John Madden sold the hell out of athlete’s-foot medicine, hardware, steaks and video games (“Madden NFL Football” is the largest selling title ever). Not only to his regular-guy demographic, but to everybody.
He sold a lot people on NFL football, too.
How’d he do it? Just by being the guy he really is. Unlike so many in the TV trade. Which is what made him so well liked for so long in a business full of people full of themselves. He was the anti-Howard Cosell.
He stepped down from the broadcast booth at NBC today. No big shock, really. You could hear the fatigue in the voice during the past couple of seasons, even if you weren’t listening too closely. Life on the road during the long season, even in a plush bus, will get to you. I always thought it was unfair to other TV analysts whenever they were compared to Madden. There was nobody else like him. And isn't this exactly what you want people to think about your own brand? His 2009 Super Bowl was vintage. He went out on top, unlike many of the athletes he covered.
Comment Preview