John Lennon and Monday Night Football

John Lennon was shot and killed 30 years ago today outside of his apartment building in New York City.

In a world without the internet, cellphones, internet, TMZ, Facebook or Twitter most of America got the news while watching Monday Night Football.


I have seen that clip a number of times over the years but what I did not know until today was that Howard Cosell wasn't sure if Monday Night Football was the venue for such an announcement. ESPN's "Outside the Lines" has this fascinating audio exchange from a commercial break.



ESPN has a fascinating article on this today and it includes a story about the Patriots kicker John Smith who was a big Beatles fan from England.
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John Madden Retires

Just woke up to the news that John Madden has decided to retire. It will really strange watching football next year without him. MSNBC looks back at the legendary career.

He's had his share of critics over the years but to me he's one of the first things that come to mind when you talk NFL. From his coaching days in Oakland, to his days teaming with Pat Summerall on CBS and Fox to Monday Night Football and then finally NBC's Sunday Night Football. At 73 can't really blame the man. After all he doesn't fly anywhere as he's afraid of flying and riding by RV sure has to get tiresome.

As for who takes his place in the NBC booth....Chris Collinsworth would be my guess. NBC has been grooming him for the gig for the past couple of years.

Barack Obama teases run for President on Monday Night Football

Barack Obama on MNF

I'm guessing this was the opening to MNF this week. I did not watch this live.