John Madden is preparing to call Super Bowl XLIII alongside Al Michaels, and in a sign of just how much he likes working with Michaels, Madden says he's going to quit broadcasting whenever Michaels does.
"I will never work with another guy," Madden says during a profile of Michaels set to air tonight on HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel. "When I don't work with Al Michaels anymore, I won't work."
The profile of Michaels, done by correspondent Jon Frankel, chronicles the long career of the broadcaster who covered the earthquake that interrupted the 1989 World Series and called the Miracle on Ice. It's a nice reminder that when we watch Madden and Michaels at the Super Bowl, we're going to be watching two of the best sports broadcasters in history -- and two who love working together.
Latest NFL Photos
Baltimore Ravens' Willis McGahee, left, and Edgar Jones talk as they clean out their lockers on Monday, Jan. 19, 2009 in Owings Mills, Md. The Ravens lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC championship NFL football game on Sunday. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
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Baltimore Ravens' Bart Scott talks with the press as he cleans out his locker Monday, Jan. 19, 2009 in Owings Mills, Md. The Ravens lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC championship NFL football game on Sunday. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
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Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason packs up his belongings as he cleans out his locker Monday, Jan. 19, 2009 in Owings Mills, Md. The Ravens lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC championship NFL football game on Sunday. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
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Baltimore Ravens' Ray Rice carries garbage bags filled with stuff from his locker Monday, Jan. 19, 2009.in Owings Mills, Md. The Ravens lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC championship NFL football game on Sunday. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
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The official Super Bowl XLIII game balls are assembled together at the Wilson Sporting Goods football factory Monday, Jan. 19, 2009 in Ada, Ohio. The factory began making the game ball Sunday night immediately after the conclusion of the NFC and AFC championship games. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
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The official Super Bowl XLIII game balls are assembled together at the Wilson Sporting Goods football factory Monday, Jan. 19, 2009 in Ada, Ohio. The factory began making the game ball Sunday night immediately after the conclusion of the NFC and AFC championship games. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
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The official Super Bowl XLIII game balls are assembled together at the Wilson Sporting Goods football factory Monday, Jan. 19, 2009 in Ada, Ohio. The factory began making the game ball Sunday night immediately after the conclusion of the NFC and AFC championship games. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
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The official Super Bowl XLIII game balls are assembled together at the Wilson Sporting Goods football factory Monday, Jan. 19, 2009 in Ada, Ohio. The factory began making the game ball Sunday night immediately after the conclusion of the NFC and AFC championship games. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
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Micki Adams, June Hamilton and Barb Harnishfeger make the final inspection of the official Super Bowl XLIII game balls at the Wilson Sporting Goods football factory before the balls are packaged and shipped Monday, Jan. 19, 2009 in Ada, Ohio. The factory began making the game ball Sunday night immediately after the conclusion of the NFC and AFC championship games. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
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Brenda Owings piles up after stamping the official Super Bowl XLIII game balls at the Wilson Sporting Goods football factory Monday, Jan. 19, 2009 in Ada, Ohio. The factory began making the game ball Sunday night immediately after the conclusion of the NFC and AFC championship games. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
1-20-2009 @ 10:37AM
OrangeChuckE said...
Does he promise?
Reply
1-20-2009 @ 12:29PM
kidduluth said...
i agree fully, they are the best.
Reply
1-20-2009 @ 1:21PM
OrangeChuckE said...
I care more about who the hot lady is in the background then I do about Madden, unless it's time for the new video game then I am all in.
Reply
1-20-2009 @ 2:05PM
flsweeney said...
John Madden is a bumbling idiot. Michaels is the only one who is willing to put up with him and his nonsense. Without Michaels Madden would be out there talking into an unplugged mic. We should take a collection to have Michaels retire early!!!
Reply
1-20-2009 @ 7:50PM
beaner81418 said...
if madden wasnt an idiot we wouldnt haveanyone to make fun of. he does know football he just has the "Madden" way of explaining it. but he is annoying but its just so much fun to make fun of him. plus we dont want al to retire, hes the best broadcaster ever.
1-20-2009 @ 2:34PM
willitout said...
Too bad Michaels doen't feel the same way about his clown of a partner.
Reply
1-20-2009 @ 3:59PM
ANNE said...
I DON'T WANT TO SEE EITHER OF THEM RETIRE, THEIR PROBABLY THE BEST THAT'S AROUND RIGHT NOW.
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1-20-2009 @ 4:00PM
ANNE said...
THAT'S REALLY A MEAN THING TO SAY
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1-20-2009 @ 4:43PM
mrbuffalosabre said...
BOOM! You and Al are the best and hope to see the both of you for a few more years.
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1-20-2009 @ 5:29PM
Guy M. Land said...
I would take Madden any day over Kornheiser calling MNF - that guy is easily the worst on TV.
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1-20-2009 @ 5:59PM
Brandy said...
Madden = Captain Obvious. Hopefully Michaels will retire before the Superbowl!
Reply
1-20-2009 @ 7:27PM
bluerange308 said...
Madden and Summerall were the best ever. I miss those days.
Reply
1-21-2009 @ 7:50AM
cronorocks said...
I totally agree ! It was sad when Pat retired.
1-20-2009 @ 8:23PM
Billybrw said...
Madden must be as old as god
Reply
1-20-2009 @ 8:43PM
cnorton60 said...
aikman and buck are the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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1-20-2009 @ 11:36PM
Pirate Imaging said...
Madden can make a boring game exciting. Keep up the great work.
Reply
1-20-2009 @ 11:44PM
ncardshark said...
best tamdem ever, just mother time is catching up to them but i still love hearing them on tv.
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1-21-2009 @ 2:16AM
spacificgrove said...
Madden is much better than Rush Limpballs or Dennis Miller would ever think of being......Right cons??
Reply
1-21-2009 @ 3:00AM
Bob Barker said...
Madden is an idiot! He is a master of the obvious!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply
1-21-2009 @ 6:09AM
AP said...
John Madden has years of experience...he's no idiot. There has to be good chemistry with a broadcast team, something most of you know-it-alls who've never set foot inside a broadcast studio just don't seem to grasp. These guys have done this for years, and they bring ratings just like the games themselves do. Ignorant posts like the complaints I'm seeing here just prove that most of you would never be able to do the job Madden's done all these years, because the minute someone said the same thing about you, you'd implode...heh heh
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