December 10, 2011
America’s Quarterback: Bart Starr and the Rise of the National Football League by Keith Dunnavant
Bart Starr deserves to be the icon that he is and Dunnavant explains why. Throughout his life, Starr was just who he wanted to be, a straightforward, honest, caring human. He was also one of the best quarterbacks ever to play the game – not one of the most talented, but one of the most accomplished. Unfortunately, he was overshadowed during his playing career, but the exquisite Johnny Unitas and the legend that was Vince Lombardi. This book goes a ways toward making it clear just what an exceptional player and human Starr has been.
Overall, this does fall a little short of When Pride Still Mattered: Lombardi by David Maraniss, but it is a major step up from most sports biographies, such as anything yet written about Brett Favre. One doesn’t need to be a packer fan or even an NFL fan to read and appreciate this book. The author clearly had great connections, as so many people were willing to tell all they knew about Bart. The only weak points are when he tries to link out to the wider culture, which lacks depth.
As a Packer fan and one old enough to remember Starr playing, I didn’t think I would learn that much, as I knew the basic story. A 17th round draft choice at a time most teams only carried two quarterbacks. A very bad Packer team. A strong and upright man who gave his all on the field and off, heavily involved in charity work. Lombardi’s coach on the field, the one who led the many all-stars to five titles in seven years.
But there was a lot I did not know. Bart’s father, who was never satisfied with his accomplishments. Bart’s brother, who died of tetanus as a child and had been the athletic one. Just how determined Bart was to be someone, no matter the odd. How obsessively he worked to maximize his talent. Bart sitting on the bench as a senior as Alabama suffered loss after loss. No way he should ever have been drafted after that. How close he was to being cut by the no-talent Packers. How Lombardi traded for a more talented quarterback because he didn’t think Starr had it in him to lead the team to victory. The many injuries, which he never talked about, playing entire seasons at the end of his career when he could barely lift his arms above his head. But through it all, Starr behaved with grace, responding to every challenge by working harder, studying more, watching more film, putting in more time.
The numbers show that he was a great quarterback – he threw very few interceptions and we know that the team that wins the turn over battle wins the game. And he didn’t do it with dink and dunk passes, but with a yards per attempt that ranks very high. Sometimes diminished as the guy who handed off to Taylor and Hornung, he carried the team to the last two titles. His running backs for the Ice Bowl were Donnie Anderson and Chuck Mercein. He was the MVP of the first two Super Bowls, hands down the best player on the field. He called the plays, unlike modern quarterbacks, and was a master of the audible. Without him, Lombardi would not have been Lombardi but maybe Chuck Noll.
None of it happens if Starr is not the man he is – humble but determined, a fierce competitor with a mild demeanor. He is a tremendous contrast with modern players – chasing the money, doing the dances, wearing the bling, sending photos of their junk to women, spending their nights in clubs. Starr belongs to a completely different generation and the change can quickly. From cool competent Starr to Broadway Joe in a few years.
In reading, I was struck by the parallels to Aaron Rodgers. Calm and even mild seeming, but a demon on the field. Marked down for his skill set, but with a maniac’s devotion to video study and self-improvement. A coach on the field, with an aptitude for audibles. Great fundamentals, not naturally, but because they matter. A sense of having to overcome obstacles, of earning success. No sense of entitlement.
This is certainly the best sports book, and one of the best biographies, I have read in years and I am happy to recommend it to readers.
