Gotta watch that documentary.

NFL Announces the Passing of John Madden: https://t.co/1Ai58xq8oP pic.twitter.com/2avH6lS3nO

— NFL345 (@NFL345) December 29, 2021

okaydo said:

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Gotta watch that documentary.

NFL Announces the Passing of John Madden: https://t.co/1Ai58xq8oP pic.twitter.com/2avH6lS3nO

— NFL345 (@NFL345) December 29, 2021

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What a legend he was. I would gladly watch any game Madden would call on TV. He had such a great sense of humor. Even though he hasn't been active it still feels like a massive loss for a generation who grew up watching him coach and color commentate.

One of the few people who've worked at all of the Big Four networks.

To think about how important he was to the NFL, it's kinda crazy that it took until 2006 for him to become a Hall of Famer.

Madden was one of the greats, informative without being pretentious with a wonderful, whimsical sense of humor. One of the very few talking heads on sports television that I never muted.

He changed the game for sports announcing. And you always knew it was a big game if Madden was on it.

John Madden tribute | Bear Insider


https://bearinsider.com/forums/2/topics/106437

okaydo said:

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To think about how important he was to the NFL, it's kinda crazy that it took until 2006 for him to become a Hall of Famer.

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It's funny that his greatest gift to the NFL was actually his video games. That's done more for the popularity of the sport than almost anything else besides maybe fantasy sports and sports betting

Made everything interesting, while coming across as not having a mean bone in his body. Seemed like nobody didn't like the guy. How could they? Glad he was Raiders coach when I first learned to love football.

Glad I put off watching this. I'm watching it now.

Fox announced it is re-airing "All Madden" on Tuesday and Wednesday night in honor of the legendary coach and broadcaster https://t.co/f0IiSOct7E

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 29, 2021

My father occasionally took me to Raiders Booster Club luncheons in the 70's at the Elegant Farmer restaurant in Jack London Square - always the Friday before a home game. Madden was there along with either an offensive or defensive player. Towards the end of lunch you could write in some questions to either coach or player. Madden always cracked us up with his responses and general conversation. I distinctly remember thinking, he would make one helluva announcer when his coaching career is done. Just an all around great guy, down to earth. RIP John

https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/raiders-nfl/hall-of-fame-coach-john-madden-criticizes-raiders-move-to-las-vegas/

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/gAuOuVDH1jfIn_u_58rbVien26U=/0x4:688x463/1200x800/filters:focal(0x4:688x463)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46712098/MADDEN-SNAKE.0.0.jpg

5) On my 60th birthday, John called me. He said turning 60 was the worst one for him. He said before that you’re not considered old. At 60 you’re considered old. After that, it doesn’t matter because you’re already old.

— Greg Aiello (@gregaiello) December 29, 2021

Madden's first press conference in @sfchronicle Sporting Green proves he was peak Madden from the start.

"I'd never been to a press conference. You can prepare all you want, but it doesn't do any good if you don't know what you're preparing for. But listen, you guys were great." pic.twitter.com/k6yDJLKyPD

— Peter Hartlaub (@peterhartlaub) December 29, 2021

MinotStateBeav said:

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What a legend he was. I would gladly watch any game Madden would call on TV. He had such a great sense of humor. Even though he hasn't been active it still feels like a massive loss for a generation who grew up watching him coach and color commentate.

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+1000

Ray Ratto on John Madden is extremely good. https://t.co/orUI4HTqAL

— David Roth (@david_j_roth) December 29, 2021

As season tix holder thruout the '70's - thank you John for all the great games & wonderful, heartfelt memories! Condolences to Virginia And the boys. RIP John.

okaydo said:

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Gotta watch that documentary.

NFL Announces the Passing of John Madden: https://t.co/1Ai58xq8oP pic.twitter.com/2avH6lS3nO

— NFL345 (@NFL345) December 29, 2021

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Great guy. RIP.

bearup said:

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MinotStateBeav said:

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What a legend he was. I would gladly watch any game Madden would call on TV. He had such a great sense of humor. Even though he hasn't been active it still feels like a massive loss for a generation who grew up watching him coach and color commentate.

---

+1000

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One thing (among many) that I loved about Madden was his loyalty. He got a start in "broadcasting" in radio with the KCBS morning show.

He was such a hit that the announcers would let him run as long as he wanted provided that they could fit in commercials.

They would ask him one question and he would run with it. He would tell what was going on with his life at home or on TV or behind the scenes on TV or reminisce about former players or about his days as a kid in Daly City or his working selling at Seal Stadium. He gave some wonderful stories of life driving across the country to his next game on the bus as a coach or as an announcer. (He had claustrophobia and never flew on airplanes) It was just great. He reported how would stop and talk to some gas station attendant or restaurant waiter in some little town or rest stop in the middle of the country.

I would always listen to KCBS and do whatever I could to arrange whatever I was doing so I could hear his segment.

It sometimes got difficult to schedule since KCBS had to move his scheduled radio segment to fit into his TV commitments. I was happy when KCBS started to rebroadcast the John Madden segment later in the day.

As he became a Big Time TV announcer and commentator, he still would keep up with his KCBS family and his radio segment. He didn't need them any more. But he never forgot them.

Just listening to the radio segment you got the
feeling how decent a human being John Madden really was.

GivemTheAxe said:

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bearup said:

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MinotStateBeav said:

---

What a legend he was. I would gladly watch any game Madden would call on TV. He had such a great sense of humor. Even though he hasn't been active it still feels like a massive loss for a generation who grew up watching him coach and color commentate.

