The End Of An Era

It's a sad day for football fans. John Madden, the true voice of the NFL, is retiring. It's going to be really weird to watch games without his inciteful commentary and his silly "Boinks" and "Booms". The isn't a sports commentator out there that, in my mind, can hold a candle to Madden.

Sure, he sometimes had a pentient for stating the all-to-obvious: "If the quarterback throws the ball to the receiver, and the receiver runs into the endzone. Well, that's a touchdown." But the thing that I'll miss most about Madden is his knowledge of the game and especially his love of the big men in the trenches. Those guys that do all the dirty work but get few of the accolades. Madden had a knack for getting you into the line, showing how important footwork and technique were; what made a Hall of Fame guard or defensive tackle. Give John a game to call where it was raining or snowing, and he was in his element, pointing out some lineman with mud dripping off his facemask and blood smeared on his uniform, and saying, "Now, there's a football player!"

I remember Madden doing a Redskins/Dallas game back in the 80s and he was comparing Redskins receiver Gary Clark to Dallas' then prima donna Micheal Irvin. He'd put Clark up on the telestrator and circle his untucked, grass-stained jersey, talk about how small Clark was, and about how hard he worked. Then Madden would get a shot of Irvin in his spotless uniform and practically scoff. Madden loves the underdog; the small guy who plays ferociously in a big man's game.

Apparently Chris Collinsworth, who, in my opinion, is a top flight commentator, has been chosen to replace Madden, but football just won't be the same.

So long, John. Enjoy your retirement. You'll be missed.