John Madden didn’t tell any jokes, made no obscure references and expressed no social or political observations.
In his first “Monday Night Football” broadcast appearance alongside veteran play-by-play man Al Michaels, Madden mainly talked football as the New York Giants faced the expansion Houston Texans in the Hall of Fame exhibition game in Canton, Ohio.
“I’m a football coach doing television. I’ll never think that I’m a journalist, and I’ll never think that I’m a television personality or an actor or anything like that,” Madden told CNN.SI.com.
Madden is replacing comedian Dennis Miller and analyst Dan Fouts as ABC attempts to stem the tide of a seven-year ratings dip for “Monday Night Football.”
Miller’s two years featured an overly chatty broadcast booth during which Michaels and Fouts often seemed obliged to laugh at Miller’s highbrow humor.
“I’m comfortable as heck,” Madden told Michaels Monday night in the middle of their conversation about Houston No. 1 draft pick David Carr.
Madden mixed appropriate doses of coach-speak in describing impressive Giants rookie tight end Jeremy Shockey, and compassion in expressing concern over injured Texans safety Leomont Evans in the second quarter.
Last week Madden was given an award for broadcasting excellence, and Saturday he presented tight end Dave Casper for induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Madden coached Casper with the Oakland Raiders.
“It’s been a heck of a weekend. They really know how to do it right here in Canton,” Madden said.
Reading the defense: Bears defensive back Jerry Azumah has been working with Barnes & Noble on a literacy project this summer in Bourbonnais, Ill. The local Barnes & Noble is decorated as a football field and the individual schools will be awarded points based on the number of books read. If a student reads eight books, he receives a book free.
Food for thought: Veteran quarterback Chris Chandler, who took the majority of snaps in Monday morning’s workout, has seen his share of training camp facilities during a 15-year career.
“This is by far the best,” he said. “We are taken care of. We are given a chance to rest up. And also the food here is really good. I have been to other places where the food is just awful. That’s a nice little perk.”
Pass the word: More than 50 Special Olympics Illinois athletes visited the Bears’ training camp Monday, participating in the Gatorade Junior Football Training Camp. The group attended practice, viewed the team’s 2001 highlight film, visited with players and ate lunch with the team. … The White Sox and Major League Baseball will unveil the official logo Wednesday for the 74th All-Star Game, to be played July 15, 2003, at Comiskey Park. The logo unveiling takes place before the 7:05 p.m. White Sox vs. Anaheim Angels game, which begins the countdown to next year’s All-Star festivities held across Chicago from July 11-15, 2003.
Carlos Lee of the White Sox and Integrated Marketing Solutions have created “El Caballo’s Corner” to be located in the left-field stands at Comiskey Park. Lee will provide tickets to select White Sox home games to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago and Cristo Rey, a Jesuit high school that serves a predominantly Latino population in the Pilsen/Little Village neighborhoods of Chicago.
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fmitchell@tribune.com
