"Vince Lombardi" is Neiman's commemorative lithograph of Vince Lombardi, one of America's greatest football heros.Approved by the Lombardi family, this important image depicts the man who symbolized toughness and dedication and was long recognized for his power sweeps and highly publicized statements on his attitude toward winning and losing.
In this image, Neiman has truly captured the man who one former player has characterized as "cruel and kind, a person who I often hate and often love, but always respect." Throughout this image are the famous "Lombardi-isms" which, coupled with his brilliant coaching skills, inspired the Green Bay Packers to win five NFL championships and six divisional titles in nine seasons. As Lombardi frequently said: "Winning isn't everthing, it is the only thing." Green Bay, during his nine year reign, ultimately won 141 games and lost 39. Regarding losses, he insisted that "the Packers never lost a game, time merely ran out on them."
To Lombardi, football was not just a game but a way of life. It required courage, sacrifice, dedication, self-denial and a highly disciplined view of life. LeRoy Neiman's commemorative lithograph of Vince Lombardi truly immortalized the man who said to Neiman, in his tough style of encouragement, upon seeing this drawing: "LeRoy, you're improving."
