John Madden Retires And The Telestrater Will Never Be The Same

After 42 years in football John Madden is hanging it up. BAM there he goes right out of the booth clutching the telestrater, the BOOM, executes a button hook, grabs that last paycheck and he is out the door. It would have looked better with a mass of blue lines everywhere maybe, but you get the idea. For some of us this will be the first time in our lives football season will be without John Madden.

Back in '69 when he was only 33, he became the youngest head coach ever at Oakland after 2 years as a linebackers coach. He led Oakland to their first Super Bowl win with guys like Lyle Alzado and Kenny Stabler getting the on field work done. While he had a reputation as an animated guy, it wasn't until he retired in '79 that his career really took off.

After filming a few Miller Lite commercials Madden made his way to the broadcast booth. He wrote, or at least took the credit for, the Book One knee equals two feet which was supposed to be a self help guide to learning football for women. Back then it was still okay to assume women were too dumb understand football. Before long Madden was the Ace Hardware pitchman and worked his way into nearly every movie with a football scene you could imagine. He became his own industry traveling the country in the luxury Madden Cruiser.

Sometimes Madden is annoying, all sportscasters are, but with Madden you always knew he was focused on the game. He was going to give you good solid information and he was almost guaranteed to make you laugh at least once every game. I know he has every right to retire and do wish him the best, but somehow Sunday Football just doesn't have the same extra appeal it used to.

(Photo: Getty Images)

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Mandy Fox has been active of all aspects of sports from player to coach for over thirty years, but is happiest watching a game in her recliner with her cache of junk food.

Unless otherwise stated, no particular sexual orientation of anyone depicted is implied or should be presumed.

Comments

[Joe]

When I read that he had started broadcasting in 1979, I couldn't believe it. I was in high school.

Like you say, Madden has always seemed to be a staple on my football dial.

I'll miss him - I loved the guy!

[nomad]

the only thing John Madden does better than comment on football is sell anti-fungal foot medication