You'll be missed by so many John. I'll never forget the pre-game parties at Big Ben's. And the celebrations at your house after some of the the really big wins. You did so much for our town. You never had a losing season and you've left the world a better place. My thoughts are with Virginia, Mike, and Joe. R.I.P. You have a lot of friends who'll remember you.

9 hours ago, W2DR said:

You'll be missed by so many John. I'll never forget the pre-game parties at Big Ben's. And the celebrations at your house after some of the the really big wins. You did so much for our town. You never had a losing season and you've left the world a better place. My thoughts are with Virginia, Mike, and Joe. R.I.P. You have a lot of friends who'll remember you.

I’m out of the country at the moment but just saw that he’d passed. Didn’t they have a John Madden special on tv on Christmas Day? I thought I remember seeing ads for it before I left but forgot to DVR it. Kind of a weird coincidence that he passed right after the special about him.

 That being said, I’m a little young to remember much of his coaching days, but I grew up watching him as a commentator. I always enjoyed listening to him call games. Even my wife liked him and she commented that the way he explained things, made it easy to understand the game. 
 

I also liked watching Brent Musburger call games and can still remember him calling the Rose Bowl “the granddaddy of them all” and using the word “dandy” to describe players. He’s 82 and still calling Raiders games on the radio.

Yes, there was a John Madden Special on Christmas day. There is a little more info here:  https://www.foxsports.com/presspass/latest-news/2021/12/02/fox-sports-celebrates-football-legend-john-madden-christmas-day-original-documentary-madden . It should be available for streaming on Jan. 3. I feel so lucky to have known John. It's a sad day for me..........

Edited December 29, 20214 yr by W2DR

The OAKLAND Raiders were my favorite team.  I lost interest when they moved.

I was riding an Amtrack train from Chicago to Oakland once.  I had a bedroom.  It was quite early, before the train reached Reno.  I was standing outside my room when the car attendant came by and I asked him to get me a cup of coffee.  A booming voice came out of the bedroom next to mine and said, "Get me one too."

When the porter came back I knocked on the door and said, "Your coffee's here".  The biggest man I ever saw opened the door and said, "Thanks," as he took the cup.  It was John Madden.

The next time I saw him was when we arrived in Oakland and a troop of very large men come up and escorted Madden off the train.  Outside a crowd had gathered and wanted autographs but he was surrounded.

John Madden always took the train.  He didn't like to fly.

With Madden as coach and Ken Stabler as quarterback the OAKLAND Raiders were unbeatable.

Noel

Edited December 29, 20214 yr by birdguy

The story about John's fear of flying, and the cause(s), is an interesting one.  There's a good article about it here:  https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/john-madden-bus-travel-madden-cruiser-flying/sb53m2l1s51f1418bnamedqfu   - Doug

I was always amazed at how he made it across country for games using the Madden Cruiser.  Big bus/motor home!  🚍