Boom! Bang! Whap! Doink!
Posted June 16, 2005, 9:00 PM ET

There is big news coming out of New York City...and it has nothing to do with the Yankees' struggles on the field or their new proposed $800 million dollar Yankee Stadium.

NBC Sports announced this week that Hall of Fame announcer John Madden was leaving ABC Sports to join the peacock network in 2006.

NBC is back in the business of televising the NFL, and they plan to be a major player with their new Sunday Night NFL coverage next season. In addition to the primetime games, NBC will also have the advantage of the flex scheduling and will be the home of two future Super Bowls in 2009 and 2012.

Dick Ebersol, the braintrust of NBC Sports, called Madden the greatest analyst in NFL history, and claimed he was the best analyst in the history of sports television.

It is hard to argue against the success that Madden has created on the field as a Super Bowl winning coach...in the booth with his tenure and Emmy award-winning style...and even off the field with the Madden video game which has sold over 40 million units.

According to Ebersol, Madden has become an "American Icon"...bigger than the game of football. During his run as the elite NFL analyst in the buisness, Madden has now worked for all four major networks: CBS, FOX, ABC and next year with NBC.

Madden stated that "somewhere in your broadcasting career you have to work with Dick Ebersol, and that was something that I've always thought was in the back of my mind."

Sure, John...whatever you say. I think it has more to do with being on the "primetime game" that isn't on cable...which is exactly where Monday Night Football is headed on ESPN.

Some NFL fanatics are tired of Madden's schtick, but there is no denying that he has created a standard in the business. And the last time there was a broadcaster as influential as Madden...well, his name was Howard Cosell.

John Madden's agent, Sandy Montag, said that his client would concentrate on football and not have him plan to broadcast any other sports. When Madden was asked about that statement from his agent, he said..."I would love to be doing golf, but they say I talk too loud."

I'm sure Johnny Miller, NBC Sports and the folks at Pinehurst were glad to hear the news.