Sports Whiz Trivia - May 2009
By Harry Patterson

John Madden, NFL Hall of Famer, award winning broadcaster, video game icon, pitchman and whatever is stepping down after four decades in the public eye. We're not as down on him as a broadcaster as we were when he coached the Steelers' hated rival Raiders, but he'll never quite be the loveable fuzzball around here he seems to be everywhere else. Let's look back on Madden's career a few of the many times it intersected with Steeler nation.

1. At age 33 Madden became the youngest NFL head coach when he took over the Raiders in 1969. Who was the second youngest?

2. Madden used a three quarterback tandem during the 1972 season. All three appeared in the Immaculate Reception game. Name the three.

3. By his own admission Madden will never get over the Immaculate Reception. What does he contend bothered him even more than the issue of whether Tatum or Fuqua touched the ball?

4. Which of Madden's players did Chuck Noll characterize as being part of a "criminal element" following a vicious hit that injured Lynn Swann in the '76 season opener.

5. The Raiders lost five AFC title games during Madden's tenure. How many were to the Steelers?

6. When Madden's Raiders finally beat the Steelers for the AFC title in '76 the Steelers were without which two key players who were injured during a rout of the Colts a week earlier?

7. Was it the Oakland or LA Raiders who beat the Steelers in that game?

8. Who was the only Steeler on the very first Bears-heavy All-Madden Team in 1984?

9. The Steelers and Raiders were mainstays on Monday Night Football, especially during the early glory years. Old, bitter, burned-out, over-the-hill Howard Cosell was 64 when he broadcast his final MNF game. How old was Madden when he broadcast his first MNF game?

10. What was Maddens final game as a broadcaster?

Click here to see the answers.

Harry Patterson is the author of several sports trivia books, most of which are available on Amazon.com, and at the River City Inn downtown, where he gathers much of his material while tending bar weekday evenings.