John Madden retires

[EdSutton]

Pro football on TV will somehow just not be quite the same without the Madden Cruiser pulling the horse trailer around, hauling the All-Madden team, any longer. :tear:

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009...forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/04/17/ap6303418.html

As much as you will be missed in the TV booth, you've certainly earned the right to say "I did it my way!" many times over.

So have a wonderful retirement, John Madden, enjoy your grandkids, and thanks for all the memories.

Ed

 

[Tom Bryant]

I agree. I liked that he really loved football. His enthusiasm for the game always came through.

 

[Alcott]

It seems hard to believe he was an announcer almost 3 times as long as he was a head coach. When his face appeared in the shot, my dad used to call him "Old Pig."

In selecting announcers today, I'm not sure if the networks deliberately choose those who don't show a lot of originiality, or they make it clear they have to suppress their enthusiasm and originality. Either way, they're probably scared of controversey. The loud and opinionated ones, like Howard Cosell, and the self-appointed comedians, like his longtime partner, Dandy Don Meredith, were both 'originals' and both caused a big stir wherever they went in the business and both got in trouble for their opinions or misunderstandings about thier expressions. Madden probably got by that by focusing on football, not by seeing his position as a 'forum' to comment about almost anything or to entertain... yet he did entertain. So they must look for those they are confident will not stick their necks out as far as peripheral commentary or clowning. So most of the 'newer' guys in the booths seem to be dull and all business-- Dick Stockton, Troy Aikman, Phil Simms, et al.

 

[TomVols]

Some I know are thrilled that Madden will be leaving. Some esteem him as the master of stating the obvious, kind of a pigskin version of Joe Morgan in that respect. I frankly don't know or recall. I do know that hearing him and Pat Summerall do games (more for Summerall) is a joy that I miss. I think Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth will make a superb team and will be much better than the boo-yah boys' lineup on Mon nite (Tirico notwithstanding)

 

[swaimj]

There are lots of announcers who aspire to be "The John Madden" of their sport. That is probably the greatest tribute to him that could be payed. He has been the top analyst in his sport at all of the major networks (at various times, of course) since he stepped into the booth. He sought to copy no one. He was an original.

 

[Jimmy C]

John Madden was an original and redefined the analyst position of an NFL broadcast. He educated the fans and had a blast doing it. I will miss John Madden in the broadcast booth.

 

[BigBossman]

I hope that Electronic Arts will still make the Madden NFL video games. BOOM!