Gary Pomerantz's Their Life's Work chronicles the
four-time Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers of the 1970s, both on and off
the field. The title of the book refers to an oft-cited phrase first used by
Cleveland Browns founder and coach Paul Brown and adopted by Steeler coach
Chuck Noll, referring to how football is merely a phase in one's life and
prepares for the decades of life that is to come.
Pomerantz details multiple
pieces -- from the Rooney family, who owned the Steelers, to the players that
made up the roster, to the city itself and its gradual embrace of the team. The
1970s Steelers were not only talented but also star-crossed, as the ravages of
football dealt a heavy toll on the team after the game. Several players from
the decade have passed on prematurely for a litany of reasons; Pomerantz
chronicles the challenges and pitfalls of former players as they progress
through life, and in one man's case, how his post-football career has arguably
been much more successful and appreciated by fans than what happened while he
was on the field.
Their Life's Work reads like a history of the Steelers and a multiple biographical
sketch of many of the 1970s Steelers, which is great if you are a fan of
professional football and especially a fan of the team. Pomerantz does an
effective job of weaving the rise of the Steelers, their triumphs on the field
and what their struggles have been since retirement. It is a great read for any
Steelers fan.
MY RATING: 5
