The literal voice of my childhood. Rest In Peace sir.

https://profootballtalk.nbcspo...l-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.

The NFL announced Madden’s passing today.

Madden’s influence on the sport of football is impossible to overstate. He was the youngest head coach in pro football when Al Davis hired him to coach the Oakland Raiders, and he led them to a Super Bowl title while having so much success that he still has the all-time highest winning percentage among all coaches who won at least 100 games.

I don’t remember him as a coach as much as I remember him for these commercials…

RIP sir. The voice is one of the most iconic in Americana. Might have to make a Turducken to mark his passing.

Madden was one of the good guys, My dad looked a lot like him in the 80's same height, build facial features, we'd go into restaurants in NYC and they would fall over themselves thinking he was John Madden, offer up the best tables, etc. He'd always tell them he wasn't him, but it was fun to watch.

RIP John Madden

Great sportscaster who probably wouldn't put up with the politicking that's infected everything in the (Sports) entertainment industry. You will be missed and I hope you were able to enjoy one last ride in your Maddon Mobile. RIP Coach

I remember him coaching the Raiders and the stuff he would come up with. Those crazy play diagrams and such. He could never stop talking about Brett Favre. He was worse than Colinsworth was in talking about Rodgers. Knew the game and made it funny. Meredith was not bad but Madden was an improvement.

Dang I thought he was already dead.
R.I.P. Mr. Madden.

Certainly a legend.
RIP

Very sad. I loved listening to him call games. RIP Sir.

Certainly a legend that I was able enjoy even if briefly.

RIP Mr Madden

I remember Madden as a great coach.

He did have a problem w flying

https://www.chicagotribune.com...403200388-story.html

Madden, it turns out, suffers from claustrophobia. He has never had a bad experience on a plane other than the overwhelming feeling that he has to get out of the plane, which gets worse and worse the longer he feels trapped

The first time it happened a doctor told him it was the result of discomfort from an ear infection. But then it happened on the next two flights he took.

"The third time it happened I said if I get off this one I'll never get on another airplane. That was the Sunday after Thanksgiving in 1979. I got off at Houston and took a train home."

Madden says he had three alternatives: "I could either quit broadcasting, which I wasn't going to do. I could get professional help, which I didn't want to do. Or I could find another way to travel, which is what I did."

At first Madden took trains, for five or six years, but the train schedules were not always convenient and sometimes when he couldn't get somewhere, he'd rent a bus that was fixed up inside with all the amenities of home.

"I liked that," he says, "and I always dreamed that someday I'd have my own bus that was completely self-contained."

The Maddencruiser, as he calls it, is fully equipped and has two drivers who guide the vehicle back and forth across the country in five-hour shifts.

It's not just a home; it's an office, too. Besides the bedroom, bathroom, closet and kitchen, he has two TV sets, two phone systems, a computer, VCR and fax machine. He can and does do everything from cook a turkey on Thanksgiving to prepare for his broadcasts by reading and studying tapes of football games.

And his claustrophobia doesn't bother him a bit. "It's about control," he says. "I know I can get out if I ever get that feeling, since I can control the bus situation. Because I know I'm in control, I never get the feeling."

He's never bored en route. "I have a lot of reading to do," he says, "and a lot of tapes to watch. I'm always studying the teams. I spend my days doing just that. There's nothing else you can do-I'm going to be on the bus for a day or two so I prepare and talk on the telephone.

But the best part of the whole deal might just be the food.

"When we leave Chicago," he says, "we take a load from Carson's Ribs. In New York, we take a bunch of deli stuff. In California, it might be a smoked turkey. And we can cook on the bus. Dave, one of my drivers, likes to make chili, so we have a crock-pot for him, besides our oven and microwave.

"And I like to stop in little towns along the way and find a local place to eat."

I'm sorry to learn of John's passing, he was truly a great one. I *loved* his announcing on Thanksgiving day with all the food!

A great coach, the best color commentator, and most importantly, a good man. RIP, Coach Madden.

My boyhood team was the Oakland Raiders. I remember players like Kenny Stabler, Cliff Branch, Willie Brown and so many more. Back in the 1970's the Raider-Steeler games were legendary.
I'm going to remember him as well for his broadcasting career and for his TURDUKEN recipe
RIP Coach

One of the greatest. RIP Coach Madden.

RIP Mr Football. Thanks for all the memories.

"Boom"________________


"here's a turkey leg"

Dang. Too many memories. RIP, Mr. Madden. Mr. Summerall is waiting for you.

Rest in peace, sir. You were part of the soundtrack of my life. We'll miss you.

RIP, coach.

A genuine human and one of the few who transcended his profession. Many remember him for his coaching exploits, many more know of him as an insightful, authentic and gregarious broadcaster, and there's many more who know of him through the video game that bears his name.

Amongst my list of having dinner for one night with somebody who's no longer around, John Madden is one of them.

This came out on Christmas Day, I look forward to watching it

Madden was the man.

He owns half of the buildings on Main Street in my town.

I played high school football and baseball against his boys back in the day.

He was a legend and will be missed.

RIP …