The big guy John Madden retires at age 73

[transplant99]

Remarkable guy with a remarkable career. Won a SB as a head coach and then went on to completely redefine what color analysts did during broadcasts.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shu...urn=nfl,156802

[Sylvanfan]

Wow thats going to be a tough hole for NBC to fill. Since NBC took over the Sunday game with the flex schedule and having Michaels and Madden I've watched that game a lot more than I watch Monday Night Football now. Those Madden video games are probably the most successful sports franchise of video games as well.

[Bobblehead]

That's what they get for letting him have a day off last year. John got a taste of being with family and tailgating for a weekend and liked it.

Good for you John, you've earned it.

[Pagal4321]

Sad day for NFL fans all over the world. Looks like Collinsworth will take over Madden's spot in the booth....with Matt Millen (WDF?) taking over for Collinsworth.

Here's hoping he keeps pumping out Madden games!!

[mykalberta]

I still cannot believe all this time he has bussed everywhere, and I just found out about it this last year.

Crazy - Madden quotes are almost as good as Chuck Norris ones.

"If you score more points than the other team, you have a good chance to win the game"

Also, his ability to make fun of himself in movies was also great - the Replacments was a great example of that.

I think that guy is smoking on the field.
I am sure John you are just imagining it.
No really, I saw the smoke and everything.

I love that movie.

[Dion]

Football fans will miss him.

Loved him commentary.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Pagal4321

Sad day for NFL fans all over the world. Looks like Collinsworth will take over Madden's spot in the booth....with Matt Millen (WDF?) taking over for Collinsworth.

Here's hoping he keeps pumping out Madden games!!

Collinsworth is pretty predictable. He's a guy who people either don't mind or can't stand. So long as the matchups and production are good, I'll still watch.

But Matt Millen....How can anyone take his opinions seriously after he failed so badly with the Lions. Anytime he says anything I'll instantly believe the exact opposite, and have supreme confidence that what I believe is correct.

[rubecube]

Madden's greatest gift was his ability to break down the game and make it easier to understand for the casual fan.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

But Matt Millen....How can anyone take his opinions seriously after he failed so badly with the Lions. Anytime he says anything I'll instantly believe the exact opposite, and have supreme confidence that what I believe is correct.

Signed,
Mike Milbury on HNIC

[Pagal4321]

I completely agree. Collinsworth is always hit and miss, but he's the best they got to replace Madden, I suppose.

Matt Millen is a complete and total idiot, not sure how NBC came up with this genius plan. I think he's somewhat comparable to Mike Milbury, as rube stated, only 100 times worse.

I don't watch Football Night in America, and these moves are going to do nothing to make me start.

[Bobblehead]

Re:Millen I watched the '89 Niners episode of "America's Team" last week, and wow was Millen ever a player.

I think he's fine in the booth. He is really good at analyzing a game, he just is one of those people who are no good at putting the pieces together. I'll believe his opinions on the game, but his views on organizational needs will be suspect at best.

[flip]

Finally!!!

[FurnaceFace]

Collinsworth is pretty vanilla. He's no personality like Madden but he should do fine. I find a great broadcasting team doesn't really make me tune in...whereas a horrible broadcast team...or even just one broadcaster in the booth, will cause me to turn away or at the very least mute. (I'm looking at you Tony K)

[Mav]

JM: Retirement happens when a guy who has worked for a really long time stops working and lives off the money he has made.

FANS: Uhhhh... Thanks John...

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

But Matt Millen....How can anyone take his opinions seriously after he failed so badly with the Lions. Anytime he says anything I'll instantly believe the exact opposite, and have supreme confidence that what I believe is correct.

You and the others must be young. Millen was one of the best colour men before he took the GM's job. People thought he was crazy for taking that job when he had a great tv job at FOX (they were right).

He's not in the booth to analyze talent, or sign contracts, or make trades.
He's there to read the game and tell you what's going on which he's fabulous at. I would vote for him to take over for Madden and keep Collinworth in studio.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Have always loved the chemistry between Madden and Michaels (best pbp guy in sports IMO), although I am growing quite fond of Buck and Aikman. However this is about Madden, the guy has definitely earned it and is impossible to replace.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

You and the others must be young. Millen was one of the best colour men before he took the GM's job. People thought he was crazy for taking that job when he had a great tv job at FOX (they were right).

He's not in the booth to analyze talent, or sign contracts, or make trades.
He's there to read the game and tell you what's going on which he's fabulous at. I would vote for him to take over for Madden and keep Collinworth in studio.

GirlySports is right. Millen was good in the booth before he decided to take the Lions job. He was know for being real hard on officials during his broadcasts. So the NFL Officials extended an offer for him to come to NFL ref training camp (or whatever the correct term is) to learn how hard it actually is. He even worked a quarter as an NFL official (can't remember which position) in a preseason game. NFL Films of course was there for the whole thing. Pretty interesting.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

You and the others must be young. Millen was one of the best colour men before he took the GM's job. People thought he was crazy for taking that job when he had a great tv job at FOX (they were right).

He's not in the booth to analyze talent, or sign contracts, or make trades.
He's there to read the game and tell you what's going on which he's fabulous at. I would vote for him to take over for Madden and keep Collinworth in studio.

I bet I'm actually older than you. I do remember Millen as a color guy in the 90's and he was pretty good in the booth. He was also a pretty good player back in his day too. I guess if he's analyzing highlights it might not be so bad. I might listen to him in a broadcast booth analying the actual game. But if he starts giving opinions on players or teams...I'm not listening.

[Bobblehead]

Nice tribute from Peter King.

Madden was taking his bus cross-country from the Bay Area to New York for a Giants game that weekend, and this restaurant was the dinner stop seven hours into the trip. Well, there was a bit of a hubbub, and a few knowing nods Madden's way, and when he'd finished eating, a fellow came up to him and introduced himself. Said he was from Wisconsin, and asked, "Who do you like in the Packers-Lions game this weekend?''

"Packers,'' Madden said, and he threw out a few generic, friendly reasons why.

A few minutes later, just before Madden climbed aboard the bus to continue the trip east, a few more fans approached, said hello, and conversed. One fellow asked about the very same game that weekend, Lions-Packers, and Madden asked where he was from. "Ann Arbor,'' the man said.

"I like the Lions,'' he said.

I did a double-take.

"Hey,'' he said when we got on the bus, "I don't know who's going to win these games. No one does. Why not make these people feel good about their teams and about the game Sunday? And the truth is, I think both teams can win.''

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...ml?eref=si_nfl

[You Need a Thneed]

Good in his day, but this is several years overdue. He added nothing to the broadcasts the last few years. Just restates what everyone else says right before him, or just says something completely obvious. Made Bob Cole look intelligent by comparison.