Madden Hanging It Up

Neophyte · Status: Offline

Madden Hanging It Up

Om · Status: Offline

Hard to imagine an NFL without John Madden.

He's been a cornerstone of my football experience. Went from thinking he was a goof as a kid while he performed his sideline histrionics as coach of the Raiders, to loving his broadcasts for their freshness, originality and even occasional insight, to viewing him rather as the whacky half-drunk Uncle at the family reunion--still possessed of his considerable faculties but almost a cartoonish version of his former glory.

Still and all, the man has been a fixture, and I'll definitely miss his presence.

And talk about a big pair of shoes for some poor schlump to try and fill this September ...

Hog Fever · Status: Offline

He had a great run and I wish him all the best. When he first started I found his commentary fresh and insightful but in the last 5 years or so (maybe more) he’s annoyed me more than anything. He’s almost become a caricature of himself (I wrote this post before Om posted his so it’s still my original though). That’s not a crack on his age or anything. I just think he clearly lost something in his last few years.

Still, he’ll be missed.

Neophyte · Status: Offline

I actually thought he was getting his mojo back a bit these last couple of years on NBC. Before that, the last few seasons of ABC Monday Night Football were tough. He did very little talking about the game and it drove me crazy. I figured on NBC he and Al had a producer who was more football minded than entertainment minded. Just seemed to me I got better data from him these last two seasons, like in the old days with Pat Summerall on CBS, at least as long as the game was close and interesting. If it was a blowout all bets were still off.

And yes, he will be missed.