This is the sports reporters.

Hey, I am Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe and ESPN.

I'm Michael Lupica, MLB.com, and the New York Daily News.

Mitch is at his orphanage in Haiti, but happy new year and welcome to the Thursday edition

of the Sports Reporters podcast.

We have a lot to talk about in college football.

We have a lot to talk about in pro football.

But that is a segue

into the the death of a truly remarkable figure in the history of american sports not just in

football been in american sports because of his impact on the field in the broadcast booth

and then with a video game that has basically taken over the world.

And that is a great John Madden.

I was lucky enough to know John Madden when it was just starting out for him,

when he was just becoming a television star.

He bought an apartment of all places in the Dakota in New York City.

He was a neighbor of Yoko Onos, which just makes his story even better.

And he was a Runyon's guy.

There was a very famous sports saloon owned by a pal of Bob's in mine named Joe Healy on

50th and second named Runyon Saloon.

And John would come in there.

And Bob, he didn't hold court. he's one of the most curious people and more interesting people I've I've ever met he was

always more interested in in the conversation whatever the conversation was going on at the table

...