Post by TheShadow on Aug 1, 2006 20:51:27 GMT -5
www.realfootball365.com
By Anthony Carroll
John Madden is mogul in the world of video games, an idol in the broadcasting booth.
On August 5, 2006, he will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, honored as one of the finest coaches to roam the sidelines of the NFL.
In 1969, the 32-year-old began his NFL journey--a path that would lead from coaching, to commentary, to the head of the present-day video game industry.
Under the leadership of Al Davis, Madden was promoted from coach of the linebackers to coach of the Oakland Raiders in 1969. The football icon led the franchise for 10 consecutive seasons, recording a regular season record of 103-32-7. To this date, his .759 regular season winning percentage ranks at the top of the list of coaches with at least 100 career victories.
In the 10 seasons dating up to 1978, Madden led the Silver and Black to the playoffs eight times, winning the AFC West an implausible seven times. Never dipping below .500, the team won 10 or more games six times, including a 1976 campaign that concluded with a Super Bowl victory over Minnesota.
Much of the success attributed to Madden's coaching style was his openness towards his players. Ken Stabler, a member of Madden's roster for nine years, remembered his coach as a sincere, approachable presence in the locker room. "I've always said John's strong suit as a coach was how he handled players," he said. "He knew football, of course, but we had such a group of free spirits, with different egos and different lifestyles. He acknowledged the fact it was a diverse group."
Along with his close relationship with his own players, Madden showed a genuine care for the game of football on every level. In 1978, after Jack Tatum's paralyzing hit on wideout Darryl Stingley of the New England Patriots , Madden offered his home to the player's wife. With her husband paralyzed from the waist down, Stingley accepted Madden's gracious offer, staying in his family's home until her husband's rehabilitation began.
Madden will be inducted into the Hall of Fame by the man who first employed his services, Al Davis. For Madden, Davis represents the legacy behind the game of football. In 1992, it was Madden who introduced the Raiders owner into the Hall of Fame; now, nearly 14 years later, Davis will return the favor. "Al believed in me, then gave me the opportunity," he reflected. "During the time--the 10 years I was head coach--he gave me everything. I was never turned down for one thing that I ever wanted for football by Al Davis. Since I've been out, we're still friends."
On Saturday, John Madden will wheel his infamous "Madden Cruiser" into Canton, OH, to join his friend in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
"When you go into the Hall of Fame, you go into the Hall of Fame because of people, because of someone like Al Davis who gave me an opportunity, all the players who played for me, all those things."