He was one of the greatest commentators ever, although Howard Cosell, will always be my favorite, especially when he covered boxing.
Now Madden is more famous among younger people for the endless slew of video games with his name on them.
I've always wondered if he got royalties or if it was an all one package deal, hope he went for the royalties. They have sold something like a hundred a fifty million copies of the Madden series games, it's the number one sports game and close to the top of all time top selling video game series and sales just keep getting stronger all the time.
From what I understand, the game has influenced both players and coaches, which is just bizarre.
I can't imagine that he would have ever guessed that someday he could be better known in the video gaming industry, than he is by younger sports fans. Still it was a brilliant marketing move by everyone involved, good for the league and good for the gamers and hopefully really good for Madden's estate.
Having worked with him at WABC - he did a 'Speaking of Sports' segment on my morning show - I have some Cosell humdingers for another day.
While we didn't get into the weeds, John once remarked he was "pleased and amazed" at the success. The family is still getting royalties as part of the deal.
PS: Brian, the Terlingua, Texas Chili Cookoff started because some New York Yankee claimed he made the best chili in the country. Was that you? The Texans took offense and started the cookoff, inviting the New Yorker to compete. Video below.
After I won the MD Jose Cuervo sponsored competition, the PR dept invited me to compete there. Unfortunately, station mgt wouldn't agree to the particulars so...Dunno if mine would have made the cut, but it would have been fun taking a shot!
Cool vid - at least I got a close-up look! Thx for posting.
What a great story! Thanks for sharing. I've always felt that the Meadowlands Stadium was cursed. I remember in the early 1970s taking the train from northern NJ to Penn Station and going through those empty marshes and landfills of the Meadowlands. Jimmy Hoffa is supposedly somewhere in the concrete of the stadium.
When John Madden was coaching the Oakland Raiders, their training camp was in Santa Rosa just 20 minutes from Healdsburg. Our friend, Gala, dated one of the players, the tight end, forget his name, sounded Polish.
After practice, Gala and the other Raider groupies would gather at the training camp exit. Gala said that Madden came out once and gave them hell: "Stay away from my players!" LOL. Madden took the old training sled from there, had it rebuilt, and put it in his office.
As to chili, The Great Texas Chili Cookoff is held every year in Terlingua, Texas in Big Bend Country. My Dad's company made Gaviscon the antacid. Dad would go to Terlingua as part of Gaviscon's sponsorship of the event. Dad loved the people there. Great chili, too.
He was one of the greatest commentators ever, although Howard Cosell, will always be my favorite, especially when he covered boxing.
Now Madden is more famous among younger people for the endless slew of video games with his name on them.
I've always wondered if he got royalties or if it was an all one package deal, hope he went for the royalties. They have sold something like a hundred a fifty million copies of the Madden series games, it's the number one sports game and close to the top of all time top selling video game series and sales just keep getting stronger all the time.
From what I understand, the game has influenced both players and coaches, which is just bizarre.
I can't imagine that he would have ever guessed that someday he could be better known in the video gaming industry, than he is by younger sports fans. Still it was a brilliant marketing move by everyone involved, good for the league and good for the gamers and hopefully really good for Madden's estate.
Having worked with him at WABC - he did a 'Speaking of Sports' segment on my morning show - I have some Cosell humdingers for another day.
While we didn't get into the weeds, John once remarked he was "pleased and amazed" at the success. The family is still getting royalties as part of the deal.
Excellent on both accounts.
PS: Brian, the Terlingua, Texas Chili Cookoff started because some New York Yankee claimed he made the best chili in the country. Was that you? The Texans took offense and started the cookoff, inviting the New Yorker to compete. Video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfkTFb3Izpk
After I won the MD Jose Cuervo sponsored competition, the PR dept invited me to compete there. Unfortunately, station mgt wouldn't agree to the particulars so...Dunno if mine would have made the cut, but it would have been fun taking a shot!
Cool vid - at least I got a close-up look! Thx for posting.
What a great story! Thanks for sharing. I've always felt that the Meadowlands Stadium was cursed. I remember in the early 1970s taking the train from northern NJ to Penn Station and going through those empty marshes and landfills of the Meadowlands. Jimmy Hoffa is supposedly somewhere in the concrete of the stadium.
When John Madden was coaching the Oakland Raiders, their training camp was in Santa Rosa just 20 minutes from Healdsburg. Our friend, Gala, dated one of the players, the tight end, forget his name, sounded Polish.
After practice, Gala and the other Raider groupies would gather at the training camp exit. Gala said that Madden came out once and gave them hell: "Stay away from my players!" LOL. Madden took the old training sled from there, had it rebuilt, and put it in his office.
As to chili, The Great Texas Chili Cookoff is held every year in Terlingua, Texas in Big Bend Country. My Dad's company made Gaviscon the antacid. Dad would go to Terlingua as part of Gaviscon's sponsorship of the event. Dad loved the people there. Great chili, too.
Is this page about to go sports fanatic?
Well... I have been asked to cover Full Contact Origami...
How would it be done without contact?
Great story! John Madden seems like a cheerful guy, and he looks like he could put away plenty of chili, too.
Incredible story. Memories = *PRICELESS!!*
Great story and the best Chili ever!! Boom!
Nolan