“Great read to check out for any fan of the game.”
Description
Madden & Summerall tells the inside story of how two unlikely partners became the greatest broadcast duo in NFL history.
This is the story of how John Madden and Pat Summerall got to CBS and, although very different, how they became the greatest broadcast team of all time. It is told by Rich Podolsky, who worked alongside them both at CBS.
Separately, they were great. Together, they were the greatest ever. Madden & Summerall is about two stalwarts of the game, but their story is not without controversy. Summerall was a five-sport star who became a broadcaster by accident. Uncharacteristically, he was a morning drive-time radio host before he found his path on TV. Madden was a bigger-than-life Super Bowl-winning coach, and he easily could have been a stand-up comedian.
We all remember the great story-telling John Madden, who won sixteen Emmy Awards, but we don’t remember how much he struggled his first two years on the air to find his way. In fact, he was almost fired after his first season. It wasn’t until he was paired with Summerall that it all clicked. They were so different, yet so perfect together—like peanut butter meeting jelly for the first time.
The book follows the intimate stories of their lives from childhood to death: before and during their great twenty-one-year partnership. Never-before-told insider stories (some fun, some scathing) from friends, family members, and dozens of ex-colleagues pepper these chapters.
Reviews
“For older football fans, this book will be like a nostalgic trip down memory lane, made even sweeter with additional details. For younger readers, it will serve as an essential historical record of two men who were pioneers in sports broadcasting. Podolsky’s storytelling ability and his honest opinions will appeal to all audiences. This book is a completely engulfing read and an excellent purchase for public and academic libraries.”
“Sports reporter Podolsky provides a thorough examination of the broadcast partnership between John Madden and Pat Summerall… Through extensive interviews with those close to them and his own astute analyses, Podolsky effectively illustrates how their complementary styles paired with their deep knowledge of the sport set the standard for NFL telecasts. Football fans will appreciate this behind-the-scenes look at one of the sport’s most famous duos.”
“Podolsky details the backstory of [John Madden and Pat Summerall]… a valentine showcasing their friendship, the love and respect they earned from fans, coaches, and players, and the football know-how they brought to the booth…”
