 |
 |
|
|
WFAA Sports BLOG sponsored by: |
|
April 2009
Categories
More WFAA Blogs
|
John Madden is putting his telestrator away. The veteran NFL broadcaster and Hall of Fame coach is retiring. "It's time," Madden said in a statement. "I'm 73 years old. My 50th wedding anniversary is this fall. I have two great sons and their families and my five grandchildren are at an age now when they know when I'm home and, more importantly, when I'm not." NBC, where Madden has been broadcasting games with Al Michaels since 2006, calls him the "the most honored broadcaster in sports television history." He has 16 Outstanding Sports Analyst/Personality Emmy Awards. NBC Sports Chairman Dick Ebersol made the announcement Thursday and said Cris Collinsworth will replace Madden, moving over from the network's studio show. Collinsworth filled in when Madden took a game off last October. Madden's last broadcast was February's Super Bowl between Arizona and Pittsburgh. "It's been such a great ride," Madden said. "The NFL has been my life for more than 40 years, it has been my passion - it still is. I appreciate all of the people who are and were such an important part of the most enjoyable, most fun anyone could have... that great life with the teams, the players, the coaches, the owners, the League... my broadcasting partners Pat and Al... the production people and the fans ...is still great... it's still fun and that's what it makes it hard and that's why it took me a few months to make a decision." He worked at CBS until 1994 when the network lost rights to broadcast NFL games, leading him to switch to Fox. He left Fox in 2002 to become the lead analyst for ABC's "Monday Night Football" and joined NBC in 2006 when that network inaugurated a prime-time Sunday game. Madden is reluctant to fly and often traveled to games in a specially equipped bus, but says that's not what's forcing him to quit. "I still love every part of it - the travel, the practices, the game film, the games, seeing old friends and meeting new people," he said. "But I know this is the right time." His pro football career began as linebackers coach at Oakland in 1967 and he was named head coach two years later, at 33 the youngest coach in what was then the American Football League. His "Madden NFL Football" is the top-selling sports video game of all time. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006. REACTION: WFAA sports photojournalist Arnold Payne shares a Madden-sized secret. Pat Summerall says Madden told him last night. RAW VIDEO: Summerall on Madden. SportsTalk's David Marcus: Cowboys and Madden often went hand and hand. Here's Cowboys owner Jerry Jones' statement about Madden. Here's NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's statement. (The Associated Press contributed info.) 13 CommentsLeave a comment |
|
|
|
|
|
A true NFL legend. John will be missed.
High five John!
That sucks...I really liked John Madden and his style.
He had the best way of pointing out the obvious during games. I'm going to miss him.
Good luck in your future endeavors John.
You know you're there on the sidelines coaching and uh and an'an' you go to the thing up in the thing to uh uh to do the the broadcasting thing. Where you where you, you know you broadcast, I mean I never broad uh broad you know cast anything in my life. Then BOOM!
So then I done.
He will be missed.....However replace him with Frank Caliendo!
That is too funny... My guess is Chris Collinsworth or Matt Millen.
John,
You will be missed.
You changed the way that job should be done forever.
There will be big shoes to fill!!!
Please not Chris Collins...for the love of God, not Chris Collins.
It is Collinsworth... NBC has already announced it. You can always turn up the radio.
You're right, it is Collinsworth...I hit submit a little too early.
Let's get Dennis Miller back.
Or we could go the Rush Limbaugh route again...except this time we could pair him with Al Sharpton. Oh man, that would be fun! The Rush and Al show! A little 'R n A' for ya...
I'm bored.
Apologies in advance for sounding like a whiny chick, but...Madden was about 5 years beyond his expiration date.
Sure, he's a nice guy, knowledgeable about the game, deserved his HOF induction blah blah...but that MNF booth has been an embarrassment! And it says something about the sad state of NFL broadcasting that I'm really amped about Collinsworth! But I am. I think he's survivable, unlike many of the the go-to guys out there, starting with Phil Seeeeeeeems. I can't tolerate heeeeeeeem. Hehe...ok, 'nuff said.
BillyBob, that would be entertaining for sure with Rush and Rev. Al, I'm just not sure there'd be much football talk.
Now if Dick Vitale would retire, I would be happy.