I’ve always hated the Oakland Raiders, and I suspect I always will. But for some reason, I always liked John Madden when he was their coach. Maybe it was because of the decency that somehow showed through the silver and black – like this example following the devastating injury to Darryl Stingley caused by a hit by one of Madden’s own players.

After the game, Madden went directly to the hospital. It was Madden's first instinct to go to Stingley.

* * *

But even at the hospital something was dissonant, out of sync. Expecting to find himself among concerned New England officials, Madden found himself alone. No one from the Patriots was there. Not the owner. Not the coach. No one.
Grabbing a phone, Madden called the Oakland airport. Immediately, he was patched through to the New England charter, taxiing out to take off. A more-than-animated discussion followed. The plane returned to the gate. The business manager was put off.

In the hospital, Stingley was conscious, as doctors worked to fit the halo. Having donned surgeon's garb, Madden appeared beside him, leaning close. "Everything's going to be all right," he whispered. If only it had been true.

* * *

In the days and weeks that followed, Madden visited Stingley, if not daily, then as often as he could. During one visit, Madden discovered a malfunction in Stingley's ventilator. In summoning a nurse to fix the problem, Madden might have saved Stingley's life.

Madden and Stingley remained friends until the latter’s death – a friendship forged from Madden’s compassion for his fellow man.

After giving up the role of coach, Madden became a beloved broadcaster. And today he has announced the end of an era.

John Madden, the most recognized analyst in television sports, is calling it quits.

In a statement issued Thursday morning, Madden, who was NBC's No. 1 NFL analyst on the Peacock's Sunday night package, said: "It's time. I'm 73 years old...It's been such a great ride...the NFL has been my life for more than 40 years, it has been my passion - it still is. I appreciate all of the people who are and were such an important part of the most enjoyable, most fun anyone could have...It's still fun and that's what makes it hard and that's why it took me a few months to make a decision."

This is a loss for the NFL, and for broadcasting. I donÂ’t know of anyone who could replace Madden in terms of expertise, not to mention his frenetic style. Sundays just wonÂ’t be the same this fall.

Farewell, John – good health and long life to you. And thank you for so many memories, and for the show of real manhood that so struck me when I was a kid that it has remained the first thing to come to my mind whenever I hear your name.

Posted by: Greg at 09:54 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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For those of us who grew up in the 1960s and 1970s, the Beatles will always have a special place in our hearts. Even if there are other groups that may hold a higher place in our hearts, their music is undeniably a part of the soundtrack of our lives. That is why I find this to be a rather exciting development.

According to Apple Corps, the Beatles’ company, and EMI Music, it will be released, at last, on Sept. 9 — the whole catalogue, more or less, revitalized for the first time since 1987, when it was converted, disastrously, for the CD format. What we’re all hoping to hear is what George Martin and the band heard when the tracks were first mastered, before they were squeezed and contorted to fit the various formats in which they were eventually sold.

Fantastic news for all of us. We have the technology now for all of us to hear what the Beatles meant their music to sound like before it was released on monophonic and primitive stereo LPs – and later converted to eight-track, cassette, and CD. Properly remastered – hopefully with the involvement of the two surviving band members – there is a real possibility of gaining whole new insights into these beloved classics.

Posted by: Greg at 09:21 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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