Appreciation: "The thin ones do not care about food" - John Madden's gifts were humor and warmth

John Madden was much more than a Super Bowl winning coach, a legendary announcer and someone who built a video game empire.

It was a normal person.

"What made him so popular was that he was genuine and accessible," he said to Michaels, who worked at the ABC and NBC transmission booths with Madden for seven years.“Traveling throughout the country, John had a great connection with the people of the city, with that of the countryside, with the farmers, with whom they did dirty work.I had a great capacity to connect with people and attract it ".

It was one of Madden's most endearing things, who died Tuesday morning at 85 years.Despite how huge he was in the world of football, he never lost his floor and always sought to communicate with people at a totally human level.

I had the great pleasure and honor of meeting him during the last 20 years.Although I would not say that we were intimate - I'm sure there are thousands of people closest to him - John always made me feel like his circle of friends.

We hadn't talked to us for more than a year - his ear and his voice were turning off - but we exchanged short messages, sometimes about Cal Poly, his Alma Mater, where my daughter is enrolled.His observations often came suddenly.

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The legendary NFL coach John Madden dies

The coach of the Hall of Fame and commentator John Madden dies at 85, reports the NFL

"Peyton should be the next commissioner"

"Cal Poly won a victory last night!".

About the quartback of Buffalo Josh Allen: "It's an animal !!".

About the Tennessee Derrick Henry corridor: "Henry is a single man band!".

About the Titans coach Mike Vrabel: "Vrabel does more with less !!".

Mundane texts that I would like to frame.

There are also more moving memories.When the legendary Field Marshal of the Raiders died, Ken Stabler, that day Madden spoke with short words to keep his emotions controlled.

"I have always said that, if I had to play a great game, I would want him as a quarterback," he said about Stabling in a weak and trembling voice.“When this happens, you only think of all the great moments, the victories, the Super Bowl.He was a very important part of that.But more than that, he was always a happy guy, full of life.Enjoyed life ".

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No one enjoyed the life than Madden.It was a source of funny anecdotes and observations of the type of Jerry Seinfeld about human behavior.Some were his, others collected them from others.

For example, once, during a “Monday Night Football” production meeting in Philadelphia, an assistant went out for food and brought about 20 sliced cheese slices and almost abundant cheese.

"Do you know what your mistake was?" Said Madden, addressing producer Fred Gaudelli."You sent a skinny to look for food.Those thin do not care about food ".

Once, at a Fox production meeting, producer Bob Stenner observed that men who increase with the years tend to tie the laces of the shoes more to the outside of the feet because they have a hard time bending down and focusing the knot.

"Well, John was a big guy," said Troy Aikman, who was next to Madden at the meeting.“So I'm sitting there and I look at John from sideways.John wore a Spyglass hat and always kept his head down.

“While Stenner tells us this, not joke, John's laces were tied to the side of his shoes.He looks back, and knows I'm looking at him, and I just started laughing ".

Without a doubt, Madden added that observation to his repertoire.Had a million of them.

Madden was not afraid to make fun of himself or the friends around him.

"If you had gel in the hair - somehow he knew the type of gel you used and knew his name - then he made fun of hours," Gaudelli said.“In plan:‘ Hey, you have gel!Did you get gel today? ’.I was aware of all about you.I just knew.I was always watching you ".

It is wonderful that Madden was enough time to see the masterpiece of the documentary that Fox made about him.It was a real blessing.

"I called Eric Shanks, Fox Sports Chief and one of John's protected.

“Eric organized this wonderful and affectionate tribute.It was a gift to heaven for John ".

Gaudelli had an early copy of the documentary and sent a text message to Madden on it last Friday, the night before its broadcast.Coincidentally, Christmas eve was also the wedding anniversary of Virginia and John.

"Merry Christmas, Fred," Madden wrote."Please want everyone for a merry Christmas from me".

We all knew that he was going to leave us someday.Someday arrived too soon.

To read this story in English, click here

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