the life and times of that sports hero. This biography is clearly in the second category. It does a phenomenal job of bringing Bart Starr to life for the reader. The book contains game details of the Packers' glory years in addition to the post-Lombardi years where Starr struggled both as a player and a coach. Tragedy strikes people in all walks of life and Starr experienced the loss of a son through drugs. The tragic loss of other family members by other teammates are related as well. Perhaps Starr isn't recognized as the very best QB of all time but the story about him should be considered one of the greatest.

I found the book to be a refreshing read in reliving those glamorous years when the Packers ruled in the 1960s after those pathetic years during the 1950s. You need not be a football fan or a fan of the Packers to enjoy this biography. For Green Bay Packer fans this book is a win. This book is awesome!!!! Go Pack Go!!!

[Matthew Rantala · Rating 1 out of 5]

While it probably doesn’t fit the legal definition for plagiarism but in reality this is just a re-telling of Bart Starr’s autobiography “My Life in Football” with a little information added from Jerry Kramer’s book, David Maraniss’ “When Pride Still Mattered”, and Bill Russell’s “Russell Rules”.

I just read Starr’s 1987 book and reading this was basically Claerbaut re-narrating it back to me. The author doesn’t provided any new information. Save your money and buy the source materials that Claerbaut combined.

Wish I could give this 0 stars.

[Kathy B · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Packer fan (and football fan), I greatly enjoyed this book and the references to players, as well as the trip down memory lane. Sadly, I also remembered the 4-10 season, followed by the 5-9 season, and back to 4-10. 😁 Bart Starr's integrity is legendary, and I am so glad two of my cars went to the Rawhide Boys Ranch to support his mission of helping boys in need.