PITTSBURGH (93.7 the Fan) – Jim Rooney said his father often used the expression ‘do the right thing’ and believing he did that, Rooney collaborated on a new book titled ‘A Different Way to Win: Dan Rooney’s story’.
Jim Rooney said he talked to over 50 people including a pair of NFL Commissioners, White House personnel, former football players and coaches and even a Nobel Peace Prize winner to compile stories and what he believed were very authentic thoughts on his dad.
“This idea that you can be strong, you can be principled, you can set really high standards and you can also have this commitment to humanity,” Rooney said of his father. “You can be decent and kind while you are being successful. That’s what I saw over and over again.”
Rooney said the book is split in four narratives: his work with the National Football League, the Steelers of the ‘70s, his work in Ireland and the Rooney Rule.
“My father, what I saw him do, was take on big initiatives and stick with them for a very long time,” Rooney said. “You look at his work with NFL labor, his work with Ireland, if you look at the Rooney Rule, all of those things took years and in some cases, decades, where he was involved with them.”
“His impact, and where he was effective, was playing the long game and making sure he stuck with things. That is what I saw that was different about him.”
Books are available for pre-order at the Steelers website and Amazon for $15.95 for paperback, $29.95 for hardcover and $9.99 for eBook.
Rooney said his father wouldn’t have wanted any part of a book, but he believes it’s important to get his story out there.