Madden leaves big footprints on TV industry

BOOM!!!

John Madden loved using that word to describe a devastating hit. I felt the same kind of impact Thursday when learning Madden had ended his announcing career.

I wasn't surprised so much as saddened. We all knew Madden would be unplugging his telestrator soon enough. He just turned 73. His streak of 476 consecutive weekend telecasts ended last season when Madden — who doesn't fly — declined to take back-to-back road trips between Florida and his California home to call NBC's Sunday night games. And unlike some of his peers — including former partner Pat Summerall — Madden knew better than to embarrass himself by staying in the booth for too long.