Remembering Madden my way

John Madden died on Tuesday at the age of 85, and I remember much about him during my early years.

My earliest memories of Madden were watching and listening to him during a broadcast of a Dallas Cowboys game with Pat Summerall.

I do not remember the exact date of the first game I watched that featured the outstanding duo. The team of Madden and Summerall was my favorite and still remains my favorite to this day.

I remember gathering at my grandparents’ house for Christmas one year, it could have been 1991 or 1992, and I was excited to tell my uncles a joke that I had made up.

I would say, “What was John Madden’s first word?” Each of them replied, “I don’t know.” Obviously, my next response was the answer — “Boom”. Some of them laughed and some smiled. I thought it was a decent joke considering it was made up by a child.

Listening to Madden’s explanations of plays and various techniques was intriguing. I learned more about football from him than any other person.

Roll forward a few more years and land on Christmas of 1994. During this holiday, my parents gifted me the video game Madden 95. This was a football video game for my Sega Genesis that featured, among other things, commentary during the game from Madden.

I played this game all of the time. Madden had recorded thousands of lines for the game and among my favorites were “boom” and “where’d that truck come from”. I had many exciting and fun times playing that game.

A movie that my wife and I enjoy is called “Little Giants”. Madden makes an appearance toward the end of the movie. He seems nice and sincere in the movie. I enjoyed seeing him because it brings back good memories of listening to his broadcasts when I was younger.

Madden is symbolic of happiness in my childhood and adolescence. He is a symbol of my youth, fun and family. Things were great in the early 90’s when I had all of family here on the earth with me; sometimes I yearn to have those days back.

I never read any books about Madden or researched him very much. I hope that he was genuinely a great, nice guy. If he was not, then I don’t really care to know about it.

I want to remember Madden in my own way. From what I have gathered, he was a wonderful person; a great human being. I will always remember him in a positive way.