Madden & Summerall: How They Revolutionized NFL Broadcasting
4.5 | 64 ratings
Price: 13.45
Last update: 12-02-2025
Top reviews from the United States
- M. HernandezA Madden fan delightRich Podolsky does what all excellent writers do in publishing a book. The reader is left wanting more.
That’s not to say there isn’t enough for your price of admission (cost of the book) – there are plenty of stories the general public is learning about for the first time.
But I needed more.
The author takes us through the history of putting Summerall and Madden together and all of the workings going on behind the scenes. He touches base on their NFL backgrounds and how they were meant for each other in the broadcasting booth. You will recognize some of the big names in the broadcast industry as you are brought into the negotiating rooms, the broadcast booths (love the part about Madden sitting on Summerall’s headphones) and onto the Madden Cruiser, the former Oakland head coach’s favorite method of travel across the country.
When I finished the book, I could tell the author did a lot of research and involved a lot of people close to both Summerall and Madden to describe their interactions with both men. You will learn Rich was close to Madden as a friend and some of his personal interactions are in the book as well. I would have loved more stories about that relationship.
But if you hemming and hawing about purchasing this book and if you are not a Madden fan, I encourage you to just read the part where Darryl Stingley was paralyzed in an NFL game in Oakland and what Madden did not just after the game but for weeks following. Personally, I thought Madden was terrific as an announcer. When I finished reading that small segment, I knew he was terrific as a person.
Marty Perlmutter - NeilAn in-depth and personal view of two great menCouldn’t put the book down. Read it cover to cover in two(2) sittings. As a fan of sports TV, the NFL and being a big fan of Mr. Summerall and Mr. Madden this book was great!
- Karl HuntingInformative but not terrably exicting.The book is ok but if you were looking forward to stories about specific events you will be disappointed. Alot of information about who went to work for and why but not exactly a page turner.
- Ess DPEnjoyable and Engaging ReadI found the book enjoyable, engaging, and filled with good writing and great stories. If you enjoy slices of history, interesting people, and behind the scenes storytelling, you will find this a compelling read. Mr. Podolsky is an excellent writer and all his books accessible 5 star reads.
- Larry StewartFascinating and InformativeAs someone who wrote a sports TV column for nearly 35 years (five with the old L.A. Herald Examner and close to 30 for the L.A. Times), I interviewed Madden and Summerall many times and thought I knew a lot about both of them. But by reading this well-written book, I learned so much more!
- ElizabethGREAT READ!!Though not a football fan I was really into the human story of these two giants in football lore. It was funny, sad, just so interesting from a human interest story. Rich Podolsky wrote another wonderful book bringing his subjects so alive and relatable. Well Done!!!
- G.kohnGreat bookVery enjoyable read! Great insights
- SCOTT SCHLANGERInterestingGood read