I really enjoyed listening to all the stories about John Madden. I think anyone who knows football knows who he is. If you get a chance I highly recommend listening to it, you won’t be disappointed. Tons of commentary and antidotes.

At 8:15 for almost 20 years Madden would call in with a little advice about football or life in general. The stories shared by Stan Bunger really brought in the non-public side of John too, including the generosity of both he and his wife. The immense respect that others had for him and he for others, and his love for his family. It’s not like these things were not expected of a man like John Madden but it was a side that I had never seen or even really heard about.

I really enjoyed this audio book! The narration was great. It was fun to listen to all of the John Madden stories. I think if you know who John Madden is, you will enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

"Mornings with Madden" by Stan Bunger is one of the few books, in recent memory, that couldn't put down and was left wanting more when I reached the end!

I have been a fan of John Madden from his days at the coach of the Oakland Raiders, watching him prowl the sidelines, waving his arms and ranting, He was the antithetical coach at the time but was highly effective. I hated to see him leave coaching and always figured he'd come back. As you will find in the book, he was a humble man of conviction and direction but enjoyed his life!

For those of you that watched John throughout his life progressing from a player, to a coach, to sports analyst and adman, you will find the dialog in the book in John's own voice playing in your head. The voice and the visuals it created, made me smile and laugh at times. Some of the situations described I had actually witnessed on TV too!

The stories shared by Stan Bunger really brought in the non-public side of John too, including the generosity of both he and his wife. The immense respect that others had for him and he for others, and his love for his family. Its not like these things were not expected of a man like John Madden but it was a side that I had never seen or even really heard about.

I found this work by Stan Bunger exceptional and highly recommend it!

Retired radio personality Stan Bunger chronicles his morning radio segments with the ever-colorful John Madden. Football fans will probably remember Madden as a color commentator on NFL games, or being the face of the Madden videogame, and additionally, the former Raiders coach also appeared on radio in San Francisco. Bunger has scoured the archives, and journeys back to some of Madden’s most memorable radio moments.

For twelve years, Madden brightened listener’s faces with his many Maddenisms, which are explained and decoded in the book. Bunger recalls Madden appearing on his show after receiving a jackhammer. Madden asks Bunger, didn’t you always want a jackhammer too? In another comical segment, Madden recalled being pooped on by a bird during a television interview, and making the situation worse by trying to clean it.

Perhaps Madden may have missed his calling of being a stand-up comedian, sharing his gift of gab countless times. Madden recalled wanting to be a sumo wrestler, as they would tell you to put on weight, something he said he excelled at. The Super Bowl winning coach shared many of his golf stories, revealing he wasn’t very good at the sport, but enjoyed getting on the greens. Madden didn’t know the different between gulf clubs, but still made the most of each golfing episode.

Bunger also shared the down to earth human side of the legendary sports figure. Madden pushed for player’s safety in the sport he loved. The author recalled the many stories the coach shared in revealing his love of dogs. I absolutely enjoyed the insights for Madden being selected for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and his decision to finally retire from broadcasting, and parking the Madden cruiser bus for the final time.

Warning, this book will make you laugh at loud. I can’t recommend this enough!

Since I'm a huge fan of the Denver Broncos, everything related to the Oakland/Los Angeles/Las Vegas Raiders is automatically detested - with one huge exception, John Madden. I have always been a fan of Madden's, through his TV commercials, video games, and especially his TV work as the best analyst of all time for the NFL. As was mentioned in this book, I also didn't know he was on the radio every week in the Bay Area.

This book takes a look into John Madden as a person and coach through his weekly visits with KCBS news anchor Stan Bunger and the whole cast at the morning new radio program. Bunger has collected and selected the very best examples what made Madden into a larger than life figure. His Maddenisms, hilarious stories, and deeper thoughts are collected here in a very enjoyable book. Madden's impact on modern football is legendary and his impact on morning radio in San Francisco follows close behind.

Thank you to Recorded Books and Net Galley for an ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.