What do you think?
Rate this book
Ruanaidh: The Story of Art Rooney and His Clan
"Ruanaidh" follows to its conclusion the extraordinary life of Art Rooney, Sr. - the Chief. The strange-looking title (pronounced Ru-ah-nee) is the Gaelic word for Rooney. Candid personality portraits of almost everybody in the Chief's wide orbit are mingled with tales from Art Rooney, Jr's own high school and college football-playing days, from his time as a failed drama student in New York, from his six months of boot camp training with the Marines, and from his subsequent career as personnel director of his father's football team, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Born in 1935, Art Rooney, Jr., is the second of the Chief's five sons. He listened to his father's stories and observed him in action, attempting to understand how this small-time politician and big-time horse player ended up as a beloved folk hero, the creator, after many false starts, of a football dynasty, and "a great American sportsman." For obvious reasons, the picture of Art Rooney, Sr. that emerges could not be more fully drawn.
There emerges, also, in "Ruanaidh," a marvelous supporting cast of relatives, in-laws, colleagues, rivals, hangers-on, and free spirits, of saints and sinners, titans and nobodies. About each there are stories that only a Ru-ah-nee could have known. In the 1970s, it was Art Rooney, Jr. who supervised the scouting and drafting of the Steelers' first four Super Bowl championship teams. And here he relates, with no animosity, his quest for talented players that would lead the Steelers to NFL Championships.
Born in 1935, Art Rooney, Jr., is the second of the Chief's five sons. He listened to his father's stories and observed him in action, attempting to understand how this small-time politician and big-time horse player ended up as a beloved folk hero, the creator, after many false starts, of a football dynasty, and "a great American sportsman." For obvious reasons, the picture of Art Rooney, Sr. that emerges could not be more fully drawn.
There emerges, also, in "Ruanaidh," a marvelous supporting cast of relatives, in-laws, colleagues, rivals, hangers-on, and free spirits, of saints and sinners, titans and nobodies. About each there are stories that only a Ru-ah-nee could have known. In the 1970s, it was Art Rooney, Jr. who supervised the scouting and drafting of the Steelers' first four Super Bowl championship teams. And here he relates, with no animosity, his quest for talented players that would lead the Steelers to NFL Championships.
483 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
6 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 29, 2014
Art Rooney Jr. has written a great book. It is both entertaining and enlightening. He is the son of Pittsburgh Steelers founder Art Rooney. His insights into his father's business and family life paint an interesting portrait of the man. From his many unheralded good deeds to his less than loving interactions with his sons, Rooney Jr. succeeds in creating a real human composite of the man. From his beginnings as a rough and tumble athlete to gambler to his eventual rise to mythic beloved figure, his son takes you on the journey with an insider's perspective. Art Rooney Jr. was also an important character in the story as he was VP of Personnel for 15 years during the franchise's rise from losers to champions.
This book is not for everyone. It is fairly long and dense. I, myself am a lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan, and so I am interested in learning about the history of the team, coaches, players and ownership of the team. Many will enjoy learning the history of the NFL as the Rooneys played a big role in the league. It also reads like historical fiction set in Pittsburgh, especially in the first third. There are many interesting characters that float in and out of the long historical narative. If those subjects interest you, then I highly recommend it.
It is the story of an immigrant American family with humble beginnings, becoming powerful and influential over the course of years with some luck, passion, and persistence. All led by the strong patriarch, Art Rooney.
This book is not for everyone. It is fairly long and dense. I, myself am a lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan, and so I am interested in learning about the history of the team, coaches, players and ownership of the team. Many will enjoy learning the history of the NFL as the Rooneys played a big role in the league. It also reads like historical fiction set in Pittsburgh, especially in the first third. There are many interesting characters that float in and out of the long historical narative. If those subjects interest you, then I highly recommend it.
It is the story of an immigrant American family with humble beginnings, becoming powerful and influential over the course of years with some luck, passion, and persistence. All led by the strong patriarch, Art Rooney.
June 18, 2012
A lot about Art.
I gave up reading this.
April 30, 2021
Great read!
Loved the short topics and depth of character. Anyone who is a Steelers fan would enjoy reading this book on the Rooney’s.
Loved the short topics and depth of character. Anyone who is a Steelers fan would enjoy reading this book on the Rooney’s.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews