Raiders great John Madden passes away at 85

[sharkman]

The legendary John Madden passes away at 85!

I'll never forget the football games Madden called with Pat Summerall on CBS!
It's a very sad day for the NFL and Raider nation.
No two people, coach John Madden and owner Al Davis epitomized the Raiders and did more for the NFL!

John Madden, football legend, dies at 85

John Madden, a legendary figure known to one generation as a Hall of Fame coach, another generation as the sport's greatest announcer, and yet another generation for the video game that bears his name, has died at the age of 85.

profootballtalk.nbcsports.com

John Madden - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

What I recall most from Madden are 2 events:

1) the Immaculate Reception: Steelers vs Raiders...probably the most controversial play in NFL history...to this day nobody knows the truth, except for Franco Harris

2) Madden's first Super Bowl win in 1977:

 

[Bbw hunter]

Best Color Commentator of all time.
Used to love his CBS Chalkboard.
RIP John.

 

[sharkman]

...Used to love his CBS Chalkboard.

Funny that CBS chalkboard that evolved to become the "telestrator" with the evolution of technology!...Loved his interjections such as "Boom!", "Bang!", and "Doink!"' that Madden used on the telestrator.

The "Madden Bus" where the player of the game he selected would have a banner of his face appear on the side his bus (Madden had a fear of flying as a result he travelled in his own bus/cruiser which he named the Madden Bus)!

The "All Madden Team"...an All Star team of players that he selected that best represented Madden's vision of what a player on his team would be like!

The "Madden NFL" football computer video game which was a partnership with the Electronic Arts Company under the branding EA Sports!

...Nothing but fun memories!

 

[Carmine Falcone]

He seemed like a genuinely nice guy too. I knew of his telestrator antics, but had forgotten about this one until he passed. Guy was definitely something else and naturally funny.

 

[sharkman]

He seemed like a genuinely nice guy too.....

Madden really was a likeable person and the ordinary Joe in America loved him!

However, it's unfortunate Madden passed away without knowing the truth as to whether Franco Harris trapped the football on the "Immaculate Reception" incident in that playoff game at Three Rivers Stadium against the Raiders. Madden was the coach of the Raiders at the time! And the decision may have cost Madden and the Raiders a Super Bowl appearance! It left a big mark on Madden at the time. He couldn't get over it for years. None of the camera shots were conclusive in dertermining if the catch was legitimate or not...only Franco Harris knows the truth and I believe he said he would never tell!

On the flip side, as a result of Madden's association with Electronic Arts and the Madden NFL Football video game, the royalties and shares Madden got have made him one of the richest non-franchise owners in football. Madden's net worth was estimated at in excess of US$200M.

 

[Carmine Falcone]

Madden really was a likeable person and the ordinary Joe in America loved him!

However, it's unfortunate Madden passed away without knowing the truth as to whether Franco Harris trapped the football on the "Immaculate Reception" incident in that playoff game at Three Rivers Stadium against the Raiders. Madden was the coach of the Raiders at the time! And the decision may have cost Madden and the Raiders a Super Bowl appearance! It left a big mark on Madden at the time. He couldn't get over it for years. None of the camera shots were conclusive in dertermining if the catch was legitimate or not...only Franco Harris knows the truth and I believe he said he would never tell!

On the flip side, as a result of Madden's association with Electronic Arts and the Madden NFL Football video game, the royalties and shares Madden got have made him one of the richest non-franchise owners in football. Madden's net worth was estimated at in excess of US$200M.

Although I've seen The Immaculate Reception footage on those old school Steve Sabol films, it was before my time so my emotional connection is different.

What is not before my time are Madden games. I had to stop buying them because buying them = wasting so many hours playing online. For the game that had Barry Sanders on the cover however many years ago, I played almost 3,000 games online. Many of those games lasted an hour in real world time, so like I said wasted way too much time. So suffice to say, the Madden games are a lot of fun.

 

[sharkman]

.....What is not before my time are Madden games. I had to stop buying them because buying them = wasting so many hours playing online. For the game that had Barry Sanders on the cover however many years ago, I played almost 3,000 games online. Many of those games lasted an hour in real world time, so like I said wasted way too much time. So suffice to say, the Madden games are a lot of fun.

Never played or bought one Madden NFL Football Electronic Arts Video game...however, I did buy into Electronic Arts (EA) shares!