If you’re an NFL fan, you’ve probably heard about John Madden. He’s a coach for the Oakland Raiders. His “Madden” video game franchise has sold more than 130 million copies. And, he’s also done voice commentary for many of the video games.
‘Madden’ video game franchise has sold more than 130 million copies
Madden NFL is one of the most popular and influential sports video game franchises in history. It has sold over 130 million copies worldwide, and has generated more than $4 billion in revenue for EA Sports. The Madden franchise is the best-selling video game series in the world and is a cultural touchstone for fans and players.
Madden started out as a game designed for the Apple II. When it was released, it was a seven-year-long project, with the first version launched in 1988. However, its popularity grew rapidly after the game was ported to Sega’s Genesis console.
Madden NFL is the most successful sports video game franchise in history. It’s been on the market for 30 years, and has generated more than four billion dollars in total sales.
The first version of the game was a 7-on-7 football game. It was released on June 1, 1988. In the early versions, Pat Summerall was the play-by-play announcer.
In 1990, the game was ported to the Sega Genesis, and the franchise’s popularity expanded. Players could choose from a variety of NFL teams and players, and they could trade players. They also managed draft picks, practices, and free agency.
In 1993, the NFL officially licensed the Madden game and allowed it to use logos and team names. This allowed the franchise to build up a huge database of player statistics and ratings. These ratings are used to update weekly. Over the years, “Madden” has spawned numerous spin-off titles.
John Madden was the face of the “Madden” game. He was an avid fan of the NFL, and he was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was also a sports commentator and television analyst. As a result, his voice was prominently featured in the early versions of the game.
Coached the Raiders for 10 seasons
During the 10 seasons that John Madden coached the Raiders, he compiled a 103-32-7 record. He is the only coach in the history of the franchise to win at least 100 games. In fact, his Raiders won 17 straight games from 1976 to 1977.
He has been voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His Raiders also won two AFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl.
Before Al Davis took over as the Raiders head coach in 1963, the team had only won four games in two seasons. They also had a losing record.
When Al Davis took over, he changed the team’s colors and led them to their first playoff berth. He went on to lead the Raiders to eight playoff appearances. The Raiders lost the Super Bowl in 1966, but they defeated the San Diego Chargers in the 1963 AFL championship game.
Al Davis was also the AFL commissioner when he left the Raiders. After three seasons, he posted an impressive 23-16-3 record. However, his tenure ended when he sold his interest in the franchise.
He was replaced by Tom Flores. Flores had been a quarterback for the Raiders and was the team’s first head coach. He led the Raiders to their first Super Bowl, but they were defeated by the Green Bay Packers.
The Raiders then went back to Oakland in 1987. After a few years, Al Davis returned to the job. At the time, he was one of the most controversial owners in the NFL.
After his stint with the Raiders was over, he became a senior vice president of the NFL. He was also a color commentator for “Monday Night Football”.
In 1996, he was hired by the Buccaneers. Gruden was the team’s head coach for eleven seasons.
Co-hosted the John Madden and Steve Mariucci Charity Bocce Event
The John Madden and Steve Mariucci Battle of the Bay Charity Bocce Tournament is a fundraising event that raises money for local charities. It is hosted annually by the two former Bay Area NFL coaches.
Aside from raising funds for diabetes research and youth football, the tournament also offers scholarships to East Bay high school students. Teams of four compete in the following events: Volo, doubles Volo, speed shooting and doubles Raffa. Some of the beneficiaries include: Special Olympics of Northern California, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Easter Seals Kaleidoscope and Tri-Valley High School Football.
The event is held at Livermore Valley Vineyards, and is an invite-only event. Players and teams are invited from all over the Bay Area.
In 2006, John Madden was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He has received fourteen Sports Emmy Awards for Outstanding Sports Event Analyst. His announcing style included interjections and light penciled diagrams of football plays over video footage.
Currently, John Madden is in his home recovering from open heart surgery. Nevertheless, he has remained involved in the annual bocce tournament. He will call the games and award the “Madden player of the game” after each game.
The Battle of the Bay has become a blockbuster charity event. Each year, hundreds of thousands of dollars are raised for local charities. This year, the tournament was able to raise over $5 million for local charities.
Former NFL coaches Steve Mariucci and John Madden, along with several other former NFL players and personalities, participated in the event. Teams representing almost all Bay Area pro franchises took part in the tournament.
While the tournament raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local charities, it has also boosted the reputation of “Battle of the Bay” in both the local and national arenas. As a result, more and more celebrities from the area have been drawn to the event.
‘Madden’ voice commentary
John Madden is a former NFL head coach who has made millions of dollars off his career. He has made the most money from his video game franchise, but his broadcasting career earned him some big bucks too. Luckily, he left the field on his own terms.
Madden has worked with all four major networks, including CBS, ABC, Fox and NBC. During his time at Fox, he teamed with play-by-play announcer Pat Summerall. When the network acquired the NFC rights in 1994, the two became free agents.
For the next twenty years, John and Pat were the unofficial voice of the NFL. Their broadcasting combined the excitement of football with the expertise of an expert. The duo helped make the games more authentic.
Even after Madden retired from his television career, he was still making money off of his name. Electronic Arts Sports has been featuring him in their Madden NFL video game series since 1988.
EA Sports has also given him a major endorsement deal. In 2005, John signed a $150 million contract with the game company. He earns $2 million in royalties each year, with the majority of his earnings coming from the video game franchise.
During his career, John also appeared in a number of music videos, including U2’s “How to Save a Life” and Paul Simon’s “The Replacements” movie. His work as a commentator on television earned him 16 Emmy awards.
In addition to his football career, John Madden is also a best-selling author. He was featured in the sports comedy film Little Giants. Aside from his work in the media, John has raised funds for youth football and diabetes research.
As a coach and analyst, John Madden is the second-highest winning NFL head coach in history.
‘Madden Curse’
The “Madden Curse” is a term used to describe the belief that any athlete on a Madden NFL video game cover will be injured or have a bad season. This is a controversial topic amongst many sports fans, but in the past, several cover stars have had a rough time after appearing on the cover.
Some cover stars have had seasons that ended early due to injury, while others have had off-field problems. Generally, athletes who appear on the cover of a Madden NFL video game have lost significant playing time the following year.
One of the first cover athletes to be hit by the “Madden Curse” was Daunte Culpepper. He was injured during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Following that injury, Culpepper missed the remainder of the 2001 season.
Another victim was Troy Polamalu. In the beginning of the 2009 season, Polamalu suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament. While he returned to play in three more games, he missed the playoffs.
Peyton Hillis, who played for the Kansas City Chiefs, was also one of the first Madden NFL cover athletes to have a season that was derailed by injury. After a promising start to the 2010 season, Hillis dealt with hamstring injuries.
Barry Sanders was another player who was not considered a victim of the “Madden Curse.” He was an all-star in his career, and his retirement from the NFL after starring on the cover of Madden 2000 may have been an indication that he was not affected by the curse.
Finally, Eddie George is another example of a player who is not always viewed as being a victim of the “Madden curse”. George was an All-Pro quarterback when he was chosen to be on the cover of the Madden NFL game in 2001, but he never returned to the NFL.