Post by TheShadow on Feb 2, 2006 4:43:36 GMT -5
www.registercitizen.com
By PAT CAPUTO
Journal Register News Service
DETROIT -- There is a whole generation of football fans who know John Madden only as a football analyst.
He’s been one of the top game analysts since the 1980s for CBS, FOX and ABC.
It’s been a long time, since 1978 to be exact, since Madden last coached. He got out of the game when he was young -- just 42 years old. Now, 27 years later, Madden is on the ballot to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
His record -- 112-39-7 with the Oakland Raiders -- is impressive. And his team did win a Super Bowl in 1977. On Saturday, Madden will find out if he gets into the Hall.
He’s been telling reporters this week that it’s one of the biggest weekends of his life for that reason.
And he discussed the dynamics of the Super Bowl.
"As much play as this game gets, the pressure on the coach and the quarterback of each of these teams is unbelievable,’’ Madden said. "You are either on the top of the pile or the one team that lost. Whether it’s fair or not, that’s just the way it is.’’
Madden won the only time he coached in the Super Bowl, downing the Minnesota Vikings.
Minnesota was coached by Bud Grant, who lost all four of his Super Bowl tries. Marv Levy of the Buffalo Bills also lost all four times he took his team to the Super Bowl. Getting to the Super Bowl seems to matter more for Hall of Fame voters than winning it.
Grant and Levy are both in the Hall of Fame -- and Madden is not. At least not yet.