John Madden announced today that he’s retiring from the broadcast booth, and that was major news.
Madden is one of the greatest football broadcasters of all time, and I’d rank him among the greatest sports broadcasters overall. His energy, enthusiasm and wit pair wonderfully with his knowledge of football and life at large.
He announced his retirement on KCBS radio in San Francisco, whose listeners over the years have received an extra helping of his analysis and larger-than-life persona. In my 10 years in California, I’ve listened to him hundreds of times. He never has failed to be entertaining, and he’s often more engaging on subjects other than football.
While the world knows him for his network broadcasts, his eponymous line of video football games and as coach of the Oakland Raiders, fewer people know that he played college football at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, Calif. My daughter and son-in-law are proud Poly graduates, and I’ve visited that terrific campus many times. Coincidentally, I was there earlier this week and snapped a photo of these caps with my iPhone.
So here’s a tip of the Mustang cap to John Madden. I wish him happy travels for the rest of his days.
The Ball Caps Blog 
I’ll miss hearing his boisterous voice every Superbowl *little tear*
I, too, will miss John in the booth. His “Bam…mud, blood,…this is football!” enthusiasm brought fun to any game for which he was the announcer. Bye John, we’ll miss you!