ultimately, very boring. you never said that about madden. >> john madden is more responsible for the growth and popularity of football than any other single human being of his lifetime. howard: high praise. when the fledgling fox sports outbid cbs back in 1993, it was the hiring of madden that gave the operation instant credibility. >> i wasn't a guy when i was coach that would say i want to go out and be a broadcaster. >> i'm vin scully along with john madden -- >> but i knew after i did the fist couple games, that that's what i wanted to do. this is it. i embraced it. howard: beyond his 16 emmy awards and his football video game, john madden brought passion and humor to covering the sport he came to define. that's it for this edition of "mediabuzz". i'm howard kurtz. a happy and hell hell think -- healthy new year.