MADDEN PARKS THE CRUISER..

[Studio20]

...and it probably will stay parked after this year. To bring you up to speed, John didnt feel like riding cross country for another week to appear at the Seattle-Tampa Bay game Sunday night...so he's hold up on the Left Coast.

Pity.

Tell me..even at 72, how much effort is there into sitting on a bus...studying notes...eating...sleeping...doing the occasional interview....and doing not much of anything else, that "I" know of...other than raking in a wheelbarrow full of money from corporations for the bus, and that video game of his.

I respect the man for his NFL accomplishments, but when you make a commitment..and if memory serves,isnt Outback..whos corporate headquarters is 1 1/2 miles from Raymond James stadium in Tampa...kind of expecting you?

Guess you'll be here for the Super Bowl, though...right?

 

[DToTheJ]

Here's an article related to this story:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/14/sports/football/14nfl.html?ref=football

I believe this will be one of the last weeks of Sunday Night Football before they delve into their "flex schedule" games.

You think if two good teams were playing this weekend, that he would show up?

FYI: Cirs Collinsworth will call the game in Madden's place.

 

[kyscott]

He talks about not getting home. What does he do during the off season? And I'm sure if he'd get on a plane, he'd make it home more often. I'm sure Madden has enough money by now to afford his own private jet like a Citation or something. Fly out Sunday morning to the game and he can be home Sunday night or Monday. Hello?

 

[ynot2k]

I'm sure Madden has enough money by now to afford his own private jet like a Citation or something. Fly out Sunday morning to the game and he can be home Sunday night or Monday. Hello?

He doesn't fly because of claustrophobia:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/11102006/sports/5_questions_for_john_madden_sports_.htm

Q: Your bus is legendary, but where does your fear of flying come from?
A: It is not a fear of flying. It is claustrophobia. When I coached, I flew all the time. After I got out of coaching, I developed claustrophobia. I would get in there. They would shut the door and I would feel that I have to get out. And then have a panic attack. It happened three times, and on the third time I said, "This is it. If I get down from this one, I'm going to get off and I'm never going to get on another airplane the rest of my life,'' which I didn't.

 

[Nate Wesley]

...and it probably will stay parked after this year. To bring you up to speed, John didnt feel like riding cross country for another week to appear at the Seattle-Tampa Bay game Sunday night...so he's hold up on the Left Coast.

Pity.

Tell me..even at 72, how much effort is there into sitting on a bus...studying notes...eating...sleeping...doing the occasional interview....and doing not much of anything else, that "I" know of...other than raking in a wheelbarrow full of money from corporations for the bus, and that video game of his.

I respect the man for his NFL accomplishments, but when you make a commitment..and if memory serves,isnt Outback..whos corporate headquarters is 1 1/2 miles from Raymond James stadium in Tampa...kind of expecting you?

Guess you'll be here for the Super Bowl, though...right?

Dude's not running for president...and as you noted, he IS 72. Yet with all of his accomplishments outside of coaching, I think he's more than earned the benefit of the doubt for a break. Let Outback get mad, they aren't going to sell enough steaks to trump the EA Sports money.

 

[Studio20]

If I've given NBC/Universal a six figures worth of money for NBC Sunday Night Football..AND the Super Bowl, I want my moneys worth, and that is the top announcing team. Thats what I'm paying for.

If I've given John Madden money to haul his butt around the country in a premier super-cruiser, I want him at every game.

Last minute illness? No problem. Family emergency? Hope all is well.

I just dont feel like taking the trip. No..Doesn't wash.

And while Seattle isnt having the success they've wanted, Tampa Bay is tied for the lead in the NFC South, so its a big game.

And according to the NBC suits EVERY Sunday night is a big game.

A previous poster does make an excellent point: What if the flex games are on opposite sides of the country...dude?

 

[kyscott]

I'm sure Madden has enough money by now to afford his own private jet like a Citation or something. Fly out Sunday morning to the game and he can be home Sunday night or Monday. Hello?

