Results tagged “madden” from Robert Littal Presents The Infamous BlackSportsOnline

Another year, another Madden, another curse. This time not one but two players. I have no idea what the new cover guys are thinking because the curse is real. Troy Polamalu and Larry Fitzgerald are going to be on the cover of Madden. Polamalu is coming off a pro bowl season, a Super Bowl win and had a career high 7 int. Larry Fitzgerald is coming off a unbelievable run in the playoffs where he set a postseason record 546 receiving yards, 30 receptions and 7 touchdowns but eventually lost to Polamalu and the Steelers.

Now what do Fitzgerald and Polamalu have to look forward to for gracing the Madden cover. Lets start out with one of my favorite players of all time and Madden 01 cover Eddie George. The year before the cover Eddie killed with a career high in attempts 403, yards 1509 and touchdowns 14. Then the cover comes, 2001 season. Career lows as a Titan in yards 939, yards per attempt 3 and touchdowns 5. 2002 cover Daunte Culpepper was getting his roll on, blowing up for 33 touchdowns but after he decided to do Madden, a whopping 14 touchdowns.

This is where things are starting to get serious. In 2003, Madden picks a former MVP and Offensive Player of the Year Marshall Faulk. It's a terrible shame what the curse did to Faulk. After doing the cover, a bum ankle hurt his season and Faulk never touched a 1000 yard rushing season again. In the 2004 season they put the most electric quarterback in the league Michael Vick. The verdict... I mean the outcome: Vick breaks his main asset his legs in the preseason.

There is a whole generation of people who don't even know that John Madden was one hell of a coach. His .750 winning percentage is still the highest among coaches with at least 100 wins. The fact that people have forgotten about that should tell you what type of influence he has had in the field of broadcasting.

This is a true story I honestly don't believe that I would have the knowledge about the NFL I have today if it wasn't for the Madden Video Game.

While other ten year olds where playing with GI Joe I was breaking down coverage and sending Bo Jackson on the toss sweep. I was zone blitzing before I think it was even invented. My dad bought me Madden 92 and I haven't missed an edition since making this year when I purchase in August my 17th straight year in a row.

I have been critical of Madden over the years for his broadcasting style being a bit simplistic and a sometimes blatantly obvious, but there is no question in his prime he was one of the best ever at breaking down the game in a way that the casual fan would understand.

20 Years of Madden: Here Are My Top 5 Greatest Moments:

1- Bo Knows

In case you didn't know, your Bona Fide Sport is an only child. So growing up, video games were a big part of my life. Madden 92 was my obsession. I was dominating and consistently beating my best friend, Leslie Days, on a daily basis. He never beat me but one day he played the perfect game. Playing as the San Francisco 49ers, he led 38-35 with three seconds left in the game. With the Los Angeles Raiders, I mounted a furious drive down to the 6 yard line. With an opportunity to tie the game or go for the winning score on 4th down, I did what any pre-teen would do.

TOSS SWEEP TO BO JACKSON!!!!

At the 3 yard line, Bo took a leap of faith and with the entire 49ers defense crashing down on him Bo inched the ball across the goal line for the victory. Leslie has never defeated me to this day and refuses to count this victory as he states Bo was inches short of the goal line. I term this victory "the miracle leap." Simply put, 16 years later still my greatest game in Madden history.

2- The Dating Game

When "Ya Boy" was a sophomore at The Ohio State University, he met the girl of his dreams (well at the time she was), Ms. Kimberly Hurley. Talk about a perfect woman. She was smart, funny and, my goodness, she was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen on the OSU campus. After an initial meeting that went well, we decided to go out on a date. One problem though, "Ya Boy" was broke. I was stealing clickster pencils from the book store broke. Pops was out of town on a business trip so I couldn't borrow any funds. So I did what I did best: Hustle rich white boys playing Madden.

I stayed in Morrill Tower across the street from the Horseshoe for those familiar with the OSU campus. On a Thursday night with just $20 to my name, I went to gamble ($20 a game, winners stay, losers go to the back of the line). Starting at 10pm and going on to 4 in the morning, I won 6 games in a row. $140 richer, I showed my 1st love the time of her life on Friday night and had plenty left over to by my clicksters' pencils on Monday (I was a rapper and I needed those pencils).

Ironically, after being with her for 6 months or so, I relayed the story of my Madden exploits to her and how that funded our first date. She explained that the deal was already sealed when I carried her books from the bookstore to her dorm the first time we met and the date really meant nothing in terms of her deciding if she was going to get with me. How sweet!

I have come to the conclusion that Brett Favre is Jason Voorhees. I thought once he finally retired that he would fade to "Bolivia" with Mike Tyson. That doesn't appear to be the case. If he isn't on ESPN talking about coming back, he is on David Letterman making cryptic comments about a possible return. No wonder the Packers want to retire his jersey on week 1 before Favre changes his mind for the 15th time.

Just when I think the Favre hoopla was going to die down, it was announced that Favre would be the cover boy for Madden 09. He is retired. Why is he on the cover? Besides the fact that John Madden sleeps in his Madden Cruiser with Favre highlights on repeat 24/7 and it is his franchise, there is no reason every time I pop my copy of Madden into my Xbox 360 I have to look at Favre. Just die already (not literally). I can't take it anymore!