Football coach and broadcaster John Madden died Tuesday:

Madden’s style was revered by all. It was a genuine, masterful combination of the everyday man with the exuberance of a wide-eyed child all the while educating viewers with his brilliant knowledge of the game.

Madden did that with the use of the Telestrator on broadcasts to explain plays. Madden used it with his legendary vocabulary that included “Boom!’’ and “Doink!’’ throughout the broadcasts.

NYPost.com

My thoughts go out to his family, friends, and fans.

While I enjoyed watching football games, I never understood football until Maddon took to the booth and really explained what went on. Maddon knew the real game happened between the two front lines, and was an expert at showing how that great run or pass had more to do with a great execution of blocking stunts than than the talent of the skill players.

I wish broadcasters in general did more talking about the basics of the game to draw in new fans. Bill Chadwick, a former referee who broadcast New York Rangers hockey games did the same thing. During games he would explain the reason for a penalty, or the definition of icing. For someone like me who was new to hockey, I was able to quickly pick up on what was happening in the game.