Post by TheShadow on Aug 7, 2006 9:17:56 GMT -5
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Despite his accomplishments, he says he is humbled by his Hall of Fame enshrinement.
By Jason Jones -- Bee Staff Writer
CANTON, Ohio -- He couldn't sleep or eat in the days leading up to Saturday afternoon.
He figured he'd step to the podium and burst into tears.
When it was over, the former Raiders coach sounded like the Madden we've all come to know.
Madden, who led the Raiders to their first Super Bowl victory, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame under mostly sunny skies at Fawcett Stadium.
In spite of his accomplishments, Madden is still in awe of his inclusion among football's elite and expressed his sentiments as only he could.
"This is a little goofy here," Madden said in reference to his belief that the bronze busts speak to one another after the Hall closes each day. "But I started thinking about this after I got voted into the Hall of Fame. The more I think about it, the more I think it's true. Now I know it's true, and I believe it."
Madden waited longer than many of his contemporaries -- such as Don Shula, Hank Stram, Chuck Noll and Tom Landry -- to join them in the Hall of Fame.
As he had maintained leading up to enshrinement, Madden expressed no bitterness over being enshrined later than the coaching legends he faced in the late 1960s and the 1970s -- and against whom he compiled a 36-16-2 record.
"It was a long wait," Madden said. "But … when you finally get in, it's made it all worthwhile because the feeling is so special and you appreciate it so much more."
Madden was 112-39-7 overall in 10 years. He had a 103-32-7 regular-season record and never had a losing season. His .759 winning percentage in the regular season is the best among coaches who have won at least 100 games.
Madden's overall winning percentage of .739 is second only to his coaching idol, Green Bay's Vince Lombardi.
Raiders owner Al Davis introduced Madden, who was 32 when he was named head coach in 1969.
Davis spoke of Madden's coaching accomplishments, how he loved the Raiders.
Madden said he became emotional as Davis reflected on their time together years ago.
"Let's go back to the 1970s," Davis said. " … I say, let's line you up under the goalposts one more time, one more time, and have you introduced all individually once again to the roar of that Oakland crowd. We can never forget those great moments."
Madden stopped his speech to make sure every former Raider in attendance stood and was recognized.
When some tried to quickly sit down, he quipped " … I mean, 30 or 40 years ago, they were ready to hit anything. 'Let's go to the party, let's do all this.' Now they want to sit down.
"Stand up, enjoy the moment," he told his players. "This is ours. They can't take it away from us. They can't ever take this away from us. Thanks to all of you. The whole bunch of you, I love you. Thank you very, very much."
Since his retirement from coaching following the 1978 season, Madden made a seamless transition to become an Emmy Award winning broadcaster.
He became a popular pitchman and through his EA Sports Madden Football video games -- the best-selling title in North American electronic gaming history -- became the first voice of the sport to a generation too young to realize he once coached in the NFL.
Madden was part of what some have called one of the greatest induction classes: three-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Troy Aikman of Dallas, New York Giants linebacker Harry Carson, Dallas offensive tackle Rayfield Wright, and the late Reggie White, who starred at defensive end for Philadelphia and Green Bay.
"Today feels like the second time in my life I'm being carried off on the shoulders of others," Madden said. "Yet instead of off the field, it's into the Hall of Fame. Instead of five or six guys, today I ride on the shoulders of hundreds of friends, coaches, players, colleagues and family."