---

+1000

---

One thing (among many) that I loved about Madden was his loyalty. He got a start in "broadcasting" in radio with the KCBS morning show.

He was such a hit that the announcers would let him run as long as he wanted provided that they could fit in commercials.

They would ask him one question and he would run with it. He would tell what was going on with his life at home or on TV or behind the scenes on TV or reminisce about former players or about his days as a kid in Daly City or his working selling at Seal Stadium. He gave some wonderful stories of life driving across the country to his next game on the bus as a coach or as an announcer. (He had claustrophobia and never flew on airplanes) It was just great. He reported how would stop and talk to some gas station attendant or restaurant waiter in some little town or rest stop in the middle of the country.

I would always listen to KCBS and do whatever I could to arrange whatever I was doing so I could hear his segment.

It sometimes got difficult to schedule since KCBS had to move his scheduled radio segment to fit into his TV commitments. I was happy when KCBS started to rebroadcast the John Madden segment later in the day.

As he became a Big Time TV announcer and commentator, he still would keep up with his KCBS family and his radio segment. He didn't need them any more. But he never forgot them.

Just listening to the radio segment you got the
feeling how decent a human being John Madden really was.

---

GivemTheAxe said:

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Just listening to the radio segment you got the
feeling how decent a human being John Madden really was.

---

'Self-praise is for losers. Be a winner. Stand for something. Always have class, and be humble' - John Madden.

Was John Madden a survivor of a 1960's plane crash involving the Cal Poly football team?

I knew you had a John Madden story in you.
If you haven't read coaches, "One Knee Equals Two Feet"

BearInMind said:

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Was John Madden a survivor of a 1960's plane crash involving the Cal Poly football team?

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"I'm not afraid of flying. I just fear I'm going to die."

-- John Madden on why he traveled by train, car and bus over plane.

A year after he left Cal Poly in 1959, 16 players died in the first plane crash involving an American sports team. pic.twitter.com/wiBUPiruuG

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) December 29, 2021

Thanks, Okaydo, appreciate the prompt response. In my dotage I seemed to remember a connection to the Cal Poly incident but was not sure about the nature of that connection.

Interesting tidbit in the East Bay Times front page article on Madden this morning:

Madden assisted Electronic arts in its creation of "Madden NFL," which became a $4.2 billion dollar revenue generator. EA offered to let Madden buy as much stock in the company as he wanted at the IPO price. Madden's response:

"I gave you my time. I'm not giving you my money."

From 1989 to 1999, EA share price went from $7.50 to $70. Madden's reflection on this state of affairs:

"That was the dumbest thing I ever did in my life."

*Alleged net worth of $200M anyway.

GivemTheAxe said:

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bearup said:

---

MinotStateBeav said:

---

What a legend he was. I would gladly watch any game Madden would call on TV. He had such a great sense of humor. Even though he hasn't been active it still feels like a massive loss for a generation who grew up watching him coach and color commentate.

---

+1000

---

One thing (among many) that I loved about Madden was his loyalty. He got a start in "broadcasting" in radio with the KCBS morning show.

He was such a hit that the announcers would let him run as long as he wanted provided that they could fit in commercials.

They would ask him one question and he would run with it. He would tell what was going on with his life at home or on TV or behind the scenes on TV or reminisce about former players or about his days as a kid in Daly City or his working selling at Seal Stadium. He gave some wonderful stories of life driving across the country to his next game on the bus as a coach or as an announcer. (He had claustrophobia and never flew on airplanes) It was just great. He reported how would stop and talk to some gas station attendant or restaurant waiter in some little town or rest stop in the middle of the country.

I would always listen to KCBS and do whatever I could to arrange whatever I was doing so I could hear his segment.

It sometimes got difficult to schedule since KCBS had to move his scheduled radio segment to fit into his TV commitments. I was happy when KCBS started to rebroadcast the John Madden segment later in the day.

As he became a Big Time TV announcer and commentator, he still would keep up with his KCBS family and his radio segment. He didn't need them any more. But he never forgot them.

Just listening to the radio segment you got the
feeling how decent a human being John Madden really was.

---

wow, I totally remember that now. Those segments were great.

MinotStateBeav said:

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okaydo said:

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Gotta watch that documentary.

NFL Announces the Passing of John Madden: https://t.co/1Ai58xq8oP pic.twitter.com/2avH6lS3nO

— NFL345 (@NFL345) December 29, 2021

---

What a legend he was. I would gladly watch any game Madden would call on TV. He had such a great sense of humor. Even though he hasn't been active it still feels like a massive loss for a generation who grew up watching him coach and color commentate.

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This passing saddened me more than I expected. Whether it was listening him talk about the hits in the trenches during a game, laughing at his funny stories from his road trips to games or about his love of food, or playing every single Madden game, including the first on Saga Saturn at Berkeley, my enjoyment of the game was greatly enhanced by his contributions. But most of all, he just seemed like such a down to earth, authentic person. Authenticity - it is so charismatic. Will miss him.

okaydo said:

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Glad I put off watching this. I'm watching it now.

Fox announced it is re-airing "All Madden" on Tuesday and Wednesday night in honor of the legendary coach and broadcaster https://t.co/f0IiSOct7E

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 29, 2021

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For those who missed it, it's on the free Tubi app (minimal commercials), ESPN+, and Peacock Premium.

DeSean Jackson was ordered to take off John Madden tribute cleats before game. https://t.co/yCVRvtojYR

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) January 3, 2022