America: the Madden nation
Michael Jasper
John Madden IS football.He has done more for the sport than any commissioner, athlete, or “Ocho Cinco” could ever do.
Madden is everywhere, he can be found as the color commentator on Monday Night Football, his name is across the most popular sports video game in history, comedians and impersonators love him, and he made popular a new thanksgiving meal, the “turducken”.
He has coined terms, what are now called “Maddenisms”, such as, “Now here’s a guy when he runs, he moves faster!”
He has been the face for Ace Hardware, Outback Steakhouse, Rent-A-Center, Miller Lite, Serious Satellite Radio, and of course “Boom! tough actin’ Tinactin.”
Oh, by the way, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006 for his stellar coaching career in which he was the youngest coach to reach 100 victories.
What hasn’t this man done?
This year, his ever popular video game, “Madden”, is celebrating its 20th year of dominating existence in the gamer world.
The game has sold over 70 million copies since its introduction in 1988, and has generated $2.4 billion in sales since 1995, when the research fi rm, NPD group, began tracking sales.
Not many products, retailers, or even companies can come close to boasting those numbers.
Every August, college students, NFL fans, construction workers, company CEO’s, and even Phelps fans anticipate the newest version of the Madden video.
This year to celebrate its 20th anniversary, EA Sports put on “Maddenpalooza”, an event that took place August 11 at the Rose Bowl in Las Angeles.
There were 300 XBOX360 kiosks with Madden 09 loaded, both active and retired NFL stars signing autographs, musical appearances by Good Charlotte, Busta Rhymes, From First To Last and many others, and even a mini-Wal-Mart where fans could purchase Madden 09.
A long way from the first release of John Madden Football in 1988 which had blocky, slow, Lego-esque players which all looked the same that was released for the Apple II computer.
Madden 09 features high-def graphics that are mind-blowingly realistic, with players whose faces look just like they do in real life.
Bands are always vying to have a song on the game.
The game even has a reality show, ESPN’s Madden Nation, in which top players compete for 100,000 dollars.
John Madden is arguably the most important person in the history of the NFL.
Just about everyone knows him and adores him.
Well, I’ve got to go; my friend has our Cowboys vs. Cardinals game on pause and my controller is almost out of batteries.
