Disappointing NFL News: John Madden Retires From Broadcasting

This stinks.

As most of you probably know by now, John Madden announced today that he is retiring as a broadcaster for the NFL. Immediately I tried to imagine NFL weekends without the voice of John Madden being involved in one of the biggest games each weekend, and it is hard to do. For as long as I have been following the NFL, John Madden has loomed large as one of the most compelling and recognizable personalities in the sport.

I know this: I would hate to be whoever is following him into the announcer’s booth (probably Chris Collinsworth). I am sure there are plenty of other color analysts who are “technically” better than Madden (whatever that means), but few if any have his charisma, his ability to relate to the everyfan, his passion, and his incredible knowledge of and experience with the game.

There is just something inherently warm, inviting, comfortable, and entertaining about listening to a game with John Madden. As an announcer, he was like every football fan’s grandpa: a little senile and forgetful, and he sometimes botches peoples’ names, but with an incredible vault of football knowledge and always happy to explain things a way that made sense or share an old story from way back when. And if something he said was wrong or didn’t make sense, it probably made you laugh.

I mean seriously, who is going to inadvertently draw penises with the teleprompter now?

Video: John Madden Draws Penis on Teleprompter

And what will Frank Caliendo do with his incredible John Madden impression now that Madden will no longer be broadcasting? Maybe it makes Caliendo even more relevant now. Hell, why don’t they just bring Caliendo into the booth with Al Michaels. Would anyone know the difference?

Video: Frank Caliendo as John Madden

And *sob* we’re going to be without Madden’s infamous and ubiquitous “Booms!”

Video: John Madden – Boom!

And there go all of those John Madden drinking games. Anyone who took a drink every time Madden said “bootleg” during the Steelers-Seahawks Super Bowl probably got hammered pretty quickly.

Video: John Madden Loves Saying “Bootleg”

And, of course, you realize that John Madden just happened to retire during the same offseason that Brett Favre retired, right? Coincidence? Hmm…maybe not.

Video: Frank Caliendo as John Madden Professing His Love For Brett Favre

I know that some people got annoyed with John Madden from time to time, and I agree that sometimes his “insights” bordered on the painfully obvious. But there was still no one I enjoyed listening to more than Madden and Summerall or Madden and Michaels. More than anyone since Howard Cosell, John Madden’s voice was synonymous with football. Losing such a voice, and such a powerfully charismatic figure, cannot possibly be anything but a disappointment for the NFL and its fans.

But Madden sounds content with his decision, and I am sure that he will stay involved with the NFL some way. If I could say anything to John Madden today as he retires, I would simply say thank you for being such a great friend and guide to us all for so many glorious fall and winter football weekends.

Related resources:

John Madden retires after 30 years in booth — (ESPN.com)

John Madden retires from booth after 30 years — (MSNBC.com)

John Madden retires — (Forbes.com)

John Madden career profile — (Wikipedia)

John Madden Hall of Fame profile — (Pro Football Hall of Fame)

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