He doesn't fly because of claustrophobia:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/11102006/sports/5_questions_for_john_madden_sports_.htm

Q: Your bus is legendary, but where does your fear of flying come from?
A: It is not a fear of flying. It is claustrophobia. When I coached, I flew all the time. After I got out of coaching, I developed claustrophobia. I would get in there. They would shut the door and I would feel that I have to get out. And then have a panic attack. It happened three times, and on the third time I said, "This is it. If I get down from this one, I'm going to get off and I'm never going to get on another airplane the rest of my life,'' which I didn't.

So he developed this claustrophobia after his coaching career and during a time he could be a pitchman. Convenient?

 

[YEKIMI]

Claustrophobia? Fear of Santa Claus? ;D. Actually, not buying it, a bus interior is way smaller then the inside of a plane. Unless he's going cross country on the bus with his head hanging out the window, I don't believe the claustrophobia crap.

 

[mimo]

I don't know where this claustrophobia is coming from, he's mentioned on air several times that he has an actual fear of flying, they got him on a plane ONCE the whole time he was coaching, and the flying experience did nothing to alleviate his fear, in fact it only enhanced it, and he swore after that flight that he'd never get on another plane again.

 

[WordLife]

Why is it such a big deal? He takes one week off...so what?

Who is going to say, John Madden isn't on this week, so therefore I won't tune in to this Sunday night's game.

The game is going to stink anyways. Tampa and Seattle is going to be a snoozefest, so he might as well take advantage of this and let him get some rest. He did after all make 472 games in a row without calling in sick.

Any of you who are criticizing him go 472 days of work without calling it off?

 

[LKellerIII]

I'm sure Madden has enough money by now to afford his own private jet like a Citation or something. Fly out Sunday morning to the game and he can be home Sunday night or Monday. Hello?

He doesn't fly because of claustrophobia:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/11102006/sports/5_questions_for_john_madden_sports_.htm

Q: Your bus is legendary, but where does your fear of flying come from?
A: It is not a fear of flying. It is claustrophobia. When I coached, I flew all the time. After I got out of coaching, I developed claustrophobia. I would get in there. They would shut the door and I would feel that I have to get out. And then have a panic attack. It happened three times, and on the third time I said, "This is it. If I get down from this one, I'm going to get off and I'm never going to get on another airplane the rest of my life,'' which I didn't.

So he developed this claustrophobia after his coaching career and during a time he could be a pitchman. Convenient?

Whether it's fear of flying or claustrophobia, why would Madden make it up? So he can have the pleasure of wasting hundreds or thousands of hours every year being bussed back and forth across the continental United States, instead spending a fraction of that time on an airplane...no doubt in comfortable first class at network expense?

The network would probably charter a plane for him. Come on. It doesn't make sense - give the guy a break.

I've never had a panic attack (thank God). But I know people who have them. They're extremely traumatic. Assuming the trigger is not something that really ruins your life (like panic attacks from agoraphobia - fear of leaving your home), why would you do something that would set off a panic attack if it's something you can otherwise easily avoid?

 

[Nate Wesley]

I don't know where this claustrophobia is coming from, he's mentioned on air several times that he has an actual fear of flying, they got him on a plane ONCE the whole time he was coaching, and the flying experience did nothing to alleviate his fear, in fact it only enhanced it, and he swore after that flight that he'd never get on another plane again.

I always thought that Madden's aversion to planes stemmed from a plane [that he was supposed to be on] crash. I could be totally wrong, though.

EDIT: I wasn't too wrong. Several of his Cal Poly friends/teammates of his were killed in an October 29, 1960 plane crash in Toledo:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cal_Poly_football_team_plane_crash
http://sports.jrank.org/pages/2952/Madden-John-Hired-Television-Commentator.html

 

[PTBoardOp94]

Who is going to say, John Madden isn't on this week, so therefore I won't tune in to this Sunday night's game.

Quite the opposite. Madden isn't on this week, so I might just tune in.

 

[sandiegoinexile]

It seems to me that this "week off" thing is as much an NBC decision as Madden's. I don't think he was "complaining" about the travel. NBC has to look at its future. Does CrisC mesh with Al Michaels? Who will be a better Second Banana? Besides, doesn't NBC have about twenty in-studio broadcasters on Sunday Night Football?

As for the bus, he has been traveling this way for decades now. It was part of his "deal" when he went from CBS to Faux to ABC and now to NBC.

Oldsters like Vin Scully and other "legacy" announcers often reduce their workload once they hit three-guarters of a century. Vin only travels as far east as Denver these days. I imagine that this is merely the first step in easing the septuagenarian out the door.

 

[FloydB]

First of all, as big as Madden is, how comfortable do you think he really would be, even in 1st class or on a private jet. I'm 6'0" 260 and quite sardined in business class, so I can imagine for a 70+ yr old former lineman. Secondly, seeing that he IS in his 70s, he should deserve a few breaks every now and again.

And, I'm surprised no one has brought this up: How entertaining would it be if NBC hired Frank Caliendo to do analysis as Madden when Madden's out? Higher ratings, maybe? I'd love it for sure! And, I don't think he's bound by Fox, nor by TBS, especially since TBS is cable and they care less about broadcast, except to plug their shows. Hey, that's an idea: His appearance sponsored by TBS to plug his show. TBS gets air time and NBC gets money instead of spending it!

 

[Studio20]

It seems to me that this "week off" thing is as much an NBC decision as Madden's. I don't think he was "complaining" about the travel. NBC has to look at its future. Does CrisC mesh with Al Michaels? Who will be a better Second Banana? Besides, doesn't NBC have about twenty in-studio broadcasters on Sunday Night Football?

As for the bus, he has been traveling this way for decades now. It was part of his "deal" when he went from CBS to Faux to ABC and now to NBC.

Oldsters like Vin Scully and other "legacy" announcers often reduce their workload once they hit three-guarters of a century. Vin only travels as far east as Denver these days. I imagine that this is merely the first step in easing the septuagenarian out the door.

Madden signed on for every game this season. Scully, Lanny Frattare of Pittsburgh and others signed on for x amount of games at home or close to it. Thats cool. Ebersol merely fell on his sword to take the heat off John..

One commentary from the local wrap..

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/humaninterest/article855205.ece

 

[radioguy555]

Aren’t some announcing booths in stadiums pretty small and closed in? Madden has been fine working in those for the last 30 years.

But you know, maybe the guy has something going on that he just doesn't want the media to know about - realizing that in today's world, the media will jump at every opportunity to report gossip.

 

[LKellerIII]

Aren’t some announcing booths in stadiums pretty small and closed in? Madden has been fine working in those for the last 30 years.

The announcing booth isn't hurtling through the atmosphere at 500 MPH. Besides, those "booths" they put the TV play-by-play guys in look pretty spacious to me.

Regarding Madden's bulk stuffed into a seat on a airplane - I flew to San Francisco from Memphis about a year ago on an airline that's now out of business (good riddance!). The plane was full, and the seats were jammed so close together that I was not only physically very uncomfortable, but feeling a little claustrophobic myself...and I've never suffered from claustrophobia.

I'm 5'8" - 160 lbs.

Of course, Madden would no doubt be in first class.

 

[ty567]

Claustrophobia? Fear of Santa Claus? ;D. Actually, not buying it, a bus interior is way smaller then the inside of a plane. Unless he's going cross country on the bus with his head hanging out the window, I don't believe the claustrophobia crap.

Yea and if you start to feel claustrophobic in the middle of a bus ride, you pull over go outside get a nice deep breathe walk around for a bit. Now tell me, how easy is it to do that in an airplane?

 

[searadiofreak]

It seems to me that this "week off" thing is as much an NBC decision as Madden's. I don't think he was "complaining" about the travel. NBC has to look at its future. Does CrisC mesh with Al Michaels? Who will be a better Second Banana? Besides, doesn't NBC have about twenty in-studio broadcasters on Sunday Night Football?

As for the bus, he has been traveling this way for decades now. It was part of his "deal" when he went from CBS to Faux to ABC and now to NBC.

Oldsters like Vin Scully and other "legacy" announcers often reduce their workload once they hit three-guarters of a century. Vin only travels as far east as Denver these days. I imagine that this is merely the first step in easing the septuagenarian out the door.

I thought Collinsworth was quite good in Madden's place. Too bad hardly anyone was watching.

This game was scheduled when Seattle was predicted to be leading the NFC West. Whoops.

I'm a Seattle fan, and even I was spending more time on TBS.