Post by TheShadow on Aug 4, 2006 17:11:20 GMT -5
msnbc.msn.com/
Championship coach, Raider owner stayed together despite tough losses
By JT the Brick
MSNBC contributor
JT the Brick
When I was a young boy growing up in New York, I always looked forward to watching the late game on Sunday in anticipation that NBC would carry an Oakland Raiders game with Curt Gowdy calling the play-by-play.
It always seemed to be sunny and hot on the field when I tuned in to watch the Raiders battle an AFC opponent at the Coliseum, as John Madden stalked the sidelines, Kenny Stabler threw pinpoint passes to Fred Biletnikoff and Cliff Branch and the Raiders won many games in dramatic fashion while building their image as the Pirates of the NFL.
Never did I dream that I would end up working on radio and television for the Raiders and get the chance to call many of those great legends my friends.
Now, I am in Canton, Ohio for the induction of the 2006 class into the NFL Hall of Fame, and I'm excited to host my radio show from this great location and take in all the events that make up this historic weekend. Al Davis is a member of the Hall of Fame (1992) and he once again gets the honor of inducting another member into this great football fraternity. It is the ninth time that Davis has been called upon to induct a new member into the Hall — an honor that clearly proves his significance to the game of football.
What is so fascinating about the bond between Davis and Madden? Their friendship and working relationship has lasted the test of time. Both men obviously have a tremendous commitment to the Raider organization, but it is their loyalty to each other that should be chronicled and appreciated by football fans. Madden helped deliver Davis his first Super Bowl title on January 9, 1977. That win gave the organization legitimacy. Al Davis went on to win two more championships and that cemented the Raiders as one of the premiere franchises in the history of the NFL.
Madden is one of the most successful coaches in league history considering the fact that he only coached for 10 seasons. He ended his career with 103 wins to go along with 32 losses and 7 ties. It was the losses — especially in the post season — that molded Madden into becoming a legendary coach and leader. The Raiders won several significant games before capturing Super Bowl XI, but the road to success for this organization was paved with several high-profile losses that kept the franchise from reaching the pinnacle of success much earlier.
Oakland ended the 1976 season with a 13-1 record, suffering their only loss at New England in the forth week of the season. Oakland entered the playoffs riding a ten game winning streak as the AFC West champions but still had to face New England at home in the divisional playoffs. The Raiders trailed the Patriots 21-10 with a little more than 11 minutes left in a game that would eventually define Madden and his players as winners.
They fought back and ended up winning the game 24-21 as Stabler ran for a one-yard touchdown behind future Hall of Fame guard Gene Upshaw with just 10 seconds remaining. Most hardcore Raider fans still remind me that if Oakland didn't win that game they would not have had the opportunity to beat Pittsburgh in the AFC championship game (24-7) and end up dominating the Minnesota Vikings 32-14 in Super Bowl X. Would Madden have kept his job if he suffered another emotional loss in the playoffs? I can't think of another owner in professional sports who has given a young coach as much time to win a championship.
This is what amazes me about the resiliency of the relationship between Davis and Madden. They were able to stay focused and keep their eyes on the ultimate goal of building a successful franchise. Obviously, Madden won several big games as he retired from coaching with the highest winning percentage (.759) of coaches who have won 100 games. But one can imagine he would have gained entry into the Hall much earlier if he did not suffer those tough losses.
It is hard to find another coach in pro football history that lost more high-profile playoff games than Madden. In the last year (1969-70) before the merger with the NFL, the Raiders lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-7 in the AFL championship game. Kansas City went on to beat Minnesota in Super Bowl IV. In the first year of the merger (1970-71), Oakland lost to Baltimore 27-17 in the AFC Championship game and the Colts ended up beating Dallas in Super Bowl V. In 1972, the Raiders lost to Pittsburgh 13-7 in the AFC semifinal game, remembered for the “immaculate reception.”
In 1973, Madden was on the losing end to the Miami Dolphins 27-10 in the AFC Championship game and then Miami went on to beat Minnesota in Super Bowl VIII. In 1974, Pittsburgh beat Oakland 24-13 in the AFC title game on route to beating Minnesota Super Bowl IX. Another devastating loss for Madden and his staff was the 1975-76 AFC Championship game to Pittsburgh 16-10 before the Steelers kept rolling and beat Dallas in Super Bowl X.
At the time most Oakland Raider fans couldn’t stomach another big loss in the playoffs, but Madden gathered his team before the 1976 season and made it clear that they were the best team in the NFL and that their time had come to win the Super Bowl.
John Madden has gone on to become one of the most significant sports broadcasters of all time. He changed the way that fans watch the game with his in-depth analysis and passion for the game. He has revolutionized the video game industry with his top selling and highly regarded “Madden NFL” video game series. He is an American success story and obviously appreciates the fact that Al Davis hired him as a linebacker coach in 1967 and then made him the youngest coach in the American Football League at the age of 32 back in 1969.
The rest is history!