Post by billmcdee on Dec 28, 2021 20:58:58 GMT -5
I just learned of the passing of legendary NFL Head Coach, broadcaster, and video game inspirer John Madden.
He was 85 years old.
Ironically, from what my wife just told me, his was a sudden death, and of course in football, overtime games were sudden death situations.
I imagine nobody here other than me remembers ever seeing him as head coach of the then Oakland Raiders.
John was their head coach from 1969 through the end of the 1978 season when Madden retired suddenly from being a head coach.
During that time, he amassed a winning percentage of 75%, an astounding record in and of itself.
Were it not for the utter domination of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team of the 1970s, the Raiders would have won perhaps more than just one Super Bowl with Madden at the helm.
His over-the-top, colorful way of being a color commentator in the booth is something else about him I will always remember with great fondness. He and Pat Summerall were THE GREATEST tandem of NFL announcers ever in my humble opinion. They made their mark on CBS Sports, then later on Fox Sports. Mr. Madden later teamed up with another legendary voice, Al Michaels, on ABC's Monday Night Football, and later on again with Michaels on NBC's Sunday Night Football before he finally retired as a color commentator.
It seems his most lasting legacy though is the enormous success and popularity of the Madden video game franchise. He made a great many contributions over many decades toward that as well.
Evidently, on Christmas Day of all days, there was a program honoring him on a news television network.
The NFL Network is running items now about his amazing career.
To all of his family, his friends, and his many fans, one of which I obviously am, I extend my deepest condolences.
Rest in peace Coach.
He was 85 years old.
Ironically, from what my wife just told me, his was a sudden death, and of course in football, overtime games were sudden death situations.
I imagine nobody here other than me remembers ever seeing him as head coach of the then Oakland Raiders.
John was their head coach from 1969 through the end of the 1978 season when Madden retired suddenly from being a head coach.
During that time, he amassed a winning percentage of 75%, an astounding record in and of itself.
Were it not for the utter domination of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team of the 1970s, the Raiders would have won perhaps more than just one Super Bowl with Madden at the helm.
His over-the-top, colorful way of being a color commentator in the booth is something else about him I will always remember with great fondness. He and Pat Summerall were THE GREATEST tandem of NFL announcers ever in my humble opinion. They made their mark on CBS Sports, then later on Fox Sports. Mr. Madden later teamed up with another legendary voice, Al Michaels, on ABC's Monday Night Football, and later on again with Michaels on NBC's Sunday Night Football before he finally retired as a color commentator.
It seems his most lasting legacy though is the enormous success and popularity of the Madden video game franchise. He made a great many contributions over many decades toward that as well.
Evidently, on Christmas Day of all days, there was a program honoring him on a news television network.
The NFL Network is running items now about his amazing career.
To all of his family, his friends, and his many fans, one of which I obviously am, I extend my deepest condolences.
Rest in peace Coach